No houses on Meadows!
Published: September 4, 2003
Residents are celebrating victory in a fight to save a Black Country meadow from housing development.
More than 600 people joined a campaign to protect the meadow which they say is a wildlife oasis and a vital link in a network of footpaths.
Dudley Council had refused an application by developers A & J Mucklow to build apartment blocks on land off Tipton Road, Woodsetton.
The builders appealed and a planning inspector heard the developer, the council and Turls Hill and Swanbrook Valley Residents Association.
Yesterday the inspector backed Dudley Council’s blocking of building.
Association vice-chairman David Bates said they were delighted the meadow linking green spaces at Mons Hill and Wren’s Nest to Turls Hill would be saved along with wildlife.
The group formed two years ago after the builder won a similar appeal to build homes further along Tipton Road. Then more than 600 residents united to save remaining fields.
A management plan is being prepared by an environment consultant which, residents hope, will help the council get green belt status for the Turls Hill area, saving it from developers.
Mr Bates said: “This meadow is a vital link in a network of footpaths which cross the area.
“It is part of a rural landscape of fields, hedges and streams, which has remained largely unchanged for several centuries.
“We hope by gaining green belt status we can defend a large part of this unique landscape from being swallowed up by the surrounding housing developments and conserve it for the quiet enjoyment and recreation of the community.”
Council lead member for economic vitality, Councillor Les Jones, said:”Getting the right balance between the demand for development land and the retention of public open space is often difficult to achieve.
“In this case the council is aware of how important the Swanbrook Valley is to local people for peaceful recreation, landscape and the wildlife it supports.
“We apply planning policies to protect such areas from inappropriate development. The positive action taken by local people was highly important in preventing the loss of this valuable green space.”
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