Object

Representation ID: 12803

Received: 17/09/2021

Respondent: Sukhbinder Dhillon

I am objecting to The Black Country Plan in general where it plans to build houses on the Walsall
Green Belt and to the Calderfields Farm / Aldridge Road development alongside Walsall Arboretum
in particular, where there are plans to build 442 homes. This development will destroy greenbelt,
wildlife corridors and increase flooding. Protected species of [Redacted-sensitive information] habitats will be
destroyed. The [Redacted-sensitive information] will be lost to the area as they try to navigate around the noise and light pollution. It will also deny the population of Walsall access to open green space, rural views, clean air and exercise.

The covid pandemic has highlighted the need for open green spaces, accessible within walking distance of town dwellers who may have no gardens or transport to be able drive into the country.
This particular walk which runs alongside the fields proposed for this development (Calderfield Farm/Aldridge Road) is particularly heavily utilised by adults and children from every socio economic and ethnic group. It is also accessible to wheelchair users, push chairs, cyclists and of course walkers. The walk has trees on either side with views of the fields and grazing sheep which would be lost if this development goes ahead. This rural view and tree lined walk have a positive impact on the mental and physical well-being of town dwellers who need it the most. During covid this walk has been a lifeline. I have seen it full of people walking in small groups to the extent that at times it was difficult to maintain a safe distance. I realise that we need to build more homes for the future, but we also need to realise the damage we are doing to the planet. I could understand this proposal if there were no other options, but many parts of Walsall lie derelict crying out for
development. New housing developments should be built on these brown field sites with renewal of the landscape in order to increase the amount of green space in Walsall and improve people's lives.

Instead, this plan does the total opposite and leaves the derelict areas to decay further whilst polluting vital green space in the green belt with new housing developments.
I am not a seasoned objector and understand the need for new homes, but this type of destruction of valuable resources is unnecessary. Developers need to build on brownfield sites. This may be expensive but please do not take the easy option and deprive Walsall residents of the Green Belt. If this isn't stopped, we will look back in 10 years and the Green Belt will be gone, whilst the
brownfield 'difficult' sites will still remain as eyesores for local people. Greenbelt should only be considered when there are no brownfield sites left. For the physical and mental health of Walsall residents and for the wildlife STOP building on our Green Belt.