Comment

Representation ID: 13056

Received: 19/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Cheryll Shuttleworth

Number of people: 2

Dudley MBC - Ref:- Draft Black Country Plan - July 2021

Dear Sir/Madam,
My wife and I are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the Kingswinford Neighbourhood Growth proposals which, according to Table 14(page 371 of the Draft Black Country Plan) - Dudley Housing Allocations in the Black Country Plan (BCP Policy HOU1) , would result in an additional 863 houses being built in the area.
Whilst we are concerned about the development/building of 330 homes on land south of Holbeache Lane and Wolverhampton Road in Kingswinford(DUH208), we are particularly concerned about the building of 533 homes on land which forms a triangle within the Swindon Road, Lodge Lane and the busy A449 in Wall Heath/Kingswinford(DUH211).

Our particular concerns are:-
1. 1. The loss of precious Green Belt – up to 10% of Dudley MBC’s total, apparently.
2. 2. The quality of life and health of local residents - additional noise and air pollution.
3. 3. The impact on traffic and transport - 863 houses could mean, as a general calculation, an additional 1200 or so cars for the roads to have to cope with.
4. 4. The pressure on local facilities - 863 houses could mean, as a general calculation, an additional 2000+ residents.
5. 5. The destruction of the local environment.

Whilst more housing is perceived as a necessity for the future of the nation and the area, we feel more research into the location of Brown Field sites should be considered.
From a practical viewpoint, below are some of the issues that we are concerned about and feel the ‘Council(s)’ must, as a top priority, think seriously about the following points:-
1. 1. Have you considered the impact on local facilities and infrastructure?
2. 2. Hospital provision, doctors, social care - how on earth would existing provision cope?
3. 3. Nursery, Primary and Secondary education - how on earth would existing provision cope?
4. 4. Roads - roads in this area are already full to capacity - how on earth would existing provision cope?
5. 5. Electricity, gas, water, sewers - how on earth would existing provision cope?

Current infrastructure would, in our view, prove to be inadequate to take on board the additional burdens which these proposals would generate; the points immediately above ought to be a legal requirement; that is, councils/developers must ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place BEFORE any housing development is allowed to even be considered!! I doubt that it is a legal requirement, unfortunately, and would urge the ‘Council(s)/developers’ to consider them most seriously.
Our view is that we must not allow these beautiful areas of Green Belt land to be ‘released’ for housing development and feel that this would result in the building of the wrong sort of housing in the wrong places!
In conclusion, my wife and I wish to offer our total objection to the Kingswinford Neighbourhood Growth proposals.
Yours faithfully,
Richard and Cheryll Shuttleworth