Thimblemill Recreation ground proposal going to planning committee

The plans have been recommended for approval by planning officers, despite the opposition of local ward councillors and a petition signed by over 1,000 calling for the woodland to be preserved.

Smethwick councillor Richard Marshall said: "We are not anti-house building, but we are surrounded by perfectly good sites in the area where new homes could be built without the need to destroy the last bit of natural, uncultivated woodland in Smethwick. There are a number of environmental questions around this particular site which have not been answered, including issues of wildlife, drainage, and the road access on to Thimblemill Road."

Abbey ward councillor Bob Piper said: "We feel there are perfectly good grounds to throw out this report. I am not happy that some of the environmental issues will be agreed after the planning consent has been granted as conditions of the application. If these matters are going to be resolved, they should be agreed on before the application has been approved when it is open to public scrutiny, not cobbled together in private behind closed doors."

The application will be considered by the planning committee at a public session at Sandwell Council House in Oldbury on Wednesday, September 24, at 5pm.

The original post can be viewed on The Bearwood Blog.