Object

Representation ID: 14203

Received: 03/10/2021

Respondent: Alan Darby

I object to policy WSA4 ('strategic' housing site WAH 232, Bloxwich) due to (1) the loss of high-quality agricultural land and the great harm it will cause to the Green Belt (especially as that loss and harm is to be incurred to provide much further housing in an area largely devoid of employment and already functioning mainly as a 'dormitory suburb'); and (2) concerns about transport sustainability and local impacts.
I also have concerns about loss of visual amenity and loss of mature hedgrewows and trees.
As to transport, I my objection is to expected increases in vehicular traffic, especially along Turnberry Road Bloxwich. Much employment- and retail-related and other travel in the area is east-west, and, despite 'traffic calming' and its not being part of the main road network, Turnberry Road is heavily used by through traffic (in particular for the M6 and M54 motorways) avoiding the congested A4124 and B4210 through Bloxwich. The distance from the nearest rail station will deter travel by rail and/or militate for travel to Bloxwich North station (which has unrestricted car parking, free of charge) by car along Turnberry Road, and although site WAH 232 is readily capable of being served by bus in the same (A34, north-south) corridor, public transport services otherwise (notably east-west) are very limited. WAH 232 development can therefore be expected to be very heavily car-reliant unless public transport is markedly improved, and any access junction at or near the A34 Stafford Road/Turnberry Road junction will make Turnberry Road the obvious and attractive route for trips west (to the A4124 and A462 via B4210 Broad Lane). Therefore I contend that the WSA4 transport strategy must include measures to prevent any increase in Turnberry Road traffic beyond 'background' growth levels (i.e. its further use as a 'rat run'). I cannot conceive of highway measures which would be effective with WAH 232 extensively developed (short of physically closing Turnberry Road to through traffic) except building a new more direct east-west road (A34-B4210 link), and because such a road would be a further incursion into the Green Belt, I object to policy WSA4 on transport grounds until arrangements are made for a much more comprehensive network of rapid public transport services in the Bloxwich/South Staffordshire area combined with effective local highway measures to suppress vehicular traffic through residential areas. To the extent that WAH 232 is developed, it is essential to the character and street scene of Stafford Road and eastern Turnberry Road that the mature hedge and tree line along A34 Stafford Road is preserved, in particular when determining the location and designs of vehicular access. [ENDS]