Politicians join forces to save Lion Farm Playing Fields

The borough's ruling Labour group wants to build a 200,000sq ft shopping centre on the Lion Farm fields in Langley, near Junction 2 of the M5.

The plans have caused a public outcry, leading to a long-running campaign to get them scrapped.

And candidates from opposing sides in this week's local elections have turned out to listen to local concerns – with Green Party members standing side-by-side with the nationalist For Britain party to rail against the proposals.

More on this story:

• Lion Farm shopping centre protestors target council elections

• Traffic congestion fears over £200m outlet village plan

• Plans unveiled for multi-million pound Oldbury outlet village

• Human chain demo against shopping centre plans

• Campaign launched to stop designer outlet village in Oldbury

• Outlet village planned near M5 creating 2,000 jobs

Plans for the multi-million pound scheme were unveiled last year, prompting concerns over traffic congestion and the destruction of the borough's green spaces.

It will feature around 90 designer shops alongside restaurants and sports facilities and is currently out to consultation.

Skerntian Keri, a Conservative candidate for Oldbury in Thursday's poll, attended a protest over the weekend, alongside fellow Tories Scott Chapman (Princes End) and Archer Williams (Langley).

He said: "We must save the Lion Farms fields from Labour. The local Labour councillors have voted several times for destroying those fields."

• Click here to find out who's standing where in the Sandwell elections

Green Party candidates' Keir Williams (Tividale) and Mike Allen (Abbey), and For Britain's Darryl Magher (Wednesbury North), Sam Harding (Charlemont and Grove Vale) and Lorraine Binsley (Great Barr and Yew Tree) were also there alongside residents.

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Steve Trow has promised to listen to "reasonable" objections against the plans.