Object

Representation ID: 17379

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Helen Bodley

With reference to the Black Country Plan site (WAH231) - Sutton Road/ Longwood Lane - Walsall

I feel disgusted that this site has been included in the Black Country Plan when some of the current landowners of this land have NOT been consulted and DO NOT agree to the housing development on their land. How could this have happened and why was their land proposed?
I also believe the site is unsuitable for development for number of reasons as listed below.

Infrastructure
- Access to the development would be Longwood Lane, which is a land with no street lights, no footpaths, no cycle access and is not on a bus route
- Longwood Lane and Sutton Road are already very congested as they are the main routes to and from the surrounding areas. They have long traffic jams at the junctions and along the roads even with the present number of cars.
- Crossing the Sutton Road is already difficult for pedestrians and bollards have had to be put in the middle of the road for their safety when crossing, even with the present number of cars.
Can these roads cope with the possibility of hundreds more cars?

Education
As a retired teacher from one of the local schools I know that there is no capacity for an increase in pupils. Local schools already have waiting lists. How can the schools provide education for even more children?

Environment
This site is a SLINC, a designated Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. The wildlife needs to be protected.

This year, within one hour, 24 different species of birds were recorded in our garden that backs onto the designated area. There are in fact 32 types of birds that are regular visitors to the garden or have been seen within proposed site, including Tawny Owls, Kestrels, Sparrow hawks, Buzzards, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Jay, Redstart, Blackcap and many, many, more. They need to be protected.

Muntjaks and Fallow deer are also seen on the proposed sight, one deer giving birth within the area. The WAH231 site is a SLINC and needs to remain so.

Heath and Wellbeing
As I am one of many Asthma sufferers, more increase in traffic pollution will add to heath risk and stress if the SLINC is to be developed.

I believe that this site is not suitable for housing development especially as land was put forward for development without the owners consultation or consent. Please can we count on your support for removing this site from the Black Country Plan?