A DECISION to build a temporary travellers’ site in Coseley has been branded a ‘betrayal’ – while the leader of Dudley Council has been accused of breaking his word to local residents.

The shock announcement came last night (Thursday, January 2) in an email saying the plan for a controversial  40 caravan spaces close to playing fields at the rear of Budden Road will now go-ahead. 

Cllr Susan Ridney, Labour ward member for Coseley East, said:  “This is a complete betrayal.

“Patrick Harley gave assurances that it wasn’t going to come back to Coseley because it was too close to residents’ homes and the roads weren’t sufficient.”

The scheme was granted planning permission in 2018 but was postponed when the Labour Party took control of the council later that year.

In May 2019, leader Cllr Patrick Harley said the Conservative Group had no plans to re-introduce the scheme if it won back the authority in the local elections.  

But in a statement released by Dudley Council today, he said: “We really have exhausted every alternative in a bid to find the right site, and that is Budden Road.

“What is important now is that we monitor the site closely throughout the two years and listen to the views of local people at that time, before reviewing the future of the site at the end of its tenure.

“The issue has been ongoing for years and residents have told us they are fed up with the disruption and damage that unauthorised encampments bring.”

The council has said the introduction of a transit site for two years will give it and police legal powers to remove travellers within the space of two hours.

And it warned that similar plans by other authorities could mean more unauthorised encampments in Dudley if the caravan park is not built. 

Cllr Ridney has said the Labour Party would now call in the decision for scrutiny by councillors.