'Pop-up tips' and free car parking will return to Dudley by spring, says council leader

Councillor Harley said the council had earmarked funds in its budget to reintroduce  free  car parking and temporary 'pop-up tips' in the north of the borough.

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Councillor Harley said he was also open to a new deal with 

Wolverhampton Council that would allow residents to access the tip in nearby  Bilston, but said the cost would need to be reasonable.

He said if the budget was passed on February 23, he would expect free parking to be in place by March. 

Councillor Harley said a previous 'pop-up tip' service in Sedgley had proved very popular with residents, but had to be scrapped last year due to financial pressures.

He said the council's financial position had now improved considerably, and the service would be restored by the spring.

Councillor Harley made the pledge as Dudley MP Sonia Kumar raised concerns about the lack of waste provision in the north of the borough.

Since the pop-up service ended last year, residents in the north of the borough have had to rely on the tip in Birmingham Road, Stourbridge.

Miss Kumar said constituents had raised repeated concerns about the inconvenience this caused, particularly for those without access to a car, older residents, and families juggling work and caring responsibilities.

“Residents in Sedgley, Gornal, and Woodsetton should not have to travel across the borough just to dispose of household waste.," she said.

"This is an essential local service, not a luxury.

"The removal of local provision has placed an unnecessary burden on communities in the north of Dudley, and it is entirely reasonable for residents to expect accessible, local solutions while longer-term plans are developed.”

Dudley Council had spoken about long-term plans to build a new, purpose-built tip in the centre of the borough, but Miss Kumar said action was needed to deal with the short term.

She was supported by Councillor Shaukat Ali, who said: "Residents on this side must trek across the borough because of the lack of access to facilities, and the current arrangements are clearly not working for them.

"Reintroducing access to a local tip would make a real difference to residents and help ensure waste services are fair and accessible across the whole of Dudley.”

Councillor Adam Aston, leader of Dudley's opposition Labour group, said there had been a problem in the north of the borough since the council ended an agreement with Wolverhampton Council in 2021.

He said the Labour group had repeatedly campaigned for a new deal to allow Dudley residents to use the Bilston site.

But Councillor Harley accused them of being 'behind the curve' on the matter.

"If they want all that, they know they just have to vote for our budget next month," he said.