30 jobs 'could be lost' over Dudley travellers camp plans

Dudley Council has favoured building a site in Budden Road as part of measures to reduce illegal camps in the borough.

But Commercial Body Fittings Ltd, based on the road, said it may have to move if plans were approved because of a possible increase in insurance rates and security concerns.

A spokesman for the firm said: "This could result in about 30 people losing their jobs, who are based here at the moment.

"The proposed transit site could cause our insurance premiums to rise. But it wouldn't just be down to that, we have got to think about security issues as well."

The firm currently has plans to double the size of its Coseley base from 55,000 sq ft to 110,000, leading to 40 new jobs.

But this could also be thrown into doubt.

These concerns were aired during a public meeting over the plans in Coseley on Tuesday (23). Up to 130 people were estimated to have turned up, where attendants included Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley, council strategic director Alan Lunt and local residents

Local business South Staffs Industries Limited, based in Bloomfield Road in Bilston, made an offer at the meeting to buy the land in a bid to deter the council from building there.

Coseley East ward councillor Susan Ridney, who attended the meeting, said: "It was a show-stopper. The leader of Dudley Council (Patrick Harley) didn't know what to say."

However it has emerged another firm, called Enablelink Limited, based on Budden Road, has stepped to make an offer for the land.

Councillor Ridney said that people in Coseley feel the transit site is a done deal, although a public consultation is running until January 31.

She said council documents show the land is contaminated, from previous industries based there.

"No matter the creed or colour of people, they shouldn't be put there," added councillor Ridney.

The Budden Road site came out top in a shortlist - which used a scoring system - of 10 potential locations where Dudley Council is looking to build a transit camp.

Councillor Patrick Harley said Dudley Council spends around £150,000 on cleaning up traveller camps.

The new site would give the council and police new powers to move travellers onto there from illegal camps. Travellers would be charged a fee for a short stay, and provided with water, power and waste facilities.

To take part in the consultation, visit online.dudley.gov.uk