Object

Representation ID: 14419

Received: 26/09/2021

Respondent: Katie Lavelle

I am emailing to lodge my objection to the plan to build housing on this site.

I only discovered the Smestow Nature Reserve about 3 years ago after buying a dog. I have met so many new people when walking the dog and we all love to say hello and pass the time of day. To me this one small gesture goes a long way as I find we live busy and hectic lives. There is plenty of space for everyone and so much time and money has been spent making beautiful walkways through the reserve. You can escape and hear all the beautiful sounds of nature, which for me is so valuable, as an nhs worker working through the pandemic, seeing the loss and devastation the pandemic has done. For me before my shift I will walk the dog, stop at the ponds and take time to appreciate the unspoilt surroundings. It means so much to my mental and physical health. If this is taken away I will have to travel elsewhere as I cannot walk the Staffordshire Railway Walk as I feel the amount of cyclists coming at speed is so dangerous, in fact my dog was hit by a cyclist going too fast. We have a Facebook group and on it you will see photos of all the wildlife you can see and it makes you think that you don’t have to go far to appreciate the finer things in life to make it positive, people are so passionate about its upkeep.