Break-in sparks call for use of former pub car park in Dudley

The small group of caravans and vans entered the parking area of the derelict King Arthur pub at the corner of Priory Road and Birmingham Road on Sunday afternoon.

And despite being moved on swiftly by police, ward councillors say the owner needs to take action now on the future of the site to avoid further problems of traveller invasions and arson attacks. The pub closed two years ago and has since fallen into a state of disrepair with part of the building gutted following a fire last year.

Rubbish also surrounds the well-known site, which nearby residents have complained about to Dudley Council over the past year.

Councillor Ken Finch said: "We were fearing that travellers would target the site and try and get on it.

"This was our biggest fear and we were lucky in this case that they were moved on quickly. I worry if a group gets camped we would struggled to get them off and it would hold up the whole process of getting the site sorted. It's looking a mess and the owner needs to tell us what he plans to do with it."

Last month, the council laid down an order on the former pub, stopping the knocking down of the site, unless approved by the a development control committee.

The move was made to protect the building, which is listed by the council. The pub was built in 1939 by Dudley-based architects Webb and Gray. Dudley Council did approve plans for a 70-bedroom hotel - but the proposal stalled. Later plans to demolish the building were approved last year by the council, until the order was laid down last month.