Object

Representation ID: 16032

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: David Guest

I am writing to express my objection to the building of houses at the WEC being included in the Black Country Development Plan, reference : WOH274 WTNA, on the following grounds:
First of all, I acknowledge the need for social housing at an affordable cost for first time buyers. I am quite certain, however, that the 14 houses proposed will not come in the price range of the average first time buyer. Furthermore, I am reminded of the ruling Labour party’s commitment in its recent election manifesto ‘to protect our green spaces from greedy developers’. If the council cannot protect this most iconic of green spaces within Wolverhampton, then its claims to be making Wolverhampton into a ‘green city’ lose all credibility.
I am also aware that there has been some controversy as to whether the proposed site is considered a green or brown field site. Regardless of any legal niceties the clue is in the name ‘Wolverhampton Environment Centre’. Should this ever go to a judicial review (which I sincerely hope it never does) then a judge may ask what the average man or woman in the street would think; I have yet to meet anyone who does not believe it to be green field site.
Unfortunately, the proposed site occupies what is arguably the most environmentally rich area in the whole nature reserve. There is a reason why the area is so regularly visited by photographers taking pictures of the rare plants that grow there, which are in turn visited by butterflies, bees and other insects; it is also visited by many migrating birds, encouraged by the success of the excellent Blue Route; on autumn evenings it is visited by ‘Brum Bats’ recording the many species of bats that are found here; Then, of course there are the great crested newts that we know spend their winters here.
Now more than ever we know how important it is for our mental health to re-connect with the natural world. It is much easier to give the site a monetary value for ‘greedy developers’ than it is to give it an intrinsic value for our mental health, but the thousands of people using the reserve, particularly during lock downs, are only too aware of its value and many, I am sure, would otherwise have been further burdening the much-beleaguered NHS.
I know that there are people, including some councillors, who think that it is only wealthy nimby residents of Tettenhall who are objecting. This is not true. The reserve is for the benefit of all of Wolverhampton’s residents. When I stop to talk to people in the reserve they are just as likely to have come from Wednesfield, Bushbury or Bilston as they are to have come from Tettenhall. And by far the greatest users of the group are from the old council estates of Castlecroft that boarder much of the reserve. It is a sad fact is that I have met people from Tettenhall in the last month who have only just discovered that the reserve exists. Could the council do more to promote the reserve along with its many benefits?
It is also with some sadness that, despite visiting the reserve at all times of the day, the only schools I have seen using the reserve are St Peter’s and St Edmond’s for a charity walk. As well as ecological studies the reserve is now a geo-park; it also has historical significance ranging from the Battle of Tettenhall/Wednesfield up to the building of the canals and railways and even the role of the WEC itself in developing the city's wonderful parks.
If the council is determined to build on the site, may I suggest an information centre staffed by experts, including volunteers, who can liaise with schools and bring more children into the reserve, thus complementing the excellent work done by Wildside. As someone who taught in Wolverhampton for over 40 years, I have seen the transformative effect of bringing children into contact with the natural world. The reserve offers the opportunity to provide a lasting legacy for this and future generations of the city’s children. At a time when there is a crisis in the mental health of children it is a moral imperative that we do all we can to alleviate this crisis.
I am also a life member and coach at Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletic Club. The old railway track has been a wonderful asset in offering children a safe place to run away from the dangers of traffic and their fumes. Apart from the dangers imposed by construction traffic, once completed the houses would generate a surprising amount of traffic in their own right once the number of service and delivery vehicles are added into the mix.
You may be aware that in a recent national poll, the track was voted in the top 10 former railway trails in the country – quite an accolade when one considers that the Beeching cuts fell most heavily on rural lines. At a time when government and local councils are encouraging cycling, then having one of the best cycle routes in the country is an asset in which Wolverhampton can take great pride. At weekends it is a delight to see families cycling together in freedom and safety. It cannot be right to do anything which would be detrimental to this asset which shows Wolverhampton in such a positive light.
In conclusion, I cannot emphasise enough the benefits which the reserve has for our mental health; conversely, I cannot over-emphasise enough the mental anguish the proposed development would bring to so many Wolverhampton residents.

David Guest