First view of Moxley probabtion hostel project

These are the first images of a proposed probation hostel for up to 40 offenders earmarked for the Black Country.

The controversial scheme has sparked concern among residents in Moxley, Walsall, who have formed a 15-strong committee to fight the plan.

Land at the former Moxley Infants' School, in Moxley Road, has been selected for the building with a planning application expected to be submitted soon.

See more images by clicking on the picture on the right.

But the residents' committee has already said they will speak out against the plans, and a petition opposing the scheme has attracted more than 3,000 names.

Committee chairman Bill Howell said: "There's such a lot of concern about the idea of this particular hostel at this site. There are 15 schools within very close proximity.

There is a lot of anger and fear about how this is going to affect the community."

A group on social networking website Facebook, set up against the proposed hostel, has attracted more than 900 followers.

Officers from Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust had been due to meet with the Moxley Project Reference Group last month but the meeting was cancelled after a protest on the streets. A spokeswoman for the trust said full consultation would take place with residents.