Walsall travellers transit site deal set to be agreed
A deal to open a transit site for travellers in Walsall, in a bid to stop the raft of illegal camps being set up across the borough, could be agreed in the next few days.
Walsall Council bosses said they were “pen poised” over an agreement with a private land owner for the setting up of a dedicated area for the travelling community to go when they arrive in the town.
In the last six or seven weeks, the borough has seen an influx of unauthorised encampments (UEs) in various locations, some of which resulted in anti-social behaviour.
The incursions led to increased calls for a transit site to be opened in the town as well as extra security on vulnerable sites.
Councillor Garry Perry, cabinet member for communities, said officers and bailiffs who dealt with problematic groups were at such a serious risk of harm that it could have escalated into a “life-threatening” situations.
He said the council had to work to their responsibilities under the equalities act when dealing with the encampments but added the transit site would be an “innovation”.
Councillor Perry told a scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday: “It’s fair to say it has been challenging. I think at times there has been a need to act quickly and far quickly than we would have done previously.
Challenging
“Predominantly, if UEs landed in an area, took their rubbish, were respectful of the surroundings, our level of tolerance would be very different.
“But what we have seen in the last six or seven weeks is a very challenging set of circumstances. For that reason, it put at times our officers at great risk.
“Sometimes, some of the occurrences happening potentially could have been life-threatening given what we were hearing from our officers and also via the bailiffs.
“I cannot share any public details about this but we are now almost pen poised to sign an agreement with a private land owner for a transit site in Walsall.
“If that negotiation is successful and I have every confidence and every belief it will be in the coming days, we hope to have the relevant permissions and transit site in place for the autumn.
“More importantly, what you will see is this will be an innovation in the world of transit sites because we are going to do it properly, which is why I’m so pleased
“We will have a transit site like no other because it will enable us to address some of the inequalities that we know exist within that community but also do the right thing about the rest of the community affected by UEs.
Council leader Mike Bird added that the council now had bailiffs available to work seven days a week if required in future.
