Object

Representation ID: 18439

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Richard Downing

Green Space Arguments These notes apply to the following sites:
BCP REF DUH216 - Bryce Road Playing Fields
BCP REF DUI-1222 - Severn Drive open space
BCP REF DUH213 - Lapwood Avenue open space
BCP REF DUH221 — Standhills Road Open Space
BCP REF 203 - Ketley Quarry (policy DSA3)
1 . Traffic impact on site. The proposed Lapwood Avenue open space is directly opposite a primary school, on a road that is already severely congested, and parking takes up both sides of the road and surrounding roads, several times throughout the day. Building 45 houses on this field would cause further difficulties for parents accessing the school, and residents of the estate. In the site assessment, "Impact on the wider road network" states no impact expected, but a significant effect will happen on the immediate rather than wider road network, several times a day.
2. Effect on road safety. The BCP plan indicates the proposed Ketley Quarry site will not include a through road connecting the new estate to the Crestwood Park estate via
Lapwood Avenue, whereas the recent planning application/feasibility study did indicate it. A through road would create a cut through shortcut between Bromley Lane and the main Dudley Road, which would likely cause a significant increase in traffic moving through the estate not only at peak times, but at all points throughout the day, and further problems leaving the estate at the Bromley Road junction. This would significantly decrease road and pedestrian safety on the estate, especially at peak school times.
3. Effect on road safety and car parking for schools. A new housing site on Lapwood avenue would reduce availability of car parking for the school which is already overly congested, and decrease road safety, with more cars travelling through, increasing the risk of an accident.
4. Effect on school admissions. There are insufficient school places for children across the area. For September 2021 admissions, the only secondary with places for Year 7 is Wordsley. Most other year groups are full. There are no places for Reception in Wall Heath for 2021; only one school in Kingswinford with places. Creating spaces by enlarging existing schools will change the character of them, or force buildings that take away car-parking, play areas or fields.
5. Effect on NHS.
* There are not enough local doctors and dentists in the local area. Residents are being forces to travel out the area to access care. Wall Heath and Kingswinford have a number of elderly residents who cannot physically do this — due to their own capabilities and lack of public transport
Pre-lockdown, the average waiting time at Russell's Hall was over 4 hours (2019). April '21 inspections show it still 'requires improvement.'
* Longer ambulance wait times (In 2020, the turnaround times reached 60 mins)
* Further delays in local health services, mental health services (rapidly growing), hospital treatment and operations for serious illness.
6. Effect on Mental Health. The BCP calls out that Kingswinford South and Wordsley specifically have a below standard quantity of public open space. This space is very important to local residents, for many uses, but frequently including dog walking, and safe spaces for children of all ages to play and socialise, specifically it is within site of many of the local houses. Many residents purchased houses on the estate specifically because of access to this space, and over the 2020 lockdown the use of this space increased even further.
a. The BCP identifies Ketley Field Open Space as a suitable alternate space to allow for loss of Lapwood Avenue; however, this site frequently floods (hence the recent planting of many young saplings across the field) and although it has a playground, it is of poor quality, with very little equipment for younger children, and much of the equipment that is there is damaged and broken.
b. Residents disagree that Ketley Fields is of higher quality and value.
c. For older residents at the opposite end of the estate, this may be too far to walk.
7. Loss of Biodiversity. Although not designated as SLINC or similar, there are frequent sightings of [Redacted-sensitive information] over Lapwood Avenue, Bryce Road, and Severn Drive sites, [Redacted-sensitive information] are heard over all three sites every year, and numerous species of bird. Loss of the sites would lead to loss or displacement of these animals.
8. Local space quality and value grading. This was carried out as part of the Open Space Review 2019. It seems unfair that all local spaces were graded using the same criteria, therefore pitting the likes of Mary Stevens Park against our local field, which lost out due to no presence of toilets, a café, tennis courts, even the fact we don't have a sign indicating the name of our field!
Produced by Crestwood Park Residents Action Group