Tip row escalates with options ruled out

Dudley Council’s leader rubbished allegations he misled borough people over negotiations for access to a waste disposal centre.

A report for the council’s cabinet which lays out options for waste provision in the borough sparked a row between political top dogs.

Labour claimed the report shows the ruling Conservative group leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, misled residents over the prospects of a deal with Wolverhampton council to reinstate access to their Anchor Lane tip for people living in north Dudley. 

Dudley Labour leader, Cllr Shaukat Ali, said: “Residents were told a deal was close. However, it transpires that Wolverhampton rejected Dudley’s approach a long time ago but residents were given an impression things were progressing. 

“Cllr Harley knew this, yet continued to raise expectations. That is not honest leadership.”

Cllr Harley says discussions were taking place in November 2025 where each authority put initial costings and working parameters on the table.

He added: “It transpired from this that the proposed costings and parameters from each council were close enough in financial terms and operational arrangements to provide a realistic basis for a formal proposal to be submitted.

“As mentioned in the report, this proposal was submitted to Wolverhampton on the 16th April 2026, using the information shared and discussed by officers.  The response from the leader of Wolverhampton Council is contained within the report.

“It is not correct that residents were misled regarding the prospects of restoring access to the Anchor Lane.”

The report, which will be discussed by Dudley cabinet members at a meeting on October 8, says discussions for the potential allocation of 17,000 slots at Anchor Lane for Dudley residents were ‘positive’.

The letter from Wolverhampton’s leader responding to the proposal said: “At present, we are not sufficiently confident that an arrangement could be established which delivers clear and sustainable benefits without placing additional pressure on the service or adversely impacting the experience of our residents or that of nearby businesses”.

Council officers concluded the option of a deal with Wolverhampton council was not available.

The report also says other options to provide extra waste disposal facilities in the borough included the development of sites at the former Coseley School, New Bridge House, also in Cosley, Castlegate in Dudley or other brownfield sites.

The report added, after extensive review, most alternatives were ruled out due to land availability, traffic concerns, planning issues, cost or site constraints.

During 2025, a plan to close the council’s existing tip in Stourbridge and relocate to Blowers Green to provide a location in the centre of the borough gained traction.

After a viability study however the plan was ditched due to possible traffic problems around a Midland Metro crossing, the need for access and fire escape requirements from the nearby industrial estate and issues with relocating a council depot on Lister Road.  

Another option proposed by Labour is to negotiate a deal with Sandwell Council for access to their facility in Shidas Lane, Oldbury.

Cllr Harley said: “There is nothing in the report to mention Shidas Lane but we will always remain and actively pursue partnership arrangements that are mutually beneficial to neighbouring authorities and residents.”