Support

Representation ID: 13910

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Ms Liz Jackson

BLACK COUNTRY PLAN – SUPPORT THE PROTECTION OF THE GREEN BELT AROUND HALESOWEN

I support the Council’s continued support of the countryside at Hayley Green, Uffmoor, Lutley, Foxcote, Lutley, Illey and Coombeswood, following a formal review of the Green Belt.

Following a previous Green Belt review, around 1989, the public rights of way network improved in these areas.
Following on from that, the Council promoted use and enjoyment of this countryside by the public and supported the production of walk leaflets explaining the historic, landscape and ecological significance of each area.

The Council even contributed £20,000 towards The Woodland Trust purchasing Uffmoor Wood, even though this was outside the borough boundary and coming under Bromsgrove. By doing this, the Council showed it’s appreciation of the important relationship between the ancient coppice woodland and neighbouring farmland, including Tack Farm, which is the site of a former Anglo-Saxon mill (Notwic Mill).

This countryside is rich in history and is protected by Green Belt designation:
* Lapal and Illey have the remains of Halesowen Abbey, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance. At Lutley there is a Conservation Area associated with historic Lutley Mill and the green lane that links it to the medieval hamlet of Lutley, which was once held by the Canons of Wolverhampton.
* Foxcote, which forms the foreground setting of the Iron Age Fort on Wychbury Hill is archaeologically rich with frequent finds of flint arrow heads, flint scrapers, axes and other tools. It was the site of ancient hunting summer camps which, in part, explains the wide scatter of historic finds.

The countryside is important to people from far afield and, within the wider landscape, encompasses Clent Hills, which is owned and managed by the National Trust. There is also the Hagley Hall Estate, which includes a major proportion of Wychbury Hill. The importance of this area was acknowledged by George Lyttelton in the 18th century in his creation of Hagley Park, which is now a Grade 1 listed garden. On Wychbury Hill are two significant follies – the Temple of Theseus and The Obelisk which enhance the prominence of the hill and the presence of the fort.

The whole of this area is of regional importance as an amenity asset for the welfare of, and enjoyment by, a large population. It would be so easy to seriously damage this area with inappropriate developments and its associated infrastructure.