Sandwell travellers site moves a step closer
A temporary travellers site could be built in Sandwell within the next three months, said to be one of the first of its kind in the West Midlands.
Sandwell Council wants to build the site – due to cost £195,000 – on vacant land off Boulton Road in Smethwick, which is opposite Black Patch Park.
Travellers would be charged £80 a caravan per week to stay, alongside a £250 deposit for a whole group, and they would be charged up-front.
Council bosses gave the green light to submit a planning application at a cabinet meeting this week.
The transient site, which would have room for 34 caravans, is aimed at tackling the ongoing problem of illegal camps in the borough.
The authority has dealt with more than 85 illegal camps since April, which has cost taxpayers £250,000 in terms of clean-ups, security, bailiffs and court bills.
Council bosses say it could be opened by July – but full approval needs to be given by Sandwell's planning committee before any work can begin.
Police would be given new powers to immediately move travellers onto the site from unauthorised camps, and those who refuse to move could be banned from the borough for three months.
The proposed move has been welcomed by police and council bosses.
The site would have a hard surface and be fenced off with 24-hour CCTV in operation for security purposes. A council officer would also supervise the site each day.
Meanwhile travellers would be provided with toilet and washing facilities in a shipping container.
Concerns were raised at the cabinet meeting about whether travellers could break onto the site, how the council would secure payments and how anti-social-behaviour would be dealt with.
But Councillor Paul Moore, cabinet member for regeneration, said that travellers would have to pay up-front before using the site, and they would have to adhere to rules regarding behaviour.
"If a break-in occurred, measures would be taken to secure the site," he said.
He added: "The transit site is one of several actions we're taking to tackle the issue of trespassing on council land in Sandwell. We would be the only area in the West Midlands to be using these special police powers by providing a transit site."
The site would be operated in partnership between Sandwell Council and police.
