Object

Representation ID: 18565

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Dudley Labour Group

Agent: Councillor Qadar Zada

This response brings together the views of residents and Labour councillors on behalf of their communities from across the borough. In preparing our response, we have undertaken a listening exercise where we have visited every part of the Dudley Borough and listened to the views of our local community.


Our response is in the interests of the many residents who will affected by these proposals, not just those with homes being built near them but all residents who currently live in the borough who will experience the additional pressures on an infrastructure that is already struggling to cope with existing population levels. As importantly, we also make this submission in the interests of future generations who need homes that
are affordable and also access to adequate green spaces and green belt land.


Dudley Labour Group’s position on the BCP has been shaped by the views of residents and is very clear. We do not support any development of any green spaces or green belt in this Borough as there are many options that the Council has, which we consider it is deliberately not exploring. Like us, residents consider that our green spaces are too precious to destroy. We use them for leisure, to walk our dogs, to generally enjoy. They are also home to wildlife that is important to us. Once a blade of grass is gone, it is gone forever.


We also believe that we should accept when Dudley is full, rather than find ways to add additional burden on local residents, infrastructure and services. We know from residents that there just isn’t any more capacity within the infrastructure, for example, roads, schools, health facilities, for the scale of housebuilding that this government wants.


The Council must lead the way by exploring pieces of waste land which exist in the Borough, sufficient investment for remedial action on contaminated land, better town planning policy, renovating existing properties, whether these are it’s own vacant Council houses or whether these are derelict private properties which it can take on through partnership working. We understand there are around 1000 long term
empty properties in the Borough which could point the way to a solution that would prevent green belt or green spaces being developed.


In all of these instances, we would expect that the public would be involved and there is meaningful consultation.