Residents in Wolverhampton are furious with municipal officials for squandering over £1 million on a traveller site that was never used.
Taxpayers footed the tab for the contentious site, a Negotiated Stopping Point (NSP) that can accommodate 13 caravans and cars.
Wolverhampton City Council transformed a two-acre old landfill site on Gorsebrook Road into a transport hub for travelers.
The facility, which includes laundry and washing facilities, perimeter fencing, and CCTV surveillance, was meant to temporarily shelter travellers who had been expelled from unlawful camps.
Council executives from around the UK argue that transit sites bring long-term benefits by dramatically reducing clean-up expenses.
Clean-up expenses in Wolverhampton had previously been estimated to reach over £300,000 per year.
Travellers staying at the facility may stay for up to 14 days for £100 per week and a £250 deposit.
They were not allowed to return to the city for a year after they departed.
Despite the fact that it was launched in September, no one has visited the site.
After another group stormed a park three miles distant last month, residents were outraged and accused municipal officials of “going soft” on travellers.
‘It’s an awful farce,’ said Mick Elson, 55, of Wolverhampton.
‘Not only did the council spend over £1 million of our money on a website to assist illegal immigrants, but hardly one uses it.’
‘Your ordinary illegal immigrant isn’t going to be ready to pay hundreds of pounds when there’s a park down the road where they can camp for free.’
‘Yet again, the council has softened its stance on visitors who overrun our parks and open spaces at the cost of law-abiding inhabitants.’ It’s revolting.’
Mum-of-three ‘Building a site where you ask travelers to spend hundreds of pounds was always a crazy notion to me,’ Debra Craig, 40, said.
‘The fact that the property has yet to be utilised makes the council appear like a laughingstock.’
‘Those who unlawfully set up camps should not be offered assistance in planning their next illegal relocation; instead, they should be punished.’
Wolverhampton Authority’s environment leader, Councillor Steve Evans, said the council takes the problem of illegal encampments “extremely seriously.”
‘The establishment of our NSP on Gorsebrook Road provides people of those encampments with an option when they visit the city,’ he added.
‘While it has not yet been utilized, it is a deterrent to unlawful encampments.’
‘If anybody arriving in the city decides not to remain at the NSP and instead sets up an unlawful campsite, municipal officials will take necessary action.’
‘This location was not desired by the local community, and it does not seem to be wanted by the traveling community,’ said Conservative councillor Wendy Thompson.
‘It cost a lot of money and seems to be a ridiculous waste of money.’
Another transit station in nearby Smethwick opened in 2017 and cost £200,000, although it has only been used once in the last year for 12 days.