Draft Black Country Plan

Comment

Representation ID: 44855

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: City if Wolverhampton Council

Ref St Luke's development:

I write as Local Councillor for the ward of Blakenhall in respect to the development of the former St Luke’s site, at Goldthorn Road. When the development was first considered around five years ago, the Royal school had a population of less than 250 people. Today over 1400 children attend the school. The traffic on Goldthorn Road servicing drop off and pick up of children at the School has gown accordingly. Today Goldthorn Road is almost impassable.

I have proposed that rather than making the former St Luke’s site a housing estate, that it is handed to the Royal school for both parking and an academic study block. The space could also be used for dropping off and picking up children. What’s important is that there are no housing developments fronting this site. Also, I am asking that the playing fields are preserved for both the community and for the school.

It would be possible to put some house on the site, providing their only access was Bromwynd Close and Cyprus street. For this to happen the two streets would need to be connected. Also, the present industrial estate referred to as Derwents, would need to be removed in favour of both housing and access.

Support

Representation ID: 44856

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: City if Wolverhampton Council

Ref support exclusion of the Seven Cornfields site from the Black Country Plan:

I am a resident of 40 years and Councillor in Blakenhall ward and organiser of the Save the Seven Cornfields campaign. I wanted to say thank you to the four Leaders and the four local authorities, and by extension our friends at South Staffs Council, for returning a decision to exclude the Seven Cornfields from the Black Country Plan.

The cornfields are a precious resource, representing a unique resource, Inner City greenbelt. Most Greenland is at the edge of our communities. The Seven Cornfields however are slap bang in the middle. They represent 350 acres of land separating three authorities; South Staffs, Dudley and Wolverhampton. The Cornfields are as important to each of the prevailing authorities, but in particular the people of Blakenhall, Sedgley Blind institute area, Northway estate, Penn and S Staffs.

Some 4000 people joined the campaign, which was cross party, supported by the Metro Mayor, Police & Crime Commissioner the Four Leaders, MPs for Wolverhampton SE, Dudley N, South Staff, the City Councillors of Blakenhall, Penn, Springvale, Ettingshall and Graiseley, and the Country & district Councillors of South Staffs and of the Dudley North Area.

In particular the gargantuan efforts of the local media; BBC Wolverhampton, BBC & Central news, The Express & Star, Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Live.

I would also like to thank [redacted] and [redacted] who have worked tirelessly on the Black Country plan. Barratt Homes will be disappointed with the result, ut it has been a pleasure negotiating with the regional director Sam Stafford of Barratt Homes who at all times has acted with care and diligence for the community.
We are delighted with the result. It will protect our ancient woodlands, green space for families to ramble and enjoy fresh air and will please conservationists and those of us working towards a green new future for all our communities. The following groups and individuals made significant campaigning contributions; The Save the Seven Cornfields committee based in Penn, The Northway Neighborhood Watch, Blakenhall Community Group. Pat McFadden MP, Kath Smith, Tony North, Rachel Burford-Turner, Caroline Shea, Carol Hyatt, Dr Arko Sen, Liz Roberts, Debbie Peach, Councillor Martin Waite, Councillor Paul Singh, Councillor Barbara McGarrity, former MP Eleanor Smith, Stuart Anderson MP, St Barts Church & Rev Ben Whitmore and the 4000 Campaigners in the community. The Seven Cornfields should always remain as open land. These are the clear wishes of our Community and as a reminder to politicians; voters.