No alternative spaces to save Walsall truck park

Walsall Council says it has no plans to provide alternative parking places for HGVs after it won planning permission to convert a truckstop into a car park.

The long-standing Walsall Wood park, which has space for around 10 articulated lorries, was branded "antisocial" by the local council in its planning application to make space for shoppers.

Despite a 200-stong petition out together by locals in favour of retaining the park, which has boosted trade in nearby food outlets, Conservative councillor Adrian Andrew says it has no plans to site the lorries elsewhere.

He adds: "We feel there is sufficient parking on other sites located nearby. The council does not have a statutory duty to provide any lorry parking facilities, but we do have a large site in Willenhall and, in addition, there is overnight parking for lorries on the M5 and M6 and other parks, which are easily accessible from the A5 north of the borough."