Work to find travellers site 'a dog's breakfast', says opposition leader

Labour-led Dudley Council's cabinet met and discussed a report on a number of potential sites on Wednesday.

The creation of a caravan park would allow police to order travellers to either move to the transit site or leave the borough within two hours.

But opposition leader Tory Councillor Patrick Harley said the sites that have been put forward will not materialise.

He said: "Our residents across the borough are absolutely fed up of areas being trashed on an annual basis leaving council tax payers to pick up the bill.

"This so far is an absolute dog's breakfast and if I was still sitting in your position I would be kicking some back sides of officers at fault.

"Officers have come forward with three potential sites - one isn't in council ownership and the owners are refusing to sell, the second needs an access road through the first site and the third site officers have no idea what contamination is under that, it's not looking good. And we're not even sure if it's in the borough of Dudley or who the owners are.

"Officers have put forward a report looking like none will materialise, it's not good enough for this authority, it lets down you, us and the people in this borough.

"We've got to find a permanent solution for this annual problem.

"All three sites look like non-starters, that is appalling."

The previous choice of a temporary transit site for 40 vehicles on Budden Road in Coseley had been rejected by Labour councillors when they took control of the authority in September.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, for Halesowen North, added: "It took five months for this administration to decide they weren't going to go for Budden Road.

"This report has actually gone backwards not forwards. You have let down the people of this borough."

Council leader Qadar Zada blamed a lack of a decision on the Tory group when they were in power.

He said: "The reason we are in this position is the sites that were proposed by your administration simply weren't good enough.

"As recently as this afternoon these discussions have still not concluded.

"There's no desire to prolong consideration, we are behind because we are cleaning up work we had to pick up from you.

"We are committed to a permanent travellers site, we need to stop this making political brownie points, let's work in the interest of the people of this borough and secure a site for them."