A WORDSLEY Labour councillor has raised concerns about decisions made by his own party chiefs to move nearly 100 council staff into a village education centre.

Derrick Hemingsley has issues with the proposed move of 91 Dudley Council workers from Stourbridge’s Mary Stevens Park to the Mere Centre, in Lawnswood Road.

The decision was taken to move children’s services workers out of the council building in the Norton park after visitors complained it was a “nightmare” trying to park at the beauty spot as most of the 130 spaces were being snaffled up by office workers.

Cllr Hemingsley, however, fears the streets around Wordsley Green could be hit with a similar problem.

He said: “I am not objecting to the use of the Mere Centre for children services staff, but my concerns are in three parts.

“Firstly, Dudley Council say there are 75 car parking spaces at the Mere Centre, I believe a more realistic figure is that there are only 45 to 50 spaces.

“Secondly, because of insufficient parking spaces, my concern is that the children services staff would have no other option but to park across the road in the spaces provided in Wordsley Green.

“Finally, during the week, any blue badge holders using the Richardson Hall – situated next door – are allowed to park at the Mere Centre and if they cannot find a space to park in, they may go home and not use the Richardson Hall facilities.”

He also claims the staff move could have a knock-on effect on the car parking spaces available at Wordsley Community Centre.

Cllr Judy Foster, cabinet member for corporate and customer services, has responded to her follow councillor’s claims, saying: “We surveyed the site and it has capacity for around 75 car parking spaces.

“Staff being moved there are a mixture of part-time, term-time and mobile workers who are largely out and about during the day, so we do not envisage this short-term move will adversely impact on the car parks adjacent the Wordsley Green shopping centre and doctors surgery area.”

Cllr Hemingsley proposes that the council allocates five car parking spaces for blue badge holders using Richardson Hall, review the number of staff being moved to the Mere Centre to a “more realistic number” and carry out a regular monthly reviews of parking issues.

Cllr Foster said the council will “keep the situation under review”, adding: “We will consider the suggestion of allocating parking spaces at the Mere Centre for blue badge holders using Richardson Hall.”