Object

Representation ID: 17949

Received: 13/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Matthew Haddon

Dudley Council has already stolen valuable recreational space which it classed as "windfall" from our estate and any further building on green space should be strictly limited. The land at Crowle Drive, Lye was already in use by the local community and local church for recreational purposes , but was deemed "windfall" basically because the council knew very well that it is difficult to stop them building on land without court action. The council just stole this land from the local community who now have no or little green space within the estate and the local children now have limited play areas within the estate, pretty much none.This is blatant theft of recreational space.
Councils are also legally required to try to protect green space. Although the council promised to improve nearby land it has failed to do anything.
The guidelines regarding housing density are in my opinion wrong, there should be less housing per hectare or unit.
Wolverhampton council has already expressed concern that they cannot meet housing needs as there is limited space available in the borough. I'm pretty sure that this would also apply to Dudley although there are still some brown sites available for development. There are numerous sites which have been left derelict for many years in fact without any development.
Any future development should be carefully considered as to existing use and future use which avoids stealing land which is in use as recreational space which goes against government guidelines anyway.
Green belt should remain as green belt and not be encroached upon as it has been at Hagley even though there were large amounts of objections from the local residents. Also the government should stop overriding planning decisions in favour of builders.
Local resident's views should always be prioritised and not just bulldozed over which seems to happen more often than not.
Brown sites should be prioritised and although Dudley claim to be doing this the building at Crowle Drive proves otherwise, as this land was already in use as recreational space....the only recreational space within the estate of any significance, which has now been stolen by an uncaring council who obviously have little time for younger people.
The planning department need to assess any building opportunities and ensure that the best use of the available space is being used without too much density of housing.
All housing should have frontages and parking areas as we still rely very much on cars, but as people start to make better use of public transport this could be reviewed.
There are properties such as the buildings near the rear of the Ryemarket in Stourbridge which should be returned to habitable properties without councillors suggesting that they be made into numerous flats with 2 parking spaces which is ridiculous. If councillors cannot come up with sensible ideas then they shouldn't be councillors.
There are too many councillors in the borough they should be reduced, preferably culled!!!!
Why has the leaflet only just been delivered when the review has been ongoing for 2 weeks ???