Brierley Hill depot will NOT become main Dudley tip

Council bosses have confirmed an unpopular proposal to move waste operations to the Leys Depot is dead.

However, they have not ruled out closing Stourbridge tip, a plan put forward by Labour when it was in control of the council.

The plan to move to Leys Road was tabled by the Labour group earlier this year, sparking a revolt from opposition councillors, but a change in leadership at the council in May threw the scheme up in the air.

Now Karen Shakespeare, environmental boss at Dudley Council, confirmed the move to the Leys Depot had been ruled out.

The proposition was put forward in a bid to save money, as the Leys Depot is owned by the council, but it sparked a backlash due to fears over an increase on traffic on major roads near the Merry Hill shopping centre and potential impact on a nearby nature reserve.

Councillor Shakespeare said a feasibility study had been ordered on alternative sites and that it was her preference for there to be waste sites serving both the north and south of the borough, but admitted they may not be possible due to cost restraints.

She said: "The only option given was the Leys which the Conservative group was against due to location and access. Local councillors were against it as well. We have ruled out Leys.

"I didn't think that was suitable. The access was very narrow. That was put forward as the council owns it but you have got to think about logistics and what is right for residents."

Councillor Shakespeare said the authority was in no rush to make a final decision on the future of waste services in Dudley but said Stourbridge tip was not suitable in its current state.

She added: "We are looking at a range of options.That site (Stourbridge) is too small.

"It would be good to have somewhere that could accommodating a recycling site.

"My preferred option is to have something in the north and south. If you have got people in the north crossing to the south it means they are going into Wordsley and Merry Hill which are already log-jammed."

Councillor Paul Brothwood, UKIP leader in Dudley, said his party members would have voted against a move to the Leys Depot.

He said: "The traffic on the Brierley Hill road would be an absolute nightmare."