Second housing battle in two years starts for Great Wyrley residents
Dismayed residents have launched their second campaign in two years to fight plans for a large housing estate on top of former mineshafts in Staffordshire.
Dozens of villagers turned out for the public unveiling of the proposals for 136 homes at Landywood Lane, Great Wyrley.
Many feel if the bid is approved, it will pave the way for entire swathes of green belt land to be built on, merging the village with Cheslyn Hay.
Less than two years ago, more than 4,000 people signed a petition against a similar set of plans from the same applicant Ken Lees, the land owner behind KGL Holdings fronting the bid.
They thought they had won that battle when planning permission was refused, but the exhibition at Great Wyrley Community Centre this confirmed their fears - the bid is back on the table.
Joanna Fisher, aged 33, who has helped launch a new petition against the development, said: "I was absolutely heartbroken and devastated when I heard about the latest plans.
"I didn't think it would come around again for another 10 years.
"A lot of people have spent time out of their day to come to this exhibition because they don't want it.
"No-one is for it."
The new petition will be available for residents to sign at Fusion Electrical Contractors on Station Street.
Ms Fisher is also urging people to follow the Facebook group 'Save Our Space-Landywood Lane, Great Wyrley' which already has more than 700 members.
Glenis and Clive Priest are also spearheading the campaign and will be putting a petition table underneath a gazebo outside of the Small Dog Rescue on Landywood Lane.
Mrs Priest said: "This is not going to be the end. This will just be phase one.
"The two villages will merge into one. If he gets permission to build on that it will basically mean the green belt doesn't matter now."
Concerns have been raised that hundreds of new residents will overburden the area's road network and schools.
Many also pointed out that Cheslyn Hay has only been earmarked for 56 new homes between now and 2030.
The plans also include 17 allotments, 23 acres of wasteland converted to a public park and 90 park and ride spaces at Landywood railway station.
But not everyone at the exhibition was against the scheme.
One man who did not want to be named because he thought his views would be unpopular, said: "We have got a lovely railway line at Landywood but there isn't enough parking.
"This would solve that. It would also create a really nice area of parkland which is just wasteland and old mineshafts at the moment which people can't go on.
"I think this is progress. It is change but people don't like change, they are against it."
KGL has stated 56 of the homes are to meet local need and the other 80 are to generate funds to renovate four of Mr Lees' listed buildings in Teddesley Estate in Penkridge, more than seven miles away.
The developer has also vowed to make 28 former mineshafts on the site safe.
Nigel Farmer, planning consultant representing KGL, said: "If we get planning consent for this then that will meet the local need until 2030 so there couldn't be any further development.
"We asked South Staffordshire Council if we could develop the 80 homes at Teddesley Estate but they would not support that.
"In terms of the traffic concerns Staffordshire Highways has carried out a comprehensive survey and appraisal and we are able to meet all of their required improvements."
Mr Farmer added: "The objective of the exhibition was to address all of the negative opinion from the press and social media and to give positive solutions."
