Black Country Plan U-Turn will cost taxpayer over £800K

A Freedom of information request submitted by Dudley Liberal Democrats has revealed that Dudley Council's decision to pull out of the Black Country Plan will cost the borough over £800k.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Patrick Harley made the sudden decision to pull out of the Black Country Plan in early October, attracting cross-party criticism for the move, including from Conservative colleagues in Walsall.

Dudley Liberal Democrats claim that the decision to pull out of the plan would have been the right move 18 months ago, but with a limited amount of time to develop a new local plan there is a real risk of a developer free-for-all of the Conservatives cannot get a plan place.

The eyewatering £800k figure also comes amid growing pressure on the Conservative Leadership over the borough's financial situation, which was rated as extreme by the corporate risk register.

The Liberal Democrat's Freedom of Information request indicates that Dudley Council has spent £326,560.00 between 2016/17 and 2022/23, and has estimated that the formulation of a new plan will cost a further £500,000.000.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Cradley and Wollescote Ryan Priest said:

"18 months ago, this would have been a well thought through policy, but with the clock ticking on the creating of a replacement plan, it's quite clear that this is just another Tory temper tantrum.

"The Conservatives have pushed Dudley's finances to breaking point, and this reckless plan will cost the taxpayer another half a million.

"It took 5 years to put together the Black Country Plan, working with 3 other councils. Now the Tories reckon they can do it alone in the next 18 months - failure to do so will mean the council is near powerless to stop building on the greenbelt.

"Dudley residents are picking up the bill for yet another reckless move by this failing administration that may well lead to a developer free for all."