Object

Representation ID: 21419

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Enderjit Singh Hayer

OBJECTING TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS ON STONNALL ROAD (SITE REF WAH237,
WAH253)
Aldridge is a settled community with its own unique characteristics.
DESTRUCTION OF THE GREEN BELT
These proposals hand over swathes of green space and green belt. These sites provide valuable green space for residents. Given the climate emergency that the nation and the world face, it is not sustainable to develop valuable green space. The site is currently valuable agricultural land and should remain so.
The fields are currently ideal habitat for many animals, including hedgehogs, which are classified as vulnerable to extinction. Building on it would have a massive environmental impact and a significant effect on the local wildlife.

INCREASING CAPACITY ON PUBLIC SERVICES
Aldridge is already struggling with access to local services, schools, GPs. The two local primary schools Leighswood and Cooper & Jordan, are already oversubscribed, for instance.
Aldridge only has one supermarket, Morrison’s. The number of spaces at Morrison’s car park is limited, and during weekends and peak times, the car park is frequently full, with cars queuing on the Aldridge bypass. Further increasing Aldridge’s population would increase demand on the local shops, many of which were not designed to cater to this many people.

INCREASED ROAD CONGESTION
The proposals will increase traffic on the road network. Stonnall Road was not designed to be a well-used road. The road is well used by cyclists and horse riders who will be put in increased danger due to increased traffic levels. The road is already used as a “rat run” to and from Chester Road. The junction with Chester Road is a four-way junction. Vehicles turning from Stonnall Road
can often wait minutes until it is safe to enter Chester Road. There have been accidents at the junction in the past. The proposed developments would result in longer waiting times at the intersection and increase the danger to users.
One significant limitation of the road is a sharp blind corner near the proposed site. The width of the road means vehicles have to take the corner slowly, and there is only sufficient room for one large vehicle. Widening the road is not feasible since the road would encroach on the land of homeowners situated on the bend. The road had a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes.
Moreover, the road has a problem with speeding cars, further increasing the risk to residents.
After the bend, it is downhill, which causes the vast majority of vehicles to speed. Any development would pose a substantial safety risk to users of the road.
Any development would require significant upgrade works to both Stonnall Road and Lazy Hill Road, which would cause substantial disruption to residents and local businesses. The road has already had to be repaired/resurfaced numerous times in the last few years.
The congestion would not just be limited to Stonnall Road. Due to Aldridge's limited number of amenities, many residents have to travel to Walsall by travelling on Walsall Road. This would increase the risk of accidents, particularly involving pupils in and out of Aldridge School.

POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS
The development will negatively impact people's mental health due to noise and air pollution during construction and once completed. Many of the residents are elderly, some with pre-existing health conditions. This will cause undue stress on them and their families.
The proposals to extract sand and gravel from the proposed sites before development will result in the area becoming an industrial estate. This would significantly impact residents quality of life. The problems caused by gravel extraction at Branton Hill Road is evidence of what will likely happen to Stonnall Road.
Any housing development would also present more danger to the pupils attending Leighswood School, which is nearby.
The new houses will also cause loss of privacy and overshadowing on the nearby houses, negatively impacting residents.
The overwhelming majority of residents are against the proposed developments. The community will continue to oppose this unjustified development until the very end.