Travellers have invaded a Black Country council’s main car park just two weeks after a controversial scheme to spend taxpayers’ cash supporting them was shelved.

Around 10 caravans have set up on the Sandwell Council car park in Dudley Road, Oldbury where hundreds of workers leave their cars every day.

Bosses said the travellers dismantled a barrier but offered to replace it when they leave. Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Bob Badham, said: “We have immediately been in contact with the police.

“We have served notice of the court hearing on the travellers and the hearing takes place on Friday.

“The court hearing notice was served on the travellers on Monday at the first opportunity. We have an excellent process in place for dealing with this.”

A fortnight ago the council threw out plans to take on a liaison officer and teacher for travellers.

In addition to the new roles there were plans to produce leaflets about gipsies, introduce cultural awareness training for council employees, fund a gipsy and traveller inter-agency group and celebrate “gipsy and traveller history month” in all of the borough’s schools.

The decision will not affect a council application for central government funding for improvements in Tipton.

Sandwell has submitted an application for £2million of government funding to improve the Batman’s Hill site where people live in their own caravans and pay rent council tax and utility bills.

A previous application for cash to overhaul the rundown site was turned down earlier in the year.

Around £2,000 was spent clearing up after travellers in Sandwell last year.

Between April 2008 and April 2009 travellers moved on to council property on three occasions.

Sandwell Council’s neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain said: “The small costs of the clean up work after they have been removed has been covered by existing budgets.”