Support

Representation ID: 16907

Received: 06/10/2021

Respondent: Ms Katrina Baker

Black Country Plan - Support for the Protection of Green Belt Around Halesowen
I support the Council’s continued protection of countryside at Lapal, Illey, Coombeswood, Uffmoor,
Hayley Green, Lutley and Foxcote, following a formal review of the Green Belt.
Circa 1989, Dudley Council, following a previous Green Belt review, improved the Public Rights of Way
network in these areas, by working in collaboration with local volunteer groups. Following on from
that, the Council promoted enjoyment of this countryside, by the public, for informal recreation. They
supported the production of walk leaflets explaining the historic, landscape and ecological significance
of each area.
The Council even contributed £20,000 towards The Woodland Trust purchasing Uffmoor Wood,
despite this being just outside the Borough Boundary and coming under Bromsgrove. In doing so, they
appreciated the important relationship between this ancient coppice woodland and neighbouring
farmland, including Tack Farm, which is the site of a former Anglo-Saxon mill (Notwic Mill).
This countryside, protected by Green Belt designation, is rich in history. At Lapal and Illey are the
remains of Halesowen Abbey, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance. At
Lutley we have a Conservation Area associated with historic Lutley Mill and the green lane that links it
to the mediaeval hamlet of Lutley, which was once held by the Canons of Wolverhampton. Foxcote,
which forms the foreground setting of the Iron Age Fort on Wychbury Hill and historically is linked to
it, is archaeologically rich with frequent finds of flint arrow heads, flint scrapers, axes and other tools.
It was the site of ancient hunting summer camps, and, in part, this explains the wide scatter of historic
‘finds’.
The countryside, hereby defined, is important to people from far afield, and, within the wider
landscape, encompasses the famed and beautiful Clent Hills, a major area of which is owned and
managed by the National Trust. We must also consider the Hagley Hall Estate, which includes a major
proportion of Wychbury Hill, the importance of which was acknowledged in the 18th Century, by
George Lyelton, in his creation of Hagley Park, which is now a Grade 1 Listed Garden. On Wychbury
Hill are two significant ‘follies’ - The Temple of Theseus and The Obelisk, tastefully exploiting the
landscape prominence of the hill and the presence of the fort.
The whole of this area, including that within Dudley Borough, is of regional importance as an amenity
asset for the welfare of, and enjoyment by, a large population. It would be so simple to seriously
damage the area with inappropriate developments and associated infrastructure.