Object
Draft Black Country Plan
Representation ID: 12374
Received: 11/10/2021
Respondent: Wall Heath as One
Number of people: 7905
Representation Summary:
1. Effect on road infrastructure: Roads into and around Wall Heath and Kingswinford are already struggling to cope – they are heavily congested throughout the day and grid locked, with tailbacks, at peak times on major A491 and A449 routes. These have returned to pre-covid levels with residents incurring daily delays and inconvenience they severely hinder journey times once roadworks and essential maintenance to services are needed, highlighting in advance, the long-term issues that will occur should building plans go ahead. Based on 2.4 people per household, resident numbers will increase by 2071, not including the additional developments, existing and planned, in neighbouring areas (e.g. major developments within 2 miles at Stallings Lane and Ketley Quarry, which do not have infrastructure improvements either). Households use multiple cars and vehicles, which will increase congestion to in an unacceptable level – impacting further on local roads, villages and estates where drivers already use multiple ‘shortcuts’ through estates to avoid congestion (this again is at both sites – however at Holbeache, numerous cars were seen ‘cutting through’ Maidensbridge Estate during a Traffic survey in August ’21 – even though this is signposted as ‘no right turn’. The road infrastructure through Wall Heath and Kingswinford cannot support an increase in traffic volume and new roads cannot be built to alleviate this without compromising more Green Belt, e.g. the Wester Strategic Road. During our survey, 2500+ vehicles were counted within an hour on the A491 at Holbeache during peak morning traffic, despite the fact that is was also school holidays – it included several HGVs and large vehicles. The noise levels are already excessive for residents and will increase significantly. Feedback has shown how these proposals have unsettles those living close to the main roads – some feeling angered and considering leaving the area. There are real concerns about inevitable reductions in housing prices, particularly those nearest to the A491 and A449, as well discontent about the increased amount of tax payer’s money required to create and maintain highways for these new, large estates.
2. Effect on road safety: Housing developments and increased traffic will seriously impact on road safety – for drivers and pedestrians. The elderly infirmed and school children (primary and secondary) will be exposed to increased risks when crossing roads in multiple areas. On the A449, pupils are exposed to this on the way to Summerhill school (opposite the Triangle): this has no traffic control and also runs downhill (with no speed cameras). Lodge Lane is also already heavily double parked and concerns abut safety are high. Currently, there are insufficient pedestrian crossings throughout Wall Heath – crossing the A491 to catch the bus by the Holbeache site is extremely hazardous. Increasing necessary traffic control with much needed extra pedestrian crossings will affect travel time further, adding to the existing issues with congestion. Add to this the ‘human factor’ of drivers using these roads, where queues create frustration, impatience and anger. Just one example: From the Holbeache island down the A491 towards the lights at Stallings Lane, drivers take risks to avoid the ‘Keep Left’ Sign, often at speed, to join the shorter right hand queue. This puts pedestrians, including school children, at risk on crossings close to the Charterfields Estate. Currently, residents find increasing difficulty with access to and from homes. Queuing drivers are not always courteous, causing undue stress for homeowners trying to leave or turn into their drives. This will undoubtedly be exacerbated by increased congestion.
3. Effect of increased congestion on public transport and air quality: Public transport is limited to buses only in our area, with no other alternatives (rail is 30mins+). These are limited in connection and frequency – with no service even to the hospital from Wall Heath. These services are already affected by the volume of traffic at peak times – especially routes along the A491. Increased congestion will impact on service times and reliability further, counteracting initiatives to encourage residents to use buses to reduce air pollution Since Hansen rates parts of Kingswinford as having the worst commuting score from homes to places of employment, residents will have few alternatives but to use own transport, thereby adding to congestion and CO2 emissions. “Motorised road traffic is one of the greatest man-made contributions to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere “ (Dudley Travel Plan). Particle pollution is also caused by tyres and brakes. By making our congested roads even worse, it will impact on local residents who are vulnerable to air pollution – older people, the young and those with chronic illnesses. The A491 feeds into Wordsley High Street as people travel to Stourbridge; already identified as having unsafe air quality where “Nitrogen Dioxide has been measured as exceeding the national air quality objective of 40 ug/m3”
4. Effect on car parking for schools: Difficulties associated with carparking for local schools, this does not resolve the issues of double-parking along roads – increasing risks to children and residents in the area. Sites at Holbeache and the Triangle are not convenient to local schools through winter months – increasing further road use and congestion on the A441 and A491.
5. Effect on school admissions: There are insufficient school places for children across the area. For September 2021 admissions, the only secondary with places for year 7 is Wordsley. Most other year groups are full. There are no places for Reception in Wall Heath for 2021; only one school in Kingswinford with places. Creating spaces by enlarging existing schools will change the character of them, or force buildings that take away car-parking, play areas or fields. Many parents do not want super-size schools; neither do they want to risk not being able to get children into the school of their choice – this has been a problematic issue for years for residents on Maidensbirdge estate wanting to get children into Summerhill. Special needs schools will not suddenly become more available, and neither will places for adults with additional needs. Even through Dudley Appendix A (containing site assessments) states the possibility of building a school at the Triangle, again there is no guarantee due to ‘marginal viability’
6. Effect on NHS and emergency services:
- There are not enough local doctors and dentists in the local area. Residents are being forces to travel out the area to access care. Wall Heath and Kingswinford have a number of elderly residents who cannot physically do this – due to their own capabilities and lack of public transport.
- Pre-lockdown, the average waiting time at Russell’s Hall was over 4 hours (2019). April ’21 inspections show it still ‘requires improvement’
- Longer ambulance wait times (In 2020, the turnaround times reached 60 mins) – this will also increase with more road congestion, thereby risking lives
- Further delays in local health services, mental health services (rapidly growing), hospital treatment and operations for serious illness.
- Strain on our police services: Kingswinford Police Station was closed in 2017; now there are just six community police officers covering 3 wards. Residents are really concerned about increasing crime levels in the area, and these are confirmed by local statistics on Police.uk. Talking to people from all these sectors, we cannot see how these services will cope.
7. Effect on Mental Health: The green belt at Holbeache and the Triangle are much needed, open spaces for mental well-being. They are enjoyed by a large number of the community for walking and appreciating the natural environment. During lockdown, these two beautiful, open spaces helped to reduce anxiety and still continue to do so now. By building on these spaces – creating noise and air pollution, affecting the visual landscape and developing over several years – it will directly affect residents who need them. These two sites help give residents pride in the area. As well as losing the space, additional stress will be created by light pollution and the building work itself will impact on residents, in terms of noise, traffic, visual and smell for a significant period of time (this will also impact on physical health – see point 3 above). Many new residents in our area bought their houses here to get away from the urban sprawl that the Green Belt is meant to protect. They feel betrayed by these proposals.
8. Loss of Green Belt; Effect on local wildlife and the environment:
- All brownfield sites and disused buildings across all other areas of England should be identified to address the national housing need – imposing more housing in already urbanised areas will have further negative impact on the environment and residents. Dudley, which is already a highly concentrated urban area, should not be expected to absorb yet more houses and have to release Green Belt at Wall Heath and Kingswinford because of imposed housing figures and need in other boroughs. This will create further urban sprawl.
- If these two sites are developed, it would put the area at risk of being opened-up to further development by South Staffs in their preferred option plan. At present they prevent urban sprawl along the western edge of the Black country. Just before lockdown, a planning proposal was ‘accidentally’ found which mapped out an industrial park the size of 90 football pitches just metres behind people’s back gardens in Wall Heath. We are sandwiched between two authorities, both assessing the land around us to build on Green Belt. If we are asking South Staffordshire not to build up to border, then Dudley should not either. There is a genuine feeling through the community that the security of choosing a home and having confidence in the future of our environment has been lost.
- Holbeache is VERY GOOD agricultural land – it is Grade 2, where a range of crops can be grown. The Triangle is Grade 3, which is also useful agricultural land. Both reduce the need to import food into Birmingham and contribute to easing resource reliance. The Government committed a 25-year plan to land in the UK, global warming, with hotter summers and colder winters, has affected the quality of crops and subsequent fertility of the soil. Urban areas rely on imported food; here, we have good quality land which the government has a responsibility to protect.
- The hedgerows all around Holbeache and a small plot to the left form a SLINC; The Triangle is also SLINC (Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation). Building here will mean loss of wildlife (sighting of owls, buzzards, a pair of red kites, bats – both protected); also, loss of bees and butterflies and biodiversity that the linked wildlife corridors are tyring to protect due to declining numbers. Disrupting the wildlife corridors at both locations would be irreversible.
- Loss of ancient oak trees at the Triangle and ancient hedgerows at Holbeache. Many trees have Tree Preservation Orders. This will also contribute to climate change – replanting schemes will not replace ancient habitats and features of the local environment.
- Loss of yearly daffodils display. They ass to the character of Wall Heath, are photographed across the region and create “a positive image” to enjoy (Ed Lawrence, Exp & Star March 2020). The poppies on the Triangle made national news.
- Flood risk to both areas due to the gradient of the land – this will impact on drainage of the area and ground water.
- Local people appreciate the green belt through walks and cycle rides – there is huge opposition, both local and across the Midlands; we want to protect it for future generations.
- Consideration for the elderly at the residential homes at Holbeache House, who benefit from the environment that the green belt provides.
9. Financial Impacts: The proposed ‘high value’ housing will not solve issues inked to social housing (which is set between 10-30%). Kingswinford and Wall Heath are being classed as ‘growth areas’ – local residents were not consulted about this or the consequences of what it would mean for our small community. There are little nearby employment sires or networks to support this.
10. Impact on Historical Characteristics: The area is connected with the Greensforge Roman Camp at the Triangle and Holbeach House (Wolverhampton Road) – the latter of great historical importance.