Justification

Comment

Representation ID: 13678

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

On page 245 we note a consultation response received at an earlier stage of development of the Black Country Plan proposing that the Hatherton Branch Canal should not be mentioned within the BCP. We are pleased to note that this view is not reflected in the present BCP document which requires, under policy ENV7, that our work towards the restoration of the Hatherton Canal (note the removal of the word ‘Branch’) be supported. There are sections of the former Hatherton Branch Canal within the Black Country Plan area which are not within the route protection arrangements which are very significant to the prospects of achieving the sustainable through connection from Fishley Junction at OSGR SK008042 to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal near Hatherton.

Comment

Representation ID: 21727

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country

Comment: WTBBC request that a paragraph is added to the justification of Policy ENV7 that describes the high ecological value (Priority habitats and protected species) of the Black Country’s canal network and its key role in the ecological network as evidenced in the Draft Local Nature Recovery Opportunity Map (Appendix 18 of the BCP).