Staffordshire 'dumping' travellers on Walsall, councillor claims

A trio of potential sites designated for travellers and showpeople have been proposed by South Staffordshire Council in Essington and they could accommodate as many as 23 extra pitches.

But Willenhall North Councillor Ian Shires has hit out at the current plans, saying: "Staffordshire are looking at a number of possible sites right on our doorstep which is a bit concerning.

"They do tend to put the tips and all sorts right on the boundary and the things they are looking at are quite close to our borders. I think Staffordshire are just trying to dump a problem on our doorstep."

South Staffordshire Council is currently reviewing its provision of available travellers' sites after declaring they need 33 more pitches by 2028.

A draft document which went out to consultation last year identified 10 possible sites or current plots which were often used by travellers illegally.

They included three in Essington at Long Lane, Broad Lane and Hobnock which could accommodate four, 10 and 15 extra pitches each respectively. There are already four existing legal gipsy sites in the area.

A whole host of other options have also been identified throughout South Staffordshire and district council chief executive Steve Winterflood confirmed that preferred locations would be identified towards the end of the summer which the public would also get to have their say on.

He said: "At the end of last year we carried out a public consultation which considered a wide variety of gipsy and traveller pitch options.

"We received approximately 1,000 representations, together with a number of petitions which officers are currently looking at.

"The consultation included all pitches that have been suggested and was clear that the inclusion of options was by no means any indication of the council's support or otherwise for those pitches in those locations.

"Over 180 options across the whole district were included for consideration."

Councillor Shires was speaking at Walsall's neighbourhoods scrutiny and performance panel meeting on Thursday during a debate about what powers the authority had to fend off illegal travellers' sites.

The number of unauthorised travellers reduced by more than two thirds last year compared to the previous 12 months when there was a influx in the borough. There were more than 50 between January and December 2013 but only 12 in the same period last year.