Support

Draft Black Country Plan

Representation ID: 12286

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr DARRYL CARTWRIGHT

Representation Summary:

We support the Council’s continued protection of countryside at Lapal, Illey, Coombeswood, Uffmoor, Hayley Green, Lutley and Foxcote, following a formal review of the Green Belt.
Circa 1989 Dudley Council, following a previous Green Belt review, improved the Public Rights of Way network in these areas by working in collaboration with local volunteer groups. Following on from that the Council promoted enjoyment of this countryside by the public for informal recreation. They
supported the production of walk leaflets explaining the historic landscape and ecological significance of each area. The Council even contributed £20,000 towards The Woodland Trust purchasing Uffmoor Wood, despite this being just outside the Borough boundary and coming under Bromsgrove Council. In doing so they appreciated the important relationship between this ancient coppice woodland and neighbouring farmland, including Tack Farm which is the site of a former Anglo-Saxon mill (Notwic Mill).
This countryside, protected by Green Belt designation, is rich in history.
At Lapal and Illey are the remains of Halesowen Abbey which is a Scheduled Ancient
Monument of National Importance.
At Lutley we have a Conservation Area associated with the historic Lutley Mill and the green lane that links it to the mediaeval hamlet of Lutley which was once held by the Canons of Wolverhampton.
Foxcote, which forms the foreground se ng of the Iron Age Fort on Wychbury Hill, and historically is linked to it, is archaeologically rich with finds of flint arrow heads, flint scrapers, axes and other tools. It was the site of ancient hunting summer camps and, in part, this explains the wide scatter of historic ‘finds’.
The countryside hereby defined is important to people from far afield and, within the wider landscape, encompasses the famed and beautiful Clent Hills, a large area of which is owned and managed by the National Trust. We must also consider the Hagley Hall Estate which includes a large proportion of Wychbury Hill, the importance of which was acknowledged in the 18th Century by George Lyttelton in his creation of Hagley Park which is now a Grade 1 Listed Garden. On Wychbury Hill are two significant follies, ‘The Temple of Theseus’ and ‘The Obelisk’, tastefully exploiting the landscape prominence of the hill and the presence of the fort.
The whole of this area, including that within Dudley Borough, is of regional importance as an amenity asset for the wellbeing of, and enjoyment by, a large population. We personally spend many hours of enjoyment walking in these areas, appreciating their beauty and the fresh air. It would be so simple to seriously, and hence permanently, damage the area with inappropriate developments and associated infrastructure.