Object

Representation ID: 20990

Received: 10/01/2022

Respondent: Miss Joanne Bevan

This cannot be done by taking high proportions of Green Belt Land away.
• Noted also in the plan:
"a) Industry and warehousing (E(g)(ii), E(g)(iii)), 82 and 88 use)
b) Motor trade activities, including car showrooms and vehicle repair
c) Haulage and transfer depots
d) Trade, wholesale retailing and builders' merchants
e) Scrap metal, timber and construction premises and yards
f) Waste collection, transfer and recycling uses as set out in Policy W3."

There is a national shortage of HGV drivers, large haulage companies have not encourage newly qualified drivers while they have been able to get cheaper labour from abroad, this shortage has been happening for decades, not only since Brexit. The above types of industry highlighted in the plan are all very dependent on HGV and not a broad enough spectrum to get working families into Walsall.
• Already only two-thirds of working-age residents in Walsall are in employment, and for those in work, earnings are below the national average while testing economic conditions prevail. None of this information is a picture of a flourishing economy with in Walsall.
• Walsall is already struggling, it is crime ridden, with closed shops, with a poorly manned police force and unpunished crimes. The only reason I am still a resident of Hawthorn Road is because of the surrounding Green Belt Land. If the intention is to remove this then Walsall will have one less resident. Walsall Council needs to come up with a strategy to improve all services
for the existing population and get that right.