Travellers have set up camp on the site of the long-delayed multi-million pound Opus 9 warehouse development next to M6 junction nine, Wednesbury.
Two caravans moved in yesterday. Wednesbury North Councillor Bill Archer said: “There are only two vans there at the moment but the problem is, when you get two there is normally a lot more on their way. In Sandwell over the last couple of years it has been pretty good in terms of problems with travellers but in the past it has been a total nightmare.”
Richard Smith, Opus land managing director, said: “We will do everything to get them removed within 24 hours. I have no time or sympathy for these people and we don’t want them on our land.”
Travellers got onto on part of the site, former sports pitches near Wood Green High School, Wednesbury, last October.
About 15 caravans moved on to the land off St Paul’s Road, purchased by Opus.
Mr Williams added: “We had them removed within a day that time and are determined to do so again.”
Developers and council chiefs struck a historic land swap deal in March 2005, paving the way for the new business park, creating up to 1,000 jobs in Sandwell.
Plans for the hotel were withdrawn after protests from highways and education bosses but the plan was later resurrected. The site’s first warehouse has been vacant since completion about 18 months ago.
Mr Williams said the first lease should be signed on a building at Opus 9 within the next few weeks.
The name of the logistics firm has not been released but it is expected that hundreds of jobs will be created.
Work on a 500,000 sq ft building, also likely to house a logistics firm, is set to begin soon. A hotel being built there is expected to bring a further 100 jobs when it opens next year after the second phase of development.
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