Object

Representation ID: 18317

Received: 07/10/2021

Respondent: Mr & Mrs Ramon & Tonia Gregory

Number of people: 2

Re Home Farm, Sandhills (Aldridge North & Walsall Wood) 54 Hectares for 800 new homes

We paid a higher price for our property [Redacted-GDPR] due to having green belt front and rear (estate agents use this as a major selling point today). [Redacted-GDPR]
There is already a high volume of traffic (both moving and standing) due to:
(a) The A461 (Lichfield Rd, Sandhills) is one of the main routes from the North East (M1/A38), used particularly by HGVs to gain access tot he northern West Midlands and visa versa.
(b) Additional housing estates have been built in areas such as Lichfield, Burntwood and Chasetown aswell as in the Walsall area. the result means that we have to live with:
(1) An extremely busy and dangerous road (there were 2 accidents Mon 27th September '21)
(2) Cars and lorries making 3 point turns as they find ridiculously long traffic queues particularly at peak times.
(3) Constant traffic noise
(4) High pollution levels from the vehicles that we breathe in every day, this is only offset by a few hedges and trees in the fields

The addition of the proposed 800 new houses being built on the green belt would exacerbate the above (4) points. The properties would lose their values, would the council compensate for the loss of value?
We understand more properties are needed but feel there should be a balance with the environment plus the health and welfare of the residents that already live in the area. Surely the council has a duty of care in these matters.