Coseley traveller transit site 'scrapped' if Labour seize control of Dudley Council
A controversial traveller transit site could be shelved for a second time if Labour takes control of Dudley Council in upcoming local elections.
The contentious plan to build a 40-plot caravan park on land off Budden Road, in Coseley, is to be discussed at a meeting tonight.
Labour opposition group leader Councillor Qadar Zada says his party will look to block the £300,000 plans for a second time.
But the group will only hold enough votes to change the course of the scheme again if it seizes back control at May's elections.
Dudley Council leader, Conservative Councillor Patrick Harley, has hit back accusing Labour of being cowed by its own councillors.
Labour previously blocked the plans two years ago despite planning approval being awarded for the site.
Councillor Zada said: “I will of course want to hear the the recommendations of the scrutiny meeting.
"But when we were in control we did an in-depth review of Budden Road and we concluded that it wasn’t fit for purpose.
“Unless something dramatic has happened since the last time we were in control and now, then the answer will be the same.”
Campaigners opposed to the scheme thought they had won their battle after the Conservative Party’s victory in May 2019 local elections, after which it announced it would attempt to find a new site.
But only last month, Councillor Harley said the council had exhausted every alternative and would be going ahead with the Budden Road location.
He has described Labour’s plan to shelve the scheme for a second time as an ‘empty threat’ and accused Councillor Zada of not standing up to Coseley’s three Labour councillors.
He said: “His party won’t win in May. His comments show how spineless Labour are at actually doing anything for the benefit of the whole borough.
“In his time as council leader no other sites were proposed. Empty words from someone very afraid of losing his leadership role and being held to ransom by three Coseley councillors.”
The council has said the introduction of the temporary transit site will give it, in partnership with police, more legal powers to remove unauthorised encampments.
These include ordering travellers to use Budden Road or leave the borough within two hours.
