£1m plans for traveller site revealed

Wolverhampton Council has revealed plans to build a £1m transit site in the city for traveller families.

The council agreed to develop a transit site after the High Court passed an injunction against illegal traveller encampments at 60 sites across Wolverhampton

Since the injunction has been in force, the council says Wolverhampton has seen a significant reduction in unauthorised encampments by 75% in 12 months.

During the court hearing, Mrs Justice Jefford raised repeated concerns about travellers having nowhere to go in Wolverhampton.

The council agreed to take steps to develop a transit site to enable travellers to have somewhere to stay short-term, when they visit the city.

To comply with the terms of the injunction, the council is required to submit its plans for the proposed transit site to be discussed at the review hearing on December 5.

The council has earmarked an area for redevelopment, at a derelict piece of land at Gorsebrook Road in the St Peter’s ward of the city.

“A transit site will give the police greater powers to move travellers off unauthorised sites and onto the transit site as soon as possible – enabling a more effective way of managing unauthorised encampments,” the council said.

“The council is hosting a meeting for local residents and business to enable them to have their say on the proposed plans.”

The meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn at Wolverhampton Racecourse on October 7 from 6.30pm until 7.30pm.

A drop-in session will also be held at Gatis Street Community Centre on October 16 from 3pm until 6pm.

Cllr Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “We have identified a possible location to develop a transit site in Wolverhampton.

“This is a requirement ordered by the High Court – without a transit site in place, we are not holding up our end of the agreement.

“It has been 12 months since we have obtained the injunction and I’m pleased to have seen a vast reduction in traveller incursions.

“By developing a transit site, we are providing travellers with a place to stay short-term as well as reducing incursions in the city.

“I understand there will be questions and perhaps some concerns about the proposal which is why we are holding a public meeting and a drop-in session for residents to have the opportunity to speak to our officers and have their questions answered.

“I would like to thank council officers who have been working tirelessly to ensure all steps ordered by the High Court have been implemented to continue to protect our green spaces.”

Before the injunction was in force, incursions cost the council an estimated £350,000 to manage each year.

If approved, the transit site will cost approximately £960,000 to develop.