Object

Draft Black Country Plan

Representation ID: 13478

Received: 21/09/2021

Respondent: Peter Smith

Representation Summary:

Dear Sir,

I am very opposed to the area once used as a golf course and known as Brandhall Golf Course being developed. This was land given by the farmer to Oldbury Council on the understanding that it would remain open space. Unforunately this was not written in to a legal document. Sandwell as usual are looking for the easy option to help them acheive their housing target. There are so many brownfield sites in the Black Country which should be developed first but of course they require remedial work and are therefore more expensive to develop.

A large area of the site runs along the side of the M5 and to build here would condem the people to constant noise and pollution.
There are streams running accross the site which have water attenuation measures to slowdown the flow and reduce silt.
There are a lot of trees in a mixture of mature and recently planted which would have to be felled to make way for the development.
In our current climate awareness it seems criminal to destroy so many trees which are cleaning the air and sequestering carbon. Chopping down the trees would result in a large release of carbon which all adds to climate change.
There would be a considerable loss of habitat for birds animals and insects which could not be replaced.
It is not possible to assess in monetry terms how a green space improves peoples wellbeing.
There will be more traffic on the surrounding roads with the resulting increase in pollution and local services will be put under additional pressure. Once the green space has gone it has gone for good and that will deprive generations to come. The people who make the decisions to build will not have to live with the consequences.

Yours faithfully


P Smith