Comment

Representation ID: 45859

Received: 03/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Clive Turner

Black Country Plan - Support for the Protection of Green Belt around Halesowen
How sad it is that our local green spaces and local Green Belt keeps coming under pressure in this way despite assurances from many sides and on many occasions that there is no immediate threat. How many times have we heard this in the past and yet here we are having to defend these treasured assets once again?
Before I labour on with my narrative reference the latest formal review of our local Green Belt and the other green areas local to Halesowen, I would like you to formally record that I support wholeheartedly the protection of these lands. Lands that are irreplaceable and that provide such importance to our local community and to others local to us as a resource of natural beauty, recreation and wellbeing. These areas include those that fall under or near to Lapal, Coombeswood, Foxcote, Lutley, Illey, Hayley Green and Uffmoor.
These outlined areas are augmented by Uffmoor Wood and the Clent Hills and provide a backdrop to what becomes a unified package that is a personification of local nature at its very best – all on our immediate doorstep. Uffmoor Wood is now owned and managed by the Woodland Trust whilst the Clent Hills themselves, as we know, are managed by the National Trust and so these areas ought to be safe from their gradual erosion and destruction. I say ‘ought to be’ because there is a clear and recent example of how even these prized local assets can cope under threat. I am referring of course to the development opposite the Badgers Set and for which we can thank the Hagley Hall Estate. How that development ever went forwards is beyond belief. Money strikes again perhaps?
So, it is vital that we do all and everything we can to protect our local green spaces. If any one of our local spaces is damaged or encroached, it will have an immediate knock-on effect on what is a unified package of green space in and around our area. Any one of these areas supports the others and so any harm brought to any one of the areas will be a harm to the collective.
Other interested parties accounting to you in this way will make the point about times gone and what these areas have hidden away in each of their historical lockers and that still exist to this day. This is of great importance BUT, what is even more important, is what happens now and what we, the current custodians, allow to happen to these spaces prior to them being handed on to our future generations.
Once the first machines roll onto these treasured green spaces and prepare the ground for housing, or industry and for any associated infrastructure, there will be no going back. The land, which has been in its current state for thousands of years, will be destroyed. An area to enjoyed by all will be lost as will much of the animal life and flora and fauna to be found there; some of which is rare and exclusive to our local vicinity.
I fully understand the pressures that are before this Country at this time with the pressing need for new houses to be built along with industry and associated infrastructure but we must be resolute and protect encroachment into our local Green Belt and green spaces until there is absolutely no other solution available.
Fortunately, there are other solutions available and those must all be explored, scrutinised and examined in the greatest of detail before our green space even comes under focus and becomes endangered.
These include: -
The use of brownfield sites. This must be foremost when seeking a solution to our current dilemma.
The use of land where redundant offices and industry currently stand. Land and buildings that could be redeveloped and/or converted for the amended use must be fully explored.
The Council must not be pressured by other Council areas into making a trade of its Green Belt and other green space areas to help offset the difficulties that beset those of other local Councils amid their difficulties with having to provide land quotas for development to meet their targets for assisting the perceived national need.
Current planning targets must be rigorously examined and tested to make sure that they are accurate and that we are not placing our most valuable assets needlessly in harm’s way only to be lost forever simply because a junior clerk with a calculator makes a rash calculation and overstates the effects of that calculation. If future pressures are exaggerated at this time the consequences could be catastrophic for our local Green Belt and green spaces and even worse, could result needlessly in those spaces being totally lost.
At risk of repeating myself, the folk of Halesowen very much appreciate the green space areas that sit on their doorstep and its local Green Belt too, but the Council also needs to appreciate that these areas are also enjoyed by many people from further afield. Folk from Birmingham, the greater Black Country and even folk from more distant areas all enjoy what we have here on our doorstep here in Halesowen. The financial benefit that brings to our local community cannot be underestimated and needs to be understood, measured, and fully costed.
At further risk of repeating myself, Uffmoor Wood, the Clent Hills and our other adjacent green spaces all go together to make a complete package and if we allow one to be damaged in any way then we are allowing the whole package to be undermined.
The asset that we have is far too precious just to be cast to one side with its gates wide open ready to welcome incoming earthmovers and other construction equipment. Its protection is vital if our future generations are to inherit, experience and benefit from what we currently have and from what we have enjoyed ourselves to date.