Region to create 100 new traveller plots

About 100 new plots for gipsies and travellers will be created in the Black Country and Staffordshire despite government targets being scrapped, it has emerged.

Councils were told to increase the number of sites they provide for gipsy families under legislation announced by former deputy prime minister John Prescott.

The rules caused controversy and led to gipsy families being given permission to move caravans onto protected green belt land in the region, despite objections from councillors and residents.

But despite the policy being scrapped, councils in the Black Country have approved a joint policy that says they will provide 98 more spaces between them by 2018.

According to the Black Country Joint Core Strategy – approved by Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall councils – the sites have to provide a toilet and wash block, a play area, access roads, parking and an area set aside for work.

Councils in Staffordshire, however, still have to decide for themselves how many pitches they want to provide.

Under the old rules South Staffordshire Council had been told it needed 42 pitches by 2017. It currently has 35.

Wolverhampton City Council has a site at Showell Road with 40 pitches for travellers but must provide 36 more pitches by 2018 under the Joint Core Strategy.

Walsall Council has to provide 39 spaces on top of 25 it already has, while Sandwell currently has 15 pitches and is required to build a further two by 2018.

Dudley has 19 pitches and is preparing to provide a total of 21 permanent and 12 temporary sites by 2018.

Cannock Chase has three sites with planning permission making a total of 48 pitches but the district council had been expecting to have to build a further 35.

Wyre Forest District Council is expecting to have 43 pitches by 2022. Currently it has 31.