On 2 October, 2018, an injunction was granted by the High Court to protect Wolverhampton’s green spaces and other vulnerable sites against unauthorised encampments across the city.
During the court hearing, Mrs Justice Jefford DBE raised repeated concerns about travellers having nowhere to go in Wolverhampton and requested the council to develop a transit site.
After much consideration, the City Council carefully identified a suitable area for redevelopment at Gorsebrook Road.
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 site will be carefully managed by the council, bailiffs and West Midlands Police. Those moving to the site, will be charged a weekly rent to stay temporarily on the site for a maximum of 14 days.
Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “Since we obtained the injunction we have seen a vast reduction in unauthorised incursions, 75 per cent to be exact.
“By developing a transit site, we are providing travellers with a place to stay short term as well as reducing incursions in the city.
“A lot of detailed and complex work has been done to date and 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.”
The City Council will return to the High Court on Monday 20 July, 2020 at 10.30am for its second review hearing to discuss the status of the transit site development.
For more details information about the traveller injunction visit Traveller Injunction.
