'It can be something beautiful': Litter pick showcase for travellers transit site campaigners
Dozens of residents turned out to litter pick on a plot of tree-covered land which has been earmarked for a proposed £1 million travellers site in Wolverhampton.
The residents were joined by local councillors, MP Eleanor Smith and parliamentary candidate Stuart Anderson for the litter pick off Gorsebrook Road, in Whitmore Reans, on Sunday.
The move to allow travellers onto land has sparked a major backlash in the area.
But the council is pressing on with the plan, which it says it must get passed in order to ensure other green spaces across the city remain protected.
The plans have officially been tabled by the council this week.
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Campaigners picked up their tools in a bid to spruce up the area and show the area can be looked after.
During the litter pick, Eleanor Smith also helped plant a tree – which was donated to her by Extinction Rebellion.
It is said that if the tree is ever at risk, Extinction Rebellion would come to Wolverhampton to protect it.
Ms Smith, MP for Wolverhampton South West, said: "It is noted that Extinction Rebellion will come down if the tree is at risk – the idea is that the tree will stay here.
"This is not about being against the travellers, we are not pitting one community against another.
"This is about where they want to put this site, the area they want to put it is not suitable for our travellers, there are concerns over health and safety.
"The community always wanted this area to be an area of reservation. If the community is asking for this, then they should be able to have it.
"You have a variety, look at the diversity in this community – we are not against the travellers.
"It is about where this site is, whether it is suitable for them and the community wanted somewhere of greenery, which they asked for
"I am here today [Sunday] to help plant the tree donated by Extinction Rebellion and help with the community litter pick."
Litter pick organiser, Wesley Turner-Windsor, said: "I live five doors down, on Gorsebrook Road – this area is beautiful and quiet, considering the city is right there.
"We have got hardly any green space around here and I think it would be such a shame to turn this into anything other than it is.
"I would love to walk my dog here, I would love to come and sit here under a tree – it is just really peaceful and quiet.
"This event is about clearing up the area – the council have said it is disused and full of rubbish.
"We are saying the opposite, yes it hasn't been used but we want to use it.
"It should have been a nature reserve, I think it was 10 years ago it was earmarked for a nature reserve.
"As a community we want to stand up and say we want our nature reserve. And we deserve it – this area needs it, it is a deprived area. It can be turned into something beautiful which we can use."
Stuart Anderson, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton South West, added: "From the moment we heard they wanted to turn this into transit site we have been campaigning to make sure it stays a green area – but not only that it stays a green area, that they actually invest more into this and it is opened up to the public and used as a nature reserve.
"To see how many people of the community have come together to take ownership of this is absolutely brilliant. They have united together with one goal – to get their voice heard to ensure it is a nature reserve."
The plot of tree-covered land the size of a football pitch has been earmarked off Gorsebrook Road, Whitmore Reans, for a travellers site which will allow them to stay for up to 28 days when they arrive in the city
The council agreed to develop a transit site after the High Court passed an injunction against illegal traveller encampments at 60 sites across Wolverhampton.
