Draft Black Country Plan

Object

Representation ID: 23521

Received: 28/08/2021

Respondent: Moseley Road Open Space Group Response 9

As local residents of the local area and Wolverhampton council we are completing this feedback as a collective to object to any development of housing on the grapes field.
The field is very important to us, we use it daily and have gathered our collective responses below to put forward to the consultation. We object strongly to the grapes field being developed for the below reasons:
- Some of us have just recently bought houses in the area, as close as fieldside walk which looks onto the field. We have always lived locally and remained in the area due to this space and the local infrastructures around it. The development of this field would mean we lose a space we can get to for exercise and socialising on foot as well as the knock on effect the new residents would have on the local infrastructure (schools/healthcare/facilities)
- The development of the housing on the field would impact the reasons why some of the group purchased a house on fieldside walk: the view of the open space for residents that cannot go far is huge.
- The women within the group expressed that we feel safe walking alone or with our children/pets in this space as it is open yet overlooked and close to residential dwellings. In the recent well publicised risks to women's safety when walking this field is a lifeline for us to use for our physical/mental health whilst feeling safe.
- We all use the field daily. It provides an area to exercise which assists our physical and mental health. All agreed that during the recent pandemic it was more than important to be able to access this space, it allowed us to meet people safely outdoors and also means we can reduce our carbon footprint by walking to this space. The pandemic led to the space being used more than ever before- with local residents now developing good habits of exercise using the field. This has impacted on their weight, physical and mental health. To lose this would impact negatively on these habits and strategies to manage residents mental/physical health.
- The development of the field would decrease the already limited access to nature and increase noise, pollution and traffic in the local area. We are concerned about the building work having an impact on the local wildlife including insects, birds and animals. The children in the group recalled using the space to view some of these for the first time and were concerned about the loss of the field/ building work affecting their access to this and impact on this for future generations.
The grapes field is nostalgic for many, lots of memories captured about times spent here. However the focus of our group discussion is on the use of the field in the here and now and how it continues to and should go on providing a safe, open, local space for us and our families for many years to come. We appreciated the need for further housing but unanimously agreed this should not be at the expense of our well loved, used and well looked after grape's field.
- Not all residents have a garden, for many local residents this is the outdoor space they access.
- Many in the group walk pets, exercise, socialise and spend time alone (safely) on this field. It is in no means `surplus to requirements' and should be viewed by the council as it is by the residents- a lifeline and important space for the local community.
We request respectfully that this area be removed from any future developments due to the need for this to remain for its current purpose.

Object

Representation ID: 23522

Received: 28/08/2021

Respondent: Moseley Road Open Space Group Response 9

As local residents of the local area and Wolverhampton council we are completing this feedback as a collective to object to any development of housing on the grapes field.
The field is very important to us, we use it daily and have gathered our collective responses below to put forward to the consultation. We object strongly to the grapes field being developed for the below reasons:
- Some of us have just recently bought houses in the area, as close as fieldside walk which looks onto the field. We have always lived locally and remained in the area due to this space and the local infrastructures around it. The development of this field would mean we lose a space we can get to for exercise and socialising on foot as well as the knock on effect the new residents would have on the local infrastructure (schools/healthcare/facilities)
- The development of the housing on the field would impact the reasons why some of the group purchased a house on fieldside walk: the view of the open space for residents that cannot go far is huge.
- The women within the group expressed that we feel safe walking alone or with our children/pets in this space as it is open yet overlooked and close to residential dwellings. In the recent well publicised risks to women's safety when walking this field is a lifeline for us to use for our physical/mental health whilst feeling safe.
- We all use the field daily. It provides an area to exercise which assists our physical and mental health. All agreed that during the recent pandemic it was more than important to be able to access this space, it allowed us to meet people safely outdoors and also means we can reduce our carbon footprint by walking to this space. The pandemic led to the space being used more than ever before- with local residents now developing good habits of exercise using the field. This has impacted on their weight, physical and mental health. To lose this would impact negatively on these habits and strategies to manage residents mental/physical health.
- The development of the field would decrease the already limited access to nature and increase noise, pollution and traffic in the local area. We are concerned about the building work having an impact on the local wildlife including insects, birds and animals. The children in the group recalled using the space to view some of these for the first time and were concerned about the loss of the field/ building work affecting their access to this and impact on this for future generations.
The grapes field is nostalgic for many, lots of memories captured about times spent here. However the focus of our group discussion is on the use of the field in the here and now and how it continues to and should go on providing a safe, open, local space for us and our families for many years to come. We appreciated the need for further housing but unanimously agreed this should not be at the expense of our well loved, used and well looked after grape's field.
- Not all residents have a garden, for many local residents this is the outdoor space they access.
- Many in the group walk pets, exercise, socialise and spend time alone (safely) on this field. It is in no means `surplus to requirements' and should be viewed by the council as it is by the residents- a lifeline and important space for the local community.
We request respectfully that this area be removed from any future developments due to the need for this to remain for its current purpose.