Object

Representation ID: 11081

Received: 22/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Geoff Swingler

[Holbeache]

Loss of green belt and impact on wildlife and the environment;
All brownfield sites should be used before green belt.
Holbeache is very good agricultural land - it is grade 2, where a range of crops can be grown.
The government committed a 25year plan to protect land of this quality and use the soil in a sustainable way.
The hedgerows all around Holbeache and a small plot to the left form a SLINC.
Building here will mean a loss of wildlife, trees, daffodil annual display.
Local people appreciate the green belt through walks and cycle rides.
Residents of Wallheath have chosen to move away from large residential areas and live close to rural areas with cleaner air and green spaces.
Building this size will cause air and water pollution with chemicals released during construction.

Effect on local services: Roads
The A449 is a very busy, noisy road. Local infrastructure is already congested. Additional vehicles will add to congestion, cause higher CO2 emissions and poorer air quality, increased accidents. It will also cause drivers to cut through the Maidensbridge estate, creating road safety issues.
Additional housing will add to flooding issues which regularly occur on the A449 at Holbeache Nursing Home at times of heavy rain.

Effect on local services: Schools
Data supports that local parents have had difficulty attaining places for their children at local schools. For the September 2021 admissions, the only school with places for year 7 is Wordsley. Most other year groups are full. This will only become worse with additional housing in the area.

Effect on local services: NHS
There aren’t enough doctors and dentists in the local area. Moss Grove Surgery, Kingswinford is having to send patients to their Kinver practice.

The proposed plan is for limited high value homes. This is not what the government proposed.
Affordable housing should be built on High Streets in place of vacant shops.