A CONTROVERSIAL travellers’ site in Coseley could be shelved for a second time if Labour takes control of Dudley council in up-coming local elections, a leading councillor has warned.

The contentious ‘on-off and back on again’ plan to build a 40 plot caravan park on Budden Road is to be discussed tonight (Wednesday) in what is expected to be a fiery meeting of Place Scrutiny Committee. 

The threat has sparked a hard-hitting rebuke from the Conservative leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, who accused  Labour of being cowed by its own councillors.

Speaking before the crucial meeting Labour’s Cllr Qadar Zada said unless there are radical changes to the £300,000 scheme his party will block it for a second time if it takes back control of the council in May.

He said: “I will of course want to hear the the recommendations of the Scrutiny meeting.

“But when we were in control we did an in-depth review of Budden Road and we concluded  that it wasn’t fit for purpose.

“Unless something dramatic has happened since the last time we were in control and now, then the answer will be the same.”

Planning approval for the Budden Road site was granted in 2018 despite fierce opposition from residents and local councillors.

But the plans were shelved when Labour took control later that year and started a search for an alternative location.

Campaigners opposed to the scheme thought they had won their battle after the Conservative Party’s victory in May 2019 local elections after which it announced it would attempt to find a new site.

But only last month, council leader Patrick Harley said the council had exhausted every alternative  and would be going ahead with the Budden Road location.

He has described Labour’s plan to shelve the scheme for a second time as an ‘empty threat’ and accused Cllr Zada of not standing up to Coseley’s three Labour councillors.

He said: “His party won’t win in May.  His comments show how spineless Labour are at actually doing anything for the benefit of the whole borough.  

“In his time as Council leader no other sites were proposed. Empty words from someone very afraid of losing his leadership role and being held to ransom by three Coseley councillors.”

The council has said the introduction of the temporary transit site will give it, in partnership with police, more legal powers to remove unauthorised encampments. 

These include ordering travellers to use Budden Road or leave the borough within two hours.