Object

Representation ID: 16000

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: K Phillips

(ID 10511- Three Fields, Dunsley Road, Norton )

Dear Madam/Sir

This letter of objection is in reference to sites DUH217, DUH206,DUH207, DUH209 and ID 10511.
Please leave our Greenbelt alone; it is not just about it's beauty but it's a haven for wildlife; such as foxes, deer, lots of different species of birds including starlings (which were once common in the 1970's but have declined greatly), at least 20 species of butterfly which alongside other pollinating insects must be helped + protected as they are struggling hugely. There's also many types of plants + trees including Hawthorn trees (whose blossom is very important to pollinating insects) + ancient hedgerows.
It is also one of the few green spaces accessible to people within walking distance from Wollaston. It is used by people all the time, for exercise, for recreation and it is also extremely beneficial to people's mental health. These spaces are used all the time but in particular in the pandemic when their benefits were invaluable.
They also have environmental benefits such as capturing carbon + protecting the water supply from pollution. Birmingham + Black Country Wildlife Trust says 6 out of 10 UK species are in decline with more than 1 in 10 in danger of disappearing.
Woodland, grassland + heathland, fresh water + wetland species are under great threat in this area. The threats to the environment globally is as you know in a very bad situation + if we want to make changes which we must- we have no choice, that includes you too, those changes start at home + in our immediate surrounding area. All of our greenbelt is precious + must be protected for us and the wildlife.
You keep saying brownbelt for houses first + then you attack the greenbelt. What about the huge sites near the Bonded warehouse, there's no mention of them +yet the sites are so big the could probably accommodate most if not all if the houses for the time being. There's also meant to be 270,000 houses in England that are empty + have been so for at least 6 months. What about looking into that? what about disused + abandoned pubs, churches, shops + offices being converted into apartments+ houses? There is a website called Land Hero run by Hagley based firm Land Attic, which is a match making services for landowners, agents + developers+ communities to bring forward sites for housing + employment, they can't be the only firm in operation , so there are always people who can put us in touch with more appropriate land. I don't bother with the internet + yet i know of those people- so why don't you- there is no excuse.
This is an appalling + unnecessary attack on greenbelt. It is also extremely undemocratic; one of the developers was quoted as saying about land in Pedmore that the site could + should be removed from the greenbelt. Who does he think he is. It is us who live here + have to put up with all the problems left behind, but ultimately damage + destruction of the environment effects us all, including him. This attitude is running roughshod over the general public. We deserve to be listened to+ respected. Once the greenbelt is gone its gone forever. We have a duty to preserve it not just for our present day generations but for future ones too.