Object

Representation ID: 13438

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Annette Duffy

Environment
We need to protect and preserve these areas for future generations, we have already failed them in so many ways and developing on this green belt site is definitely not the way forward. Site WAH231 has long been a green corridor that provides a vital link between a number of sites noted for their importance for nature and wildlife -- Arboretum Park & Extension - Park Lime Pits -- The Dingle/Cuckoo's Nook - Barr Beacon. WAH231 is in itself a site of local importance for nature conservation and biodiversity, that once gone cannot be replaced. It provides a link between Hay Head Wood (SLINC) and Rushall Canal (SLINC), an essential wildlife passageway and habitat for a large number of wild animals.
This development is contrary to Policy ENV1 -- Nature Conservation which states that
'Development within the Black Country will safeguard Nature Conservation' Section 5 'All appropriate development should positively contribute to the natural environment of the Black Country by: Sb improve wildlife movement' - wildlife movement will be further diminished through this plan.
Hoar Brook runs along the length of the site and feeds into the Walsall Country Park where it is recorded as being populated with the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) -- a legally protected species.
In the policy document WSA6, the design principles state that 'A strategy for landscape and
habitat creation that provides enhancement, retention and mitigation for existing SL/NC features and established trees, to ensure there is no significant adverse impact on ecology, biodiversity, visual amenity and character or on protected animal species'. It is not possible to achieve any of this by developing the land on WAH231 into a housing estate.

Walsall's green spaces function as the lungs, the breathing space that is required for people and nature to co-exist effectively together. Eating into the green belt will deal a crushing blow to local biodiversity, increase carbon emissions and pollution, impacting negatively on climate change - unjustifiable on any level. Are we going to have continual growth and expansion until there is nothing left?