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Representation ID: 17062

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Rebecca Round

I strongly oppose the proposal contained within the Black Country Plan to take our precious greenbelt land in order to build thousands of new homes. I am disgusted by the proposal to build thousands of new homes between Queslett Road East/Aldridge Road, Sandhills and Sutton Road - all important green spaces near where I live. Most notably, the proposal for the building of almost 1000 homes between Queslett Road East and Aldridge Road. This will mean increased pressures on local amenities and schools, more pollution due to increased road useage, and will mean our area becomes subsumed into a greater Birmingham. It will result in irreversible habitat loss, for many important animals and insects (as well as, in regards to Doe Bank Lane, rare birds.) With climate change, greenbelt lands are more important than ever: they are carbon sinks and help prevent flooding in our local areas. They are bio-diverse, allowing important species to thrive. Once our greenbelt is gone, there is no hope of ever regaining it - a sickening realisation. Our local green spaces give us a sense of wellbeing, and contribute to positive mental and physical health. They allow us a tiny sense of being in nature, separating us from the urban developments (and the littering, anti-social behaviour and crime) of the city centre and Walsall town centre. I fear that without these green spaces, we will experience higher incidences of these issues. Andy Street has assured us that there are plenty of brownfield sites, which are prefect for re-development, which would be ideal for the developments you propose - not our last remaining piece of nature that protects us from the imposing developments sprawling from the town centre. Almost all of our council leaders have vehemently opposed building on our greenbelt land, which speaks volumes, and these voices of wisdom should be listened to.
There are online petitions that number over 6000 - people who strongly oppose the developments cited in the Black Country Plan, as I do. Will you just ignore these thousands of people, like me, who will fight to protect our greenbelt land?
I would urge you to reconsider, in light of strong opposition, and seek instead to build on brownfield sites. For the sake of the climate, the wildlife, the residents who these green spaces mean so much to, please do not take them away!