Last-ditch plea to halt club
Protesters fighting a development on green belt in the Black Country have written to the Government in a bid to get planning permission overturned.
Protesters fighting a development on green belt in the Black Country have written to the Government in a bid to get planning permission overturned.
The Friends of Coombeswood have asked for a review of Dudley Council's decision to approve a new sports and social club on the Coombs Wood Green Wedge, in Halesowen.
The group claims Dudley contravened its own regulations about open space and green belt when St Modwen's plans were given the go-ahead, and asked the Government Office of the West Midlands to investigate.
The chairman of the council's planning committee, Councillor Tim Wright, defended the council's decision, saying all the planning policies, including the authority's unitary development plan, had been adhered to. More than 700 people signed a petition against the plans and the council received more than 300 letters of objection
.One of the Friends group's main complaints is that a proposed cricket pitch off Stewart's Road will cut the green wedge in two, reducing the land accessible for informal recreational activities, which they claim conflicts with council policy.
Spokesman Sue Yeadon, aged 47, of Greenhill Road, Halesowen, said: "We are still fighting these plans and we are not giving up yet. More than 700 signatures on the petition and 300 letters of objections just shows the strength of feeling against this development. As well as relocating Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club, St Modwen will be expanding the sports and recreational facilities at Olive Hill Primary School.
Work will be scheduled around the school timetable and is expected to start later this year.
Many additions to protect the environment have been included such as a buffer area of natural grassland between the school playing fields and the Site of Importance For Nature Conservation.
Councillor Wright said: "It accords with all the policies. Sports facilities are the exception when it comes to green belts. If it had been housing then it would have been a different story.
"I have never known a decision to be called in in these circumstances, when there hasn't been a departure fromthe unitary development plan, but we will wait and see what happens."
