Comment

Representation ID: 10735

Received: 17/08/2021

Respondent: Dr Judith King

Suggestions in order of preference/importance!

This land runs along the eastern side of the Rushall Canal and at the moment there's a high hedge/ row of trees between the canal and the land in question. Please could the hedge be left in place and development occur behind it? A lot of people walk along the canal and at the moment that whole stretch feels pleasantly rural, with the Walsall Country Park on the opposite side. Preserving the hedge will preserve the amenity value of the canal and will also benefit biodiversity and the environment.

It is a tall hedge and hopefully would completely screen the new buildings from the canal- providing they don't build blocks of flats.

Better still, if possible: on the eastern side of the hedge there is a narrow strip of land and then a footpath which runs parallel to the canal and continues up towards Hay Head Wood. Whitethroat nest in the scrub between the canal and the footpath. If possible, could development be restricted to the eastern side of the footpath, to preserve the footpath and the narrow strip of grass/scrubland?

Even better, there's a handful of big old trees in the middle of the area in question. I just wonder whether it might be possible to preserve them, or some of them, as part of a "green strip" in the new estate? Could improve the amenity of the estate and would also help to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.