Campaigners call revised travellers site plans in Wolverhampton 'a joke'
Campaigners against a £1 million travellers site in Wolverhampton have called the altered plans "a joke".
Land off Gorsebrook Road in Whitmore Reans has been earmarked for the development, with the scheme backed by planners in the city.
It came after council bosses said they had made "major changes" to the proposals, taking on board people's objections and criticism.
Now campaigners, along with residents, have hit out at the alterations, saying they would continue to fight against the development which will be discussed tomorrow.
Wolverhampton Council chiefs have been pushing for a transit site in the city over fears a High Court injunction, protecting sites in the city against unauthorised encampments, would not be renewed.
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Kamran Khan, aged 42, said: "The residents living here have not been properly consulted and the general feeling is that we’ve been railroaded into it and the decision has already been made.
"This is one of the most deprived areas in Wolverhampton. Why cut down all those trees and ruin all the wildlife? We don’t want it here.
"This is a breakdown in democracy and a sad state of affairs as far as I’m concerned. But it isn’t the council’s problem is it? It’s the problem of the people who live here."
Members of the St Peters Ward Residents Group, said in a statement: "The council stating that they've listened to the objections and amended the plans is a joke.
"They've heard us but haven't actually listened.
"We still won't give up without a fight and we'll see you all in May."
The revised plans will see the site staffed 24/7 by a site manager, a dedicated phone line put in place and CCTV monitored.
The maximum stay period has been reduced from 28 days to 14 days – with the period of "no return" extended from three months to 12.
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment at Wolverhampton Council said: "We have allowed additional time to further consider the application and have addressed any legitimate issues to amend the proposed site management plan.
"The decision, whether or not to approve the amended planning application, will be made by the planning committee at their meeting on Tuesday."
