Battle against Hagley Hall homes near Stourbridge stepped up
Campaigners today stepped up their fight against plans for nearly 200 homes on land belonging to a manor house estate near Stourbridge.
They said increased traffic could cause a pollution problem. The number of homes proposed for the site near Hagley Hall has been reduced from 230 to 175 but locals are still concerned.
They have already said they fear schools and other amenities will become over-stretched.
The developer says the project will create 260 jobs during the construction phase while new offices will be built with the potential to create a further 50 positions.
The site, part of the 350-acre Hagley Hall estate, is bordered by the A456 Kidderminster Road and the A491 Stourbridge Road.
More than 700 campaigners marched through the streets waving placards last month to show their opposition. They are now waiting for the proposals to be submitted but campaigners now say they will urge planners to consider the effect on pollution in the area.
Hagley Parish Council chairman Steve Collella said: "No matter where these houses are proposed to be built in Hagley traffic will at some time during the day use the A491 and or the A456. The applicant's statement that the increase in traffic will not affect the air quality is nonsense.
"In my view the proposed traffic control measures will undoubtedly increase traffic congestion which in turn means that stationary queuing traffic pumps more pollutants into the air.
"Irrespective of the application to build more houses an air quality management action plan should have been implemented over a year ago. I will be taking this up with the relevant authorities."
In a recent letter to campaigners Lord Cobham said: "Undoubtedly there will be change in the village if the scheme goes ahead but to nowhere near the degree being predicted by some."
