Comment

Representation ID: 15082

Received: 09/10/2021

Respondent: Carol Bishop

Whilst in principle I appreciate that new homes are required and people need jobs for the future I feel that too little emphasis throught the whole document and policies has been placed on the natural world and environment and much more ambition is required throughout the region to protect and enhance whatever greenbelt and limited access to wild places we have.

More tree planting, hedge planting, creating wildlife havens, provision of nesting sites, cleaning and enchancement of waterways either rivers or canals across with region and throughout all developments be they industrial, commercial or housing. Furthermore I would like to see more provision for small scale but vital food production areas included such as more allotment plots, community orchards and micro farms/small holdings as these are crucial to health and wellbeing and food security and local children particularly need opportunities to see and be involved in the production of food.

In addition micro parks should be included in housing developments and houses should be required to have and maintain hedges and trees within their boundaries as well as communal areas.

Biodiversity should be increased and achieving this should be a priority in granting any planning application be it residential, commercial and industrial. Furthermore plans should be in place to ensure the quality of the existing green infrastructure with the inclusion of adding more street trees, wild flower verges and hedge planting. Make it a priority to beautify and green up the black country with big plans for big green projects including involving the local wildlife trusts, the woodland trust and other such organisations such be at the core of any future planning by the black country boroughs, it should be at the heart of everything each of these councils plan to do for the future and sadly studying the draft Black Country Plan it felt like the natural world was an after thought, something on the margins not at the heart of things where it should be.

I hope my comments will be considered and ambition to make the Black Country beautiful, bio diverse and a good place to life and work will be at the forefront of any planning for the future not an after thought.