Object

Representation ID: 15078

Received: 04/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Lynda Wood

I am writing to oppose this proposal as it will impact greatly on Arboretum users. The area pinpointed for building is a beautiful piece of green belt adjoining the Arboretum which is a welcome change for the rest of
Walsall with its run down empty properties. Children love to stop and see the sheep and cows in the field •
many of these children don't even have a garden so this broadens their education of the countryside - albeit in a small way.

There are so many brownfield sites around why can't these be used ? The amount of empty factories and shops would be far better suited but I fear the Developers are taking the easy way out in using Green belt.

Another obstacle is, if (and I'm sure when) they open up Buchanan Rd to access the site it will be mayhem. That road is not built to accommodate the amount of traffic over 400 houses will generate. The pollution will be detrimental to the health of residents and devastating to the wild life in and around the park. I've seen
Red Deer come down from Cannock Chase to wander by the canal - that will stop. In the park itself and the "country walk" attached to it,there are so many species of wildlife which the noise from the building work, which will obviously take years to complete, will scare away. The Parakeets in the park, they will go and children will never have that opportunity to see them again round here.

As you are aware we are one the most deprived areas of the Country and now they want to deprive us of this
! Incidentally they say they will put trees along the field by the park which will obviously take many years to grow and certainly won't stop the noise and pollution.
I thought we wanted to attract visitors to Walsall - thus boosting footfall and increasing business for locals •
and the Arboretum which is the jewel in an otherwise very small crown does just that. They come for the beauty, the wildlife and the open spaces with fresh air which the Arboretum offers. How long before the noise and pollution puts people off.

I don't live in any of the roads surrounding the park - but I do use it almost daily, and certainly
4 or 5 times a week the whole year round for the benefit of both my mental and physical health, which after the horrendous 18 months has suffered like many of us