New traveller site for Sandwell to cut unauthorised encampments

Sandwell Council is looking to build a temporary traveller site, costing £195,000.

Councils in the West Midlands dealt with hundreds of unauthorised encampments in 2016
Published 17th Mar 2017
Last updated 17th Mar 2017

Council bosses claim it will cut down on the number of unauthorised encampments, which have risen in the past few years.

In the first six months of 2016, the authority spent £250,000 clearing up after 48 roadside and parkland camps.

A new site on Foundry Lane, Smethwick, will hold up to 36 caravans, costing each family £80 a week in rent - plus a £250 deposit.

Travellers found on unauthorised encampments will be given 24 hours to move on to the new site. If they fail to do so they could be arrested or banned from the borough for three months.

However, news of the site, which is near Black Patch Park, has not be received well by people living nearby.

A woman told Free Radio "they've been returning to the park for years.

"A transit site will be devastating for this estate. We'll have trash, noise, parties ... it will be horrendous to live here.

"The last time they were on Black Patch Park, they threatened to steal my puppy. If they move here, we're going to get out as soon as possible."

Last month the Council was left to deal with 55 tonnes of fly-tipping, which was left by travellers on Black Patch Park.

Rubbish included 300 tyres, rubble, furniture, beds, windows and and black bags.

The same group was evicted from four unauthorised encampments in seven days.

Telford Council has seen costs reduced by 50-percent since it opened a transit site last year.

Sandwell Council will discuss its own site in Cabinet on March 22.