Campaigners bid to block new Walsall travellers' site
Campaigners have joined forces to block attempts by Walsall Council to set up a travellers' site near their homes.
Council bosses are looking to create almost 30 permanent sites over the next few years to address a surge in illegal camps across the borough.
But homeowners living near Broad Lane Gardens, Bloxwich - identified as a possible site by the local authority - have started a petition.
The Bloxwich branch of the Royal British Legion stands there and even though it closed in 2013, residents still don't want the land used by travellers.
Neighbours want traditional starter homes for young people to be built instead.
Campaigner Brad Allen said: "It's slap bang in the middle of a residential area and, therefore, not an ideal spot to locate travellers.
"From the residents' point of view, it's going to spoil what is a quiet area. People are worried about themselves and how it might affect the value of their properties.
"Although there is a mixture of families who live here - people from 20 to 80-plus have come to us with their concerns - there are a lot of elderly people here.
"We first heard about the plans two or three weeks ago and decided to take immediate action."
Mr Allen, aged 18, joined local councillors Louise Harrison and Matt Follows at the weekend to knock on doors and garner more support. Those most concerned live in Broad Lane Gardens, Kempthorne Gardens and Broad Lane.
Existing official traveller sites are mainly located on land in Willenhall Lane and Trentham Cottage.
Other areas now being considered are part of Goscote Lodge Crescent, Goscote Copper Works, Poplar Avenue, and the old Darlaston Multi-Purpose Centre site as well as Broad Lane Gardens.
They form part of a draft site allocations document drawn up by council bosses which is due to go out to public consultation.
A report to the council states: "These sites, or any alternatives, shall have capacity for at least the numbers of new pitches or plots to be provided.
"Existing sites will also be safeguarded against redevelopment for alternative uses unless sufficient alternative sites have first been provided of at least the same capacity as that of the sites to be lost."
The petition by Bloxwich residents is expected to be handed in at the next cabinet or full council meeting.
