Permanent plans for Walsall traveller site submitted to council
An application has been submitted to convert a temporary traveller site in Walsall into a permanent facility.
The Pleck Transit Site off Narrow Lane currently has space for six caravans, 12 cars, has a fresh water tap and male and female showers.
In 2021, cabinet members at Walsall Council decided to allocate the disused site between Darlaston Road and Old Pleck Road for the gypsy, Roma and traveller (GRT) community.
The decision faced fierce backlash and was called in to be scrutinised at a committee meeting the following month.
Ward councillors in Pleck at the time and MP Valerie Vaz accused the ruling Conservative administration of making a political decision by putting it in Pleck rather than elsewhere in the borough.
Representatives from the GRT community told the meeting they were not wanted anywhere and the reaction would be the same wherever the site was placed.
Council leader Mike Bird refuted claims it was a political decision and said Pleck was the only suitable site the authority owned for fulfilling the legal obligation to provide a facility.
The backlash continued and once the planning application had been submitted, over 2000 people had signed a petition against it.
Walsall Council eventually granted permission for the facility to operate on a temporary basis for three years.
With the original permission now lapsed, Walsall Council has applied to make the temporary approval permanent.
A decision is expected to be made next month.
