Object

Representation ID: 18337

Received: 10/10/2021

Respondent: Nicholas Rollins

I wish to register my objection to the proposed development of green belt land at Site Ref. WAH242/Policy WSA7/Strategic Allocation WSA.7 (St Matthews: Calderfields West, Land at Aldridge Road, Walsall), as part of the Black Country Plan.

I feel that this land contributes to the quality of the adjacent Arboretum, which directly overlooks the open fields and grazing animals.

I do acknowledge that the document at https://blackcountry.oc2.uk/document/55/9403 (in the section: St Matthews > Design Principles) states that in this area, there will be "new tree planting to ensure there is no significant adverse impact on the visual amenity and character of the Arboretum". However, part of the appeal of that section of the Arboretum is the sight lines across those open fields; I feel developing those open spaces and blocking them from view would be harmful to the Arboretum.

I am also concerned about the impact that development on this site would have on the local wildlife. The development site would sit in the middle of the Arboretum, Arboretum extension, Park Lime Pits and Hay Head Wood (the latter two of which are listed as Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINCs) on https://go.walsall.gov.uk/sites_of_important_nature_conservation ).

It is also known that the Arboretum, the Aldridge Road and the proposed site have a history of flooding, which could potentially be exacerbated by concreting this land.

There is also the question of access to and from this site, during construction and afterwards. The local infrastructure will not cater to the extra population and vehicles. I hope that development here would not go ahead unless it is absolutely certain that the Design Principle listed in the above document ("a transport strategy that ensure that the transport impacts of the development are appropriately managed and mitigated") can be adhered to.