Wolverhampton super tip plan: Plan for giant dumping site edges closer to reality

Last month, the Express & Star revealed that the city council wants to close the dumping sites in Shaw Road, Bushbury and Anchor Lane, Bilston, to open a giant tip, with the industrial area in East Park earmarked as a possible location.

It comes as the council continues to battle budget cuts that have seen £154 million wiped of its finances in the last six years, with more than £50m of additional cuts needed by 2020.

Last week only five people turned up to the first consultation meeting on the council cuts at the Bob Jones Community Centre in Blakenhall, at which the 'super tip' was one of the items up for discussion. Councillor Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for resources, said that people had chosen to voice their opinions online, and that more than 1,000 people had answered an online survey.

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, the city's former mayor, accepts that plenty have engaged with the online consultation, but believes objectors tend to turn out in force to such meetings. He believes the lack of interest in the Blakenhall meeting could indicate that the 'super tip' could be a proposal the public is willing to accept.

He said: "It's still out for consultation at the moment. I haven't been to any of the meetings so far and we are waiting for the responses at the moment.

"There was a meeting last week that only five people turned up to. I don't think there are too many people that are upset about it. When constituents are upset about something you expect them to turn out in force to oppose it, but it doesn't seem to have happened with this.

"There have been several issues before when people have looked to join together to have their say but it hasn't been the case with this.

"I wouldn't expect people to have a huge issue with this proposal. Most people are aware that the cutbacks are there and they have to be made. They are necessary.

"It's just common sense, really. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with it."

He added: "I don't think people really can object.

"When I've been going to the tip at Shaw Road, sometimes I've had to wait 40 to 45 minutes. You just think that it's not worth it. It's badly laid out and it's only a small site."

Other budget issues include a proposed 3.99 per cent rise in council tax, the scrapping of controversial food waste 'slop buckets' and the introduction of maximum waiting times or charges at some car parks.

The cash-strapped city council also wants to bring in bin collection fees for the first time in its history.

The results of the consultation will then be considered and proposals reviewed before any final decisions are made on the 2017/18 budget next spring.

The remaining public meetings on the budget cuts are at Bert Williams Leisure Centre this

Thursday, Bantock Tractor Shed on November 24 and Low Hill Community Centre on December 1. All start at 6pm.

To have your say online about the budget cuts, visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/budgetconsultation