Residents’ anger on travellers site plan near Black Patch Park in Smethwick
A decision to create a holding site for travellers next to a park in the Black Country has been criticised by residents.
Councillors gave the go-ahead to plans for the 'temporary transit site' near Black Patch Park in Smethwick at a meeting last week.
However, opponents of the plan claim the decision ignores residents' views.
Derelict land at the corner of Boulton Road and Foundry Lane will house up to 34 caravans at one time and have toilet and washing facilities.
The park is believed to have been the birthplace of legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin.
Resident Andrew Simons said: "This decision reinforces the view that Sandwell councillors think...they can therefore ignore residents and users of Black Patch Park."
He also said the site would have been better elsewhere in Sandwell and claimed residents living nearby are opposed to the plans as a result of 'road safety and the heavy traffic on a severe bend and the location of an electricity substation just metres away from the proposed site'.
Mr Simons added: "Local businesses are concerned about the impact that the proposal will have on their ventures and have experienced issues in the past from traveller incursions on Black Patch Park – for example the siphoning of petrol from vehicles at a local haulage company.
"One comment from a local business was – 'We’ve had enough of negative things happening – we want to see positive plans for the area - and this isn’t going to help'."
At last week's meeting, planning officer Alan Reynolds said: “This site will enable us and the police to resolve the problems we have in Sandwell and to reduce the numbers of unauthorised encampments in the future for the benefit of 300,000 people across the borough.”
Those using the transit site will be charged £80 per caravan per week to pitch up for a short stay, plus a £250 deposit for each group.
