Comment
Draft Black Country Plan
Representation ID: 22642
Received: 11/10/2021
Respondent: Crestwood Park Residents Action Group
Number of people: 692
[DUH203/ DSA3 - Ketley Quarry]
"The Crestwood Park Residents Action Group" would like to withdraw their objection to site DSA3 Land at Ketley Quarry, Kingswinford and DUH203 Ketley Quarry/Ketley Farm, Dudley Road, Kingswinford, and replace it with a comment on the site.
Our comments are as follows:
1. We support the proposal of this site for selection for housing, on the basis that it is originally brownfield land and in line with local objectives to utilise brownfield over greenfield spaces. We also recognise that in its current state, there are numerous issues, including local flooding down the main road into Kingswinford due to run off from the site, and local flooding of the Dawley Brook behind Oregon Close during periods of high rainfall, and additional anti-social behaviour issues with the site.
2. However, we object to the proposed number of houses to be built on the site (over 600). This will create a new estate almost the size of the Crestwood Park estate, and double the size of the Sandpipers/Ploverdale estate. This will have considerable impact on local infrastructure and the road network. A reduced number of houses on this site, although impacting developer profitability, would integrate better with the local infrastructure and community.
3. We also object to the proposal for a through road from this new site onto the bottom of Lapwood Avenue. This was not included in the plan on the Black Country Plan documents but was included in a feasibility study for the site on the Dudley Council Planning site July 2021. This proposed through road would increase traffic onto the Crestwood Park site/Lapwood Avenue, running directly past a primary school that is already considerably congested at numerous points through the day, and would significantly decrease road safety on the Crestwood Park estate."
[Previous submitted comments]
2. Effect on road safety (DUH213 Lapwood/BCP REF 203 Ketley). It is not yet confirmed whether a through road will be built from Lapwood Avenue through the new Ketley Quarry development; this 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 increase traffic, and decrease road and pedestrian safety on the estate, especially at peak school times.
6. Ketley Quarry (BCP REF 203): Generally, residents support the development of houses on
the Ketley Quarry site, as it's expected this will decrease anti-social behaviour from individuals and groups unlawfully using the quarry for recreation at present, and remove what is considered locally to be a considerable eyesore, and also supports building on brownfield sites. However, residents do not support the provision of a through road
through to the Crestwood Estate, are concerned about access to the Ketley Quarry site from the proposed road over Dawley Brook from the Ploverdale estate, and do not support the building of such a large number of houses on the quarry site.
7. Effect on school admissions (all sites). 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.
8. Effect on NHS (all sites).
- 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.
9. Effect on Mental Health (all sites). The BCP calls out that Kingswinford South and
Wordsley specifically have a below standard quantity of public open space. These spaces are 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 they (DUH213 and DUH222) are within sight of many of the local houses, and considered safe by older residents too. Many residents purchased houses on these estates specifically because of
access to this space, and over the pandemic lockdowns the use of this space increased even further. Green spaces are proven to have a significant benefit on mental health, particularly for those who may not have gardens themselves, and they are providing more benefit than ever before.
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 generally 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. d. The Lapwood field is generally always a busier space than the Ketley Fields space,
with more residents using it for a variety of purposes.
e. The open space review for Severn Drive (DUH222) failed to identify any activities taking place yet they it is very often used and any resident could have helped identify this, so the green space assessment is flawed.
f. The open spaces identified in the site assessment as replacements for Severn Drive (DUH222), Mayflower Drive and Derwent Close open spaces, together make up about a quarter of the space to be lost on Severn Drive, and neither are suitable in terms of terrain or shape to many of the activities carried out on Severn Drive. Neither of
these sites were large enough to be audited in the Open Space Review 2017, so the council obviously is not aware of the quality of these spaces and should not propose them as alternatives.
g. Each of the open space reviews identify that the open spaces in question suffer
in their quality/value ratings solely due to lack of council investment in them rather than lack of resident usage, which happens in spite of the lack of investment!
10. Loss of Biodiversity (all sites). Although not designated as SLINC or similar, there are frequent sightings of foxes, and bats over Lapwood Avenue, Bryce Road, and Severn Drive sites, owls are heard over all the sites every year, and numerous species of birds are observed. Loss of the sites would lead to loss or displacement of these animals.