Overgrown land which has been a target for flytippers in Walsall may be converted into a car park with 45 spaces for the next two years.

The vacant site in Mill Street will cater for worshippers and aims to stop cars from clogging up residential streets in the area.

The application proposes creating the car park for use by the Walsall North Community and Education Centre/Mosque in Mill Street and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, in North Street.

The land currently belongs to Walsall Council but would be leased for two years and monitored by the mosque for use seven days a week from 8am until 10pm by people visiting the church and mosque.

The proposal has already been lodged with council planning chiefs and is being recommended for approval by planning officers.

No objections have been received against the proposal from transportation, regeneration, environmental health or transportation officers.

Police have also raised no concerns as long as the gates are locked outside the times of use to stop youths congregating on the land and to prevent anti-social behaviour in the area.

In a report David Elsworthy, head of planning, said: “The land is vacant and overgrown, with a mound and ditch created to the street frontage to prevent illegal vehicle access.

“It has a poor appearance which affects the street scene and the area in general. The site suffers from illegal fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Elsworthy adds the plans would improve the overall appearance of the site which was formerly occupied by a row of terraced houses.

“On street parking in Mill Street, Cannon Street, North Street and surrounding residential streets is an existing issue for local residents.

“During prayer meetings and services at both the church and the mosque, large numbers of vehicles park on either side of the roads obstructing the free flow of traffic and causing inconvenience and disturbance to the local residents. The proposals would enable 45 of these vehicles to be parked off street improving traffic flow, reducing the inconvenience for the surrounding residents.”

The matter will be considered by members of the council’s development control committee tomorrow.

The proposed site for the temporary car park is in a mainly residential area.

Planned work includes installing hard surfacing, two pedestrian gates, and planting hedges along the boundary.

The site is currently overgrown with patches of Japanese Knotweed and trees which are in a poor condition.

In the long-term the land could be used for residential development, allowing it to be used as a car park over the interim period.