Object

Representation ID: 17124

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Cllr Ellis Turrell

WOH274- Former Wec Site
I am an elected councillor for Tettenhall Wightwick ward in Wolverhampton, which includes site WOH274 otherwise known as the former WEC site, where the draft Black Country Plan proposes to build 14 properties.

As a local resident myself, and as an elected representative of the local community, I strongly object to the inclusion of this site in the Plan. The land is currently open space which is enjoyed by many people from the local area and across the city. Indeed, we have visitors from outside Wolverhampton who come to enjoy the wildlife and natural environment of the Smestow LNR and the WEC site. The past 18 months has put beyond any doubt the importance of green open space in local areas. Families and children alike have had little else to enjoy with lockdowns and local restrictions. Therefore the importance of having easy access to the natural world, such as is on offer at the WEC site, has only increased. It is the responsibility of all of us as decision makers to ensure that these sites are protected for generations to come.
The site in question was also included in the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan as land that is currently agricultural, and should be preserved for the local community. As part of the development of the Neighbourhood Plan, a survey of local residents was conducted which found that a significant majority were opposed to any residential development on the land. The views of the local community have repeatedly been made clear in meetings with council officers and in community meetings, e.g. the Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association.

My own election as a councillor in May 2021 was partly a result of my public opposition to the proposals to build on the WEC site. These facts should not be disregarded, and I have a democratic mandate to oppose any development on the land. While the Council did have planning permission to build on the site, concerns were raised about the legality of that permission as it did not follow the requirements set out in the Neighbourhood Plan. The planning permission was subsequently left to expire without any development being undertaken. The Council has therefore missed its opportunity to build on the land. It is not in the interests of the local community for yet another planning application for the same site to be submitted again.

I would also like to draw attention to the comments from the Wildlife Trust, who have also objected to the inclusion of the WEC site in the Black Country Plan, as it is a potential site of importance for nature and conservative (SINC), and no wildlife assessment has been carried out. I believe this significant intervention adds further weight to the arguments to remove the site from the Plan.

In short, as an elected councillor for the local community and a representative of local residents and their clear views, I object to the inclusion of site WOH274, the former WEC site on Westacre Crescent, in the Black Country Plan.