Moxley primary school site may be new bail hostel

The site for a planned probation hostel in Moxley was today revealed – as it emerged a petition with more than 1,500 names has already been drawn up.

The new hostel is earmarked for the former Moxley Infants School site. But many neighbours and councillors are insisting the site in Moxley Road is in the wrong location and is too close to schools.

Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust have promised there will be a full consultation process before a decision is made.

Under the proposal, some smaller hostels, officially known as approved premises, will close to be replaced by one purpose-built building.

This is likely to include Stonnall Road Bail Hostel in the leafy Aldridge area, which has been the subject of a long-running campaign by residents.

Now a petition is being circulated in the Moxley community and has already attracted more than 1,500 names.

Councillor Paul Bott, independent representative for Darlaston South, said: "People in Moxley are very angry about this.

"They have already set up lots of petitions and quite a few have asked if they could speak on the issue when it goes before the planning committee.

"It is just not the right place.

"This could also hamper plans for the future regeneration of Moxley."

He asked people who had concerns about the plans to sign one of the petitions which are currently in circulation.

SWM Probation Trust revealed in May last year it was looking for a new location for a hostel in Walsall.

Ali Bell, spokeswoman for SWM Probation Trust, said: "The site under consideration is the former Moxley Infants School site located in Moxley Road and adjacent to All Saints Church.

"We intend to create a facility to accommodate a maximum of 40 offenders, taken from the general offending population.

Moxley Infants closed in 2006 and was part bulldozed in 2009 after an arson attack.

By Catherine Dalton