Object

Representation ID: 15094

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Caroline Shee

Document: Black Country Plan
Ref: WOH274 WTNA
Site: WEC Smestow Valley, Wolverhampton
I would like to object to the above named site being included in the Black country Plan
for housing development.
Local Green Importance
I am extremely saddened to see that Wolverhampton Council have chosen to include
this magnificent site in the Black Country Plan consultation. With Wolverhampton
having the lowest available green spaces and biodiversity sites when compared to
Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell, this is a site that we need to preserve for our local City
and its conurbations.
When I was reasearching this site further in order for me to provide my objection I
was thrilled to see that it was mentioned on the Wolverhampton Council's website, the
live link to which I have provided below;
Former WEC site opens as Local Nature Reserve to the public | City Of
Wolverhampton Council
The first statement and opening paragraph reads "The former Wolverhampton
Environment Centre (Central Plant Nursery) has been transformed into a woodland
beauty spot adjoining Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve (LNR)"
How quickly circumstances can change when land is needed by the council for
housing when there are more appropriate locations where housing needs can be met
in the City. The article goes on to quote the following;
"Improvement works include woodland management, pond management, wildflower
meadow creation, a community garden, new paths throughout to connect the area to the
wider Smestow Valley LNR, new fingerpost signs and new entrances from the disused
railway line pathway into the reserve".
After all the work and money that the council has invested with all the changes the article
notes above that council services and local people have helped to develope, how this site
can be considered for luxury houses confuses me greatly.
I am aware that this site is currently listed as brownfield land due to the nature of the
buildings that were here before when it was the Wolverhampton Environmental
Centre, and Cantral Plant Nurseries. Why was this land never recategorised when the
structures here were demolished given all of the hard work that has gone into
promoting the site and developing it ecologically? Nature can take over any site
where it is needed, and where it needs to thrive and this is exactly the case with this
site. To loose the habitat that has developed on here would be an absolute travesty
and I would like to call on Wolverhampton Council and its Council Leader to listen to
the local people of this area and other local councillors and MP's with a
compassionate and well overdue commitment to a review of the current status of the
WEC from brownfield to greenbelt land.
Local residents and regular visitors love this area and take time to voluntarily keep
this area in the condition to which it is accustomed in order for nature on this site to
thrive, and would like to see it remain and be protected for future generations to
enjoy. By developing this site for housing, would change the visual amenity and
character of this valuable area. Building work and noise will contribute to the loss of
local wildlife which makes its home on and adjacent to this site and the fields and
meadows which surround it. It is a vital corridor that runs through and adjoins the
Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, linking our local green spaces and adding to their
value.
During the last two years, our green spaces have been used and appreciated by
more and more people enjoying nature and wildlife on their doorsteps. We are
extremely lucky in our region not to have to travel too far to find a green space that
we can enjoy. It is vital for mental health and wellbeing, and this site being part of
Smestow Valley Nature Reserve is appreciated by local residents and those from
further afield who travel to this beautiful location.
Destruction of the Local Environment
This vital site has an of array valuable tree's and hedgerows, nature and biodiversity
and it is a site of local importance in nature conservation. The site is quickly
establishing valuable and natural wetland areas that are majorly important for the
development of wildlife habitats. With a site retaining this much moisture in the
ground it would be wholly unsuitable for development and a chosen site for local
housing. Building residential housing on this site will cause a flood risk, which will
affect the drainage of the area and naturally pooling ground water. The vast number
of trees on this site help to contain the water and drain it naturally in certain areas
when needed. By removing these trees removes the drainage points and will be
dangerous to any development proposed on this area.
Local residents and visitors to this site have documented a huge variety of wildlife
species on this site, with some of them noted as being protected.
The pools are currently home a developing colony of Great Crested Newts which are
a strictly protected species in Europe and the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981 and are a priority species under the UK Post 2010 Biodiversity framework.
To destroy their habitat would be against the law in this country and a criminal
offence. There has been a huge decline in this species and its abundance in the last
century, so to have these amazing creatures on the doorstep of our City would give
us as local residents and Wolverhampton Council a huge climate and nature
opportunity to maintain their protection.
However these are not the only species of our local wildlife that are at risk of reduced
numbers, with moths butterflies and bees are seeing a significant decline. The habitat
needed for these species to flourish is everything that this site boasts with perfect
conditions that could enable our city to help increase their numbers.
The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country have recently submitted their
objections for the WEC and advertised them publicly on their website and social
media page.
The Wildlife Trust conclude that site assessment process should not have selected
this site and that it has been identified as a potential site of importance for nature
conservation. They state that local wildlife assessment is required to provide evidence
to inform the Black Country Plan site assessment process. They state that this has
not been undertaken and that therefore they object to the allocation on this basis.
they state that as it adjoins the nature reserve and it being a SINC it has a high
potential for detrimental impact. They also states that access to development would
require vehicle access across a greenway, which conflicts with Policy CSP4 -
Achieving well designated places, and Policy ENV8 - Open spaces, sport and
recreation.
Additional Pressure on Local Facilities
The council may not think 12-14 proposed luxury houses on this site will make a
significant dent in local services and facilities but this could not be further from the
truth. 12-14 additional cars on the road minimum if each property has a minimum of 1
car, adding to increased pollution when the local councils are being asked to commit
to reducing pollution.
It creates an addition 12-14 families in the area to be registered at local GP surgeries
adding pressure to the current community that this site will border when local health
services are massively oversubscribed already at present. The local road
infrastructure is already struggling to cope with high traffic levels around Finchfields
and Whitwick, both in and out of the City centre.
The number of houses suggested for this site are not meeting affordable housing
targets with expensive luxury housing intimated for this specific area. Providing more
"High Value" housing will not solve the problem of lack of affordable or social housing.
Why not invest in more affordable on a larger scale on larger brownfield sites with a
lower biodiverity value that already has the infrastructure available to cope, and not
on high value open green spaces.
Proposals for the future use of the WEC
This amazing for WEC site really is the jewel in the crown of the City of
Wolverhampton. To loose this site would be to loose the natural and biodiversity value
forever.
I would love to see and would support Wolverhampton Council wholeheartedly to
achieve a registered changed of use as a Visitor Centre. With climate change a major
topic on many councils and the county's lips at the moment we need to teach our
future generations about the value of nature, its place in our community and help
them to look after it as custodians for the future.
Dudley Council stepped in 2 years ago to provide Saltwell's Nature Reserve in Dudley
Wood with funding to provide a wonderful cost effective and eco friendly visitor centre
where local school children can go to take part in activities and obtain a better
knowledge and understanding of the world and its wildlife around them. Part of their
site was also at risk of a luxury housing development but Dudley Council, with the full
support of its Councillors and the local community, did the right thing and brought
previously sold land back to enhance their site and add to its value, with it being
awarded Black Country Geopark status not long afterwards. The WEC site would be
absolutely perfect for our area to have a Visitor Centre nd a Black Country Geopark
status all of its own where local primary school children and their families can come to
take part in local nature activities and fully enjoy this dynamic area.
It would help to provide the site, Smestow Valley and The Wildlife Trust for
Birmingham and the Black Country who support the nature reserve, with an army of
volunteers to maintain the site and learn more about habitat and wildlife management.
It would give the opportunity for courses to be provided for local residents and Local
families and children to take part in that could help to raise funds to help fund the
upkeep of the site. A visitor centre would provide the nature area with an undercover
location for larger local community events to be held.
We need to invest in our amazing City and its strengths and I see the former
Wolverhampton Environmental Centre as the perfect place for Wolverhampton
Council to pledge its allegiance to nature conservation and climate change that will
affect our local environment in the years to come. I would love to see this site and the
nature reserve that it supports with National
thank you for considering by objection.
Kind regards,
Caroline Shee