Petition launched calling on transit site to be reinstated in Coseley

The petition has already been signed by more than 150 people and comes ahead of the expected traveller season this summer.

Labour ditched the project after taking power in September – with concerns over how the proposed site in Budden Road had been chosen.

But the Conservatives have warned that residents in Dudley can now expect ‘even more illegal camps’ with the plans scrapped and have launched the petition.

The petition says: “Sadly, the new leadership of Dudley Council have just announced they are cancelling plans that would have protected local people from the nuisance and costs of illegal traveller camps. In recent years, our area has been affected by unauthorised traveller camps. They stop local people being able to enjoy their local parks and play areas and often leave behind damage and rubbish that have cost local taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds to clean up.”

Conservative councillor Nicola Richards said: “It’s very clear so far that this is popular amongst residents very concerned about another year of illegal incursions.”

The proposed site has become a political football between both parties in Dudley, with the Conservatives for it and Labour against.

It would bring about tougher eviction powers, allowing police to evict unauthorised traveller camps from parks immediately and arrest anyone who refused.

While the site would cost £280,000 to build, the Conservatives argued this would save money in the long run, as the council currently spends £150,000 a year on legal fees and clean-up costs.

But council leader Qadar Zada said the project was a ‘sticky plaster solution from a sticky plaster administration’. Campaigners in Coseley also claimed the land was contaminated from previous industries.

Instead, Labour are bringing in a range of measures to tackle illegal camps.

These include finding a permanent travellers site, enforcing a borough-wide injunction against travellers and bringing in dedicated enforcement officers.

Conservative MPs Mike Wood and James Morris have backed the petition, which is calling on Dudley Council to complete the proposed site. Mike Wood said: “Man of our parks and play areas get taken over by traveller camps, which cause nuisance and damage leaving tax-payers to pick up the bill.

“If we don’t have a transit site in place by the start of the summer, it will leave those parks completely unprotected.”