Object

Representation ID: 46059

Received: 09/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Robert Carter

Black Country Site Assessment Report
Holbeache DUH208, The Triangle Site DUH211
1. Effect on local services -roads
The local road infrastructure is already congested at all times of the day particularly the A449. This
remained a busy road even during lockdowns. There is very little scope for any road widening to ease
the congestion. Any extra vehicles will increase noise, increase CO2 emissions and lead to poorer air
quality as well as environmental damage. The proposed additional crossing will increase tailbacks and
delays. Drivers will cut through the Maidensbridge estate where many children walk to the local
schools increasing the risk of accidents. This would also be the case if there was a second access road
onto the A449 as drivers would use local village roads to avoid tailbacks. When I used this road to
commute to work over 8 years ago it was virtually nose to tail from Kingswinford to Stourbridge. Things
have only got worse since then. On 28 August 2021 between 16.30 and 18.00 there were over 5000
vehicles and this is during the peak holiday season and when many people are working from home.
The local road system is inadequate even at the present time. Houses being built at the moment on
Stallings Lane and at Wombourne will increase the pressure on the local roads.
2. Effect on local services- NHS
There are already not enough doctors and dentists in the area with patients having difficulties getting
appointments. Moss Grove surgery is having to send patients to the surgery in Kinver. I know
personally that at present you have to wait weeks for even a telephone consultation. Russells Hall
hospital has long waiting times and April 2021 inspections showed it 'requires improvement.' It is often
impossible to park at Russells Hall because of the number of patients. Even before the problems
caused by the pandemic there were unacceptable delays in local health services, mental health
services (particularly children's), hospital treatment and operations. The delays caused by the services
being overstretched are already causing stress to patients. There are also unacceptable wait times for
ambulances (in 2020 the turnaround time reached 60 minutes). The houses already currently being
built in the area will increase the pressure on these services.
3. Effect on local services- schools
There is no space in the local secondary schools for any more pupils. For the September 2021
admissions the only secondary school with places for year 7 was Wordsley. Most other year groups
are full. There were no places for reception in 2021 in Wall Heath and only one school in Kingswinford
with places. It is difficult to see how the existing schools can extend particularly the primary schools
and Kingswinford School. Playing fields are already in the main small and in the case of Church of
Ascension set away from the school building. Parents are already having difficulty in getting their first
choice of school and this will become worse with the houses currently being built in the area and
surrounding causing further travel. The brochure for the Stallings Lane development states that to
take advantage of what Kingswinford has to offer “families will be pleased to know there’s a great
choice of schools”. The increased numbers will also impact on class sizes to the detriment of the
children’s education.
4. Strains on local amenities.
There are few local amenities in the area and provision would definitely need to be improved and
increased with a further increase in the area’s population. The parks lack good quality equipment,
there is no youth centre in Wall Heath and no local sports centre.
5. Loss of Green Belt and impact on local wildlife and the environment.
The proposed development would result in the loss of very good agricultural land. Holbeache is Grade
2 where a range of crops can be used. The Government is committed to a 25 year plan to protect land
of this quality and use the soil in a sustainable way and this was updated as recently as February 2021.
All brownfield sites should be used before green belt and there are alternative brownfield sites
available.
The hedgerows all around Holbeache and a plot to the left form a Site of Local Importance for Nature
Conservation. The proposed development would mean the loss of a variety of wildlife including some
protected species such as red kites and badgers. It would also result in the loss of bees and butterflies
and biodiversity that the wildlife corridor is trying to protect due to declining numbers. The yearly
daffodil display is a joy to behold and is photographed across the region creating a positive image. The
report states that there are ‘significant tress’ and these will be lost at a time when globally the aim is
to prevent the loss of trees.
The report states that Holbeache would become a ‘permanent’ boundary if fully developed. This is not
the case because it is presently green belt which prevents the urban sprawl.
A grade II historical building, Holbeache House, is next to the proposed development.
The prosed development would have a visual impact on the landscape. Local people enjoy walking
and cycling in the green belt and appreciating it helps feelings of well-being and is important to mental
health and this needs to be protected for now and future generations. There does not appear to be
any exceptional circumstances to allow this Green Belt area to be used for development.