Draft Black Country Plan

Object

Representation ID: 45928

Received: 31/03/2022

Respondent: Walsall Labour Group

Agent: Cllr Aftab Nawaz

Dear Sirs,
Re: Response to Black Country Plan consultation

Please accept this response to the Black Country Plan in my capacity as the Leader of the Labour Group, the main opposition, in Walsall Council.
First and foremost the consultation has been left wanting and has not engaged with the residents of Walsall. I accept that all that is required statutorily has been done but nonetheless the mark of a good consultation is that people feel that that they have had a fair opportunity to respond. I have found that in Walsall this has not been the case and that the people of Walsall feel disenfranchised of their democratic right.
The process needs to carry the confidence of the people in order for them to feel, whether they agree with the proposals or not, that it has been an honest, transparent
and appropriate consultation. I am afraid the people of Walsall, in my opinion, do not feel that this is the case and have no confidence in the process that has been followed.
The method by which this process moves forward also needs to be more than a cabinet approval. The people of Walsall, through their elected representatives, need
to have a deciding vote on whether to accept these proposals or not. Allowing only a nine member group to decide the fate of our greenbelt will not be seen as
democratically sufficient by the public – and their opinion MUST be respected.
On the actual proposals as the Leader of the Labour Group I am AGAINST these proposals on the following reasons
The proposals have the potential to change our borough for the worse meaning that invaluable greenbelt land will be lost for the residents of our borough and for our future
generations. Once lost the Greenbelt is gone forever and this cannot be something that we can accept as the representatives of the people.
The enjoyment of the land and its use for the wellbeing of our communities is something we vale highly. The removal of this land will impact the health and wellbeing
of our residents and will be harmful to them. We cannot support these proposals that will be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of our residents.
In addition to this many Green Spaces, for example in the Reedswood area of the borough (another unwelcome proposal), are a buffer to the pollution that comes from
being so near to a major road network like the M6. This buffer that removes, alleviates or mitigates the impact of the pollution helps the health of residents in the area
particularly children. The removal of this ‘buffer zone’ will therefore impact negatively and directly on the health of residents and therefore cannot be supported by us.
The destruction of valuable habitats from proposals set out will be huge and will be directly opposite to our responsibility to the natural environment. These habitats are not only important to the biodiversity within our borough but are also significant natural amenity for our communities and residents. The negative impact on wildlife cannot be justified on the basis of needing more homes.
The development of brownfield land and former industrial land has not been exhausted and therefore the proposals for development should be focussed on this type of land.
It is highly irresponsible to develop Greenbelt land, Greenspaces or on areas of Special natural significance without exhausting brownfield / former industrial land.
Finally these proposals are aimed at helping developers maximise their profits and not helping residents and protecting them from unfair, inappropriate and unacceptable developments. The fact that developers may have to spend a little extra in remediating brownfield / former industrial land and thereby reducing some of their profit margins should not be the basis of attacking our most valuable land. It is not a financial issue for us but a moral issue. The land that is covered by the
proposals cannot be measured in pounds. It is invaluable in the benefit that our residents get from this land.
I would be grateful if you would accept this as our response to the Black Country Plan on behalf of the Labour Group in Walsall.

Object

Representation ID: 45929

Received: 31/03/2022

Respondent: Walsall Labour Group

Agent: Cllr Aftab Nawaz

[Consultation Process]

First and foremost the consultation has been left wanting and has not engaged with the residents of Walsall. I accept that all that is required statutorily has been done but nonetheless the mark of a good consultation is that people feel that that they have had a fair opportunity to respond. I have found that in Walsall this has not been the case and that the people of Walsall feel disenfranchised of their democratic right.
The process needs to carry the confidence of the people in order for them to feel, whether they agree with the proposals or not, that it has been an honest, transparent
and appropriate consultation. I am afraid the people of Walsall, in my opinion, do not feel that this is the case and have no confidence in the process that has been followed.
The method by which this process moves forward also needs to be more than a cabinet approval. The people of Walsall, through their elected representatives, need
to have a deciding vote on whether to accept these proposals or not. Allowing only a nine member group to decide the fate of our greenbelt will not be seen as
democratically sufficient by the public – and their opinion MUST be respected.

Comment

Representation ID: 45931

Received: 31/03/2022

Respondent: Walsall Labour Group

Agent: Cllr Aftab Nawaz

The proposals have the potential to change our borough for the worse meaning that invaluable greenbelt land will be lost for the residents of our borough and for our future
generations. Once lost the Greenbelt is gone forever and this cannot be something that we can accept as the representatives of the people.
The enjoyment of the land and its use for the wellbeing of our communities is something we vale highly. The removal of this land will impact the health and wellbeing
of our residents and will be harmful to them. We cannot support these proposals that will be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of our residents.
In addition to this many Green Spaces, for example in the Reedswood area of the borough (another unwelcome proposal), are a buffer to the pollution that comes from
being so near to a major road network like the M6. This buffer that removes, alleviates or mitigates the impact of the pollution helps the health of residents in the area
particularly children. The removal of this ‘buffer zone’ will therefore impact negatively and directly on the health of residents and therefore cannot be supported by us.
The destruction of valuable habitats from proposals set out will be huge and will be directly opposite to our responsibility to the natural environment. These habitats are not only important to the biodiversity within our borough but are also significant natural amenity for our communities and residents. The negative impact on wildlife cannot be justified on the basis of needing more homes.
The development of brownfield land and former industrial land has not been exhausted and therefore the proposals for development should be focussed on this type of land.
It is highly irresponsible to develop Greenbelt land, Greenspaces or on areas of Special natural significance without exhausting brownfield / former industrial land.
Finally these proposals are aimed at helping developers maximise their profits and not helping residents and protecting them from unfair, inappropriate and unacceptable developments. The fact that developers may have to spend a little extra in remediating brownfield / former industrial land and thereby reducing some of their profit margins should not be the basis of attacking our most valuable land. It is not a financial issue for us but a moral issue. The land that is covered by the
proposals cannot be measured in pounds. It is invaluable in the benefit that our residents get from this land.