PLANS to spend £600,000 over the next three years to protect vulnerable sites across the borough from illegal incursions have been thrown out, after opposition councillors vetoed the plans.

The cabinet's budget was put to full council on February 25, which set forward proposals for £600,000 to be spent over the next three years to secure vulnerable sites from illegal incursions.

Preventative measures would have included bollards to protect green spaces and the provision of enforcement officers.

Opposition Conservative councillors however put forward an amendment to the budget, calling on the cabinet to not approve the three-year funding and instead commit to the delivery of a transit site by May.

The amendment urged the cabinet to continue with the development of a transit site at Budden Road in Coseley, after the cabinet scrapped the controversial site last month.

It also called on the council to commit to delivering a transit site by the end of May this year, whether at Budden Road or an alternative site.

It also stated that the council authorises the use of preventative measures at sites vulnerable to inclusions before the site is delivered.

The amendment was passed by a razor edge, with the mayor's casting vote breaking the 36 to 36 deadlock in the 72 member council chamber.

Leader of the council Councillor Qada Zada said: "We can only assume that the Conservative party want travellers to use the parks and stop in the borough longer. We have called an urgent meeting with the leader of the opposition to discuss the travellers issue so that we can continue to do the right thing by residents."

Speaking after the meeting, Conservative Councillor Anne Millward said the council's approach to installing preventative measures such as concrete blocks was 'plaster on a bigger wound'.

Cabinet leaders will meet with the opposition on Thursday February 28 to thrash out a deal and try to locate a site.