By Deborah Hardiman
Copyright expressandstar
Walsall Council’s cabinet agreed to provide a facility for the gypsy, Roma and traveller (GRT) communities on land of Narrow Lane in Pleck, at a meeting in 2021. But the plans for six caravans attracted opposition from residents resulting in around 2,000 signing a petition against it at the time.
There are no caravans currently using the property and planning permission for it came to an end in the summer.
Now Walsall & Bloxwich MP Valerie Vaz MP has written to Black Country Integrated Care Board chief Mark Axcell to request that efforts are made to look into putting a neighbourhood health centre on the site after more than half of residents who took part in a recent consultation exercise, said they would like to see a community health centre built on the land. The respondents also overwhelmingly indicated that they did not wish to see the council-owned site remain in operation.
Miss Vaz said: “I sent a questionnaire to residents who live near the Narrow Lane Gypsy Romany and Traveller (GRT) temporary transit site to ask for their views on whether the land should continue to be used as a transit site and to let me know their preference for alternative uses for the site as the planning permission for the transit site expired in June 2025.
“The responses to the questionnaire have been analysed and they show that 84 per cent of residents who responded do not support the continuation of the site and opposed further use of the land as a transit site.
“When asked what they would like to see on the site, 57 per cent expressed a preference for a healthcare facility, 35.5 per cent said youth facilities and 32.7 per cent said housing.”
“Over 2000 residents initially objected to the proposal by a petition in 2021, which the council ignored when they granted temporary planning permission for the transit site. I spoke against the proposal at the meeting of Walsall Council’s Scrutiny Committee on March 1 2021.”
“The Government recently announced a 10-Year Health Plan, and their aim was to establish a neighbourhood health centre in every community. These centres will provide services under one roof and be open at evenings and weekends.”
“I have written to Mark Axcell, Chief Executive of the Black Country Integrated Care Board to ask him to look into establishing a neighbourhood health centre on the site.”
“Residents have made it clear in their responses that Narrow Lane should not continue as a transit site. They want the land to be used for much-needed facilities that will benefit the wider community, with healthcare provision coming out on top of the list.”
Groups tended to stay on the site near the junction of Darlaston Road and Old Pleck Road for a few days before moving on.
The council-owned land was formerly occupied by the old Pleck Neighbourhood Office and was chosen to assist the town hall to manage issues with unauthorised traveller encampments which regularly crop up on green spaces in the borough.
