A CRADLEY councillor is backing  attempts to block planning permission for a children’s home which police have visited on 60 times in just seven months

Cllr Richard Body is supporting objections for retrospective planning permission to change a house into supported accommodation for youngsters aged between 16-18 years-old.

It is being opposed by the West Midlands Police who say their officers have repeatedly visited the property after youngsters absconded.

The name and location of the property is not being revealed to protect the identities of children living there.

The Cradley and Wollescote ward councillor said he wasn’t aware of the children’s home until the police objection but he supported their opposition to the planning request.

He said: “In my experience councillors should listen to the submissions of statutory bodies like the police."

Police are opposing the application for consent to convert a residential home into a care facility for 16-18 year-olds after officers were called out 60 times in seven months.

Youngsters who absconded were found as far away as Manchester.

In a submission to Dudley Council, police have outlined a series of problems and incidents since it opened in September last year.

It has been operating without planning permission and can only accommodate two young people at a time.

In their objection, police said:  “From the amount of calls of service to the police the children at this home appear to spend more time missing than being at the home which is being paid for by the public purse.”

Officers also reported that since the home opened, 85 percent of all calls it receives from the road the house is on are linked to the home.

Cllr Body is standing as a Labour candidate for Cradley & Wollescote.

Four other parties are contesting the seat including Mitch Bolton (Black Country Party),  James Clinton (Conservatives), Euan Dunn (UKIP) and Ryan Priest (Liberal Democrat).