Comment

Representation ID: 46268

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Walsall Group of the Ramblers

Walsall Group of the Ramblers wish to make the following comments in the consultation phase of the Black Country Plan. (BCP).
[Our remarks focus on the perceived impact of the BCP on the Walsall Borough - other boroughs in the Black Country have similar Ramblers groups who may wish to comment with respect to their particular areas].
...
Our Concerns
We do however, have significant concerns that there are some of the areas of the Plan which may work to generate a negative effect on the Borough. Having such a considerable amount of open space in the east of the Walsall Borough, we cannot but feel it is inevitable that these areas will be impacted by future housing/employment demands in the Black Country, especially as more brownfield locations are occupied.
However, acceptance that this must be the case does not necessarily mean we are at all complacent about the revised National Planning Policy, nor are we unconcerned about the percentage of building land across the borough which is protected by Mineral Safeguarding Area, (MSA), restrictions.
Instinctively we feel that with some many houses planned in strategic areas, (3710), and also (515), in brownfield sites standing on MSA locations, that there will be an advancement of mineral extraction activities ahead of the building deadlines that not only have the potential to disrupt local existing footpaths for several years, but also indirectly impact on any proposed ones.
We also fear that the revised National Planning Policy will generate inappropriate building developments that whilst being contained within the confines of the Plan will generate areas of rapid urban decline/inaccessibility in the short-term thus further reducing available space to those wishing to actively travel in the borough.

(See Rep ID 11482 for the original submission)