Stand-off involving police and MP at site of The Crooked House after access blocked
A stand-off took place today at the site of The Crooked House between contractors working there, members of a protest group and Dudley North MP Marco Longhi.
Contractors from Putnam Construction Services moved onto the site this morning after the new owners contacted South Staffordshire Council.
But there were angry scenes as the firm blocked off access for the public from Himley Road onto the site from around 12pm.
Protestors came to the scene and tried to get through and threats were made before police, Mr Longhi, and a planning official from South Staffordshire County Council were called.
At one point two protestors sat in the middle of the access road and blocked in a lorry from the construction company until police intervened.
Mr Longhi arrived around 2pm and was at first stopped by workers from the firm and police from accessing the public right of way before a map was brought out and he proceeded to the edge of the site where the famous pub once stood.
The MP said he was not made aware of any work taking place on the site this morning and accused the firm of 'thinking they can move the access points as they see fit.'
He said: "It amazes me they think they can block the public right of way off because they think members of the group, or anyone wanting to access the road, cannot read a map to see where the boundary should be.
"To block off the top of the road where people needed to get in and out, not just walkers or the public but people who were working in other areas near the site, was just wrong.
