Draft Black Country Plan

Comment

Representation ID: 17982

Received: 01/10/2021

Respondent: Save the Corbett Meadow Action Group

[Policy DSA4]

COMMENTS ON BLACK COUNTRY PLAN in relation to Corbett Meadow ‘Local Green Space’
POLICY DSA4 – CORBETT MEADOW LOCAL GREENSPACE: BCP pages 434-435, Sub paras: A115-A120

Dear Sirs
As a resident of Stourbridge I am lodging my comments here on the Black Country Plan, with respect to one specific site in Amblecote, with which I am closely familiar: known as The Corbett Meadows.
Although it is registered as a SLINC (Site of Local importance for Nature Conservation) and has now been accorded Local Green Space (LGS) status by Dudley MBC, I understand it is still under a degree of threat from unspecified developers, probably for house building, should DMBC be minded to grant a planning permission. The LGS designation should override this, but apparently does not come into effect until 2024. Meanwhile, there is still a risk that an application could be approved by DMBC.
I wish to hereby affirm that I strongly support the Dudley Council’s planning department’s decision to designate the Corbett Meadows site as a Local Green Space, which will give the land long-term protection.
However, in the interim prior to 2024, should a planning decision be made permitting any form of built development which may adversely impact the open space, landscape, historical and nature conservation value of the site and as a member of the “Save the Corbett Meadow Action Group” I would be vehemently opposed, on the following grounds:

1) Biodiversity: Habitat and Landscape Connectivity.
This 5.7 Ha site sits at one end of a valuable connective chain of unbuilt-up habitat for wildlife which, via the neighbouring allotments and recreation area links (hedgerows and garden plots/vegetation), directly to the Coalbourne Brook corridor, also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. This is important in the context of nature networks and protecting biodiversity in the urbanised West Midlands.

2)Biodiversity: Habitat and Species - High Value.
The land has its own intrinsic value for wildlife, flora and fauna, specifically: old undisturbed acid and neutral grassland, a priority habitat* rich in flora, in particular pignut, bird’s-foot trefoil, sheep’s sorrel, common cat’s-ear, common vetch, field woodrush and bluebell; two permanent ponds which support populations of common frog and toad, which in turn provide certain predator species such as heron and grass snake with a food supply; finally old and mature parkland trees, some of which date back to the last war.
The hawthorn Jewel beetle (Agrilus sinuatus) a scarce and local species, has recently been recorded from veteran hawthorn trees on site, and the grassland flora attracts butterflies and moths in the summer months e.g. six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae), burnet companion (Euclidia glyphica) – moth species recorded 270621

*// 1)&2) sub-para - appended: Local Authority planners should note the following:- The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, 2006 (NERC) came into effect. In Section 41 of the Act there is a list of habitats and species which are “of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity”. This lists all the BAP habitats and species which are regarded as priorities for conservation under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. The list includes 56 habitats and 943 species. It was included to assist public bodies with the statutory duty placed on them by Section 40 of the Act. This is often referred to as the ‘Biodiversity Duty’ and states that public bodies have to:
“In exercising their functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.”
Priority species and habitats are also recognised in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which came into effect in early 2012. The NPPF replaced most of the planning guidance which was previously available. It promotes the preservation, restoration and re-creation of priority habitats and ecological networks as well as the protection and recovery of priority species (paragraph 117). //

3) Users and patients at the Corbett Hospital.
This landscape and its rural prospect provides a wonderful backdrop for people, possibly in pain or anxious, visiting the hospital perhaps for treatment. The scenery observable from the Hospital complex is far more conducive to healing than would be acres of concrete brick and tarmac – the view from the hospital’s restaurant for example and from benches outside. In fact, its potential benefits as an “outdoor surgery” for improving community health and well-being cannot be ignored.
The meadow has huge potential benefits for continuing to be managed for the public good and for education and health benefits. Appropriate management – in particular continuity of grazing, mowing - for nature conservation and perhaps a restricted opening/by permit, nature-trail for the community could be achieved by such bodies as the Stourbridge Community Land Trust and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

4) Historic Value:
The origin of the grassland on site suggest it has been largely undisturbed for as long as 250 years. Site was known as ‘Hanbury Field’ from 18thC documents (reference old historic maps and OS 1st editions). Philanthropist John Corbett gifted the land and the meadow to the people of Stourbridge. It is rightfully theirs and not at the disposal of the NHS to sell off as a building plot.

5) Potential Harmful Impacts of ‘infill’ Built Development on this Site.

• RISK OF CARBON/CO2 RELEASE (DUE TO SITE EXCAVATION AND LEVELLING)
Longstanding historic grassland such as this is important for carbon storage and sequestration.
Grassland soil carbon stocks in semi-natural grasslands range between 60 t C ha-1 and 87 t C ha-1 for English neutral and acid grasslands respectively (Emmett and others 2010 – as cited in Natural England Research Report: NERR094, 20/04/2021). Excavation work prior to a development would release large amounts of atmospheric carbon at a time when UK is trying to achieve net zero emissions by 2030

• POTENTIAL FOR RUN-OFF & FLASH FLOODING CREATED BY HARD SURFACES ON A HILLY SITE
Local High flood risk areas (Environment Agency) are along the River Stour and particularly in the Area of Glasshouse College, Wollaston. Would prior investigations into degree of flood risk via storm drains be carried out? It all ends up in the Stour! Planning guidance is covered within the NPPF

• REMOVAL OF THE COOLING EFFECT OF A GREEENSPACE WITH TREES ON EXISTING SURROUNDING HOUSING AND THE HOSPITAL
Have adequate and accurate studies been done into the impacts on human health and on the local environment and of removing this almost 6 Hectares of grasslands and parkland trees and ‘blue-space’ (ponds) as well as ‘green space’?? See page 79 of the UK Government’s 25 year plan for the Environment and Green Infrastructure projects.

• ADDITIONAL ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION AND REDUCTION IN AIR QUALITY
Ditto – as above.

• CREATION OF EXTRA TRAFFIC AND PRESSURE ON LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Studies already carried out by the “save the Corbett Meadow Action Group”!? [ I don’t feel I wish to comment here]


In conclusion, I firmly believe that any planning permission for built development on this valuable site and part of Stourbridge and Dudley’s local heritage would have irrevocable and absolutely catastrophic consequences for both nature conservation/biodiversity and the future health and wellbeing of the local community, as well as the healthy environment of the hospital and its outpatients, currently in essentially a semi-rural parkland setting.

The future of The Corbett Fields/Meadows, as a Site of local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) and as a Local Greenspace (LGS) lies in its adoption, with NHS agreement or under the terms of a lease, by a competent manager, such as a Wildlife Trust, for wildlife and the local community – with careful management and limited public access at certain times. It should in fact be granted Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status, at the earliest possible opportunity.

Comment

Representation ID: 17984

Received: 01/10/2021

Respondent: Save the Corbett Meadow Action Group

COMMENTS ON BLACK COUNTRY PLAN in relation to Corbett Meadow ‘Local Green Space’
POLICY DSA4 – CORBETT MEADOW LOCAL GREENSPACE: BCP pages 434-435, Sub paras: A115-A120
POLICY ENV5 – CORBETT MEADOW AS AN AREA OF HIGH HISTORIC LANDSCAPE VALUE: BCP pages 230-235

NOTE: THIS IS A SEPARATE SUBMISSION. MY MAIN COMMENTS I WISH TO MAKE ARE IN RELATION TO THE NATURE CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE VALUE OF CORBETT MEADOWS SITE, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT.
BUT AS ONE OF MY HEADINGS (PARA 4 BELOW) IS EMBODIED IN MY FULL TEXT AND REFERS TO “HISTORIC VALUE”, I AM COMMENTING HERE ON A SEPARATE PDF FORM IN RELATION TO ENV5 P230 OF THE BCP. I HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE!



RELEVANT SECTIONS OF ENV 5
ENV5 p 230 2)
Development proposals will be required to preserve and enhance local character and those aspects of the historic environment - together with their settings - that are recognised as being of special historic, archaeological, architectural, landscape or townscape quality.

ENV5 pp 232,233 7) b & c
b.Areas of High Historic Landscape Value (AHHLV) that demonstrate concentrations of important wider landscape elements of the historic environment, such as areas of open space, woodland, watercourses, hedgerows, and archaeological features, that contribute to local character and distinctiveness;
c. Designed Landscapes of High Historic Value (DLHHV) that make an important contribution to local historic character but do not meet the criteria for inclusion on the national Register for Parks and Gardens;

ENV5 pp233-234 8)-10)
8) Development proposals that would potentially have an impact on the significance of any of the above distinctive elements, including any contribution made by their setting, should be supported by evidence that the historic character and distinctiveness of the locality has been fully assessed and used to inform proposals. Clear and convincing justification should be
provided, either in Design and Access Statements, Statements of Heritage Significance, or other appropriate reports.
9) In some instances, local planning authorities will require developers to provide detailed Heritage Statements and / or Archaeological Desk-based Assessments to support their proposals.
10) For sites with archaeological potential, local authorities may also require developers to undertake Field Evaluation to support proposals.

HISTORIC LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISATION POLICIES MAP
(Fig 12 P 235)
…..which shows the Corbett Meadows Local Greenspace as….
“an area of high historic landscape value”.
Denoted by green oblique hatching – see key

Support

Representation ID: 23201

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Save the Corbett Meadow Action Group

Number of people: 228

Agent: Mr Lance Cartwright

You can help in saving the meadow and lobbying for its long term use in the public benefit by supporting its proposed designation as a Local Green Space in the Black Country Plan.

Consultation on the Black Country Plan commences on 16 August and runs to 11 October 2021

We need new housing development but not at the cost of this unique asset and its potential - once it's gone , it's gone...

We the undersigned SUPPORT the proposed designation of the Corbett Meadow (Black Country Plan site Reference 10516) as a Local Green Space.