Object

Representation ID: 11564

Received: 06/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Anthony Hadlington

I wish to register my objection to the potential sale of and building on the green site at Severn drive Pensnett (DUH222).

I am specifically objecting to this site as i live on Fernhurst drive but my concerns apply to any development of green sites in the area.

All the obvious reasons apply. Wildlife, a place to walk dogs, a place for youngsters to congregate without impacting residents. Etc Etc.

Reasons specific to our family are:

We regularly walk across the green talking about the trees. The insects, the bees etc. He is intrigued by all this and has a thirst for the knowledge that that small area gives him. We have recently had in the garden. Talking to him about this is fascinating for him. He questions everything to understand why a bee lands on a flower. It is necessary for us to preserve these areas for mental well being of all and the education of children.

He too lives in Pensnett, just off coopers bank road. When in a pushchair his mom would walk here 3-4 times a week. But now at age 4 the pushchair is gone and it is not safe for them to walk along coopers bank road to get here. Its narrow overgrown pavements on a road that 90% of traffic breaks the speed limit makes it impossible. This was an opportunity to see what nature had to offer but we sadly just accepted that that aspect for us was no longer available. We now find that a bit of green space that gives him some freedom is potentially going to be taken away too.

For our mental and physical health we need open spaces for us and our children and that are safe. The site at Severn Drive offers a small sized development site but it's value to us is phenomenal and far out weighs the benefits that a few houses may bring.

There are many brown sites available that could be used that won't impact our children's well being, that said our schools locally are oversubscribed. It is a battle to get a place at local schools. We need to get traffic off the roads, not increase it. With children getting school places a distance from home, not only will we have more cars in the area generally but all these cars will be taking their children to school as they are not close enough to walk. My grandson, again as an example, despite being autistic he did not get his first choice primary school but will be going to Dawley Brook in Kingswinford. He will NEVER be able to walk to school because of the distance. This no doubt is the case for many local residents and will only become more and more difficult as new developments spring up.

I appreciate my reasons are very specific to our family but many people are affected in similar ways. We need our open spaces. Small as they are. Please let ours stay.