Padlocked gate into popular green space reopened in face of public pressure
A padlocked gate into a much loved green space in Sandwell has finally been reopened after pressure from local people.
They claimed that the gate had been locked illegally and was an entrance to a public right of way.
Residents who live close to Brandhall golf course, including members of Brandhall Green Space Action Group (BGSAG), from Old Warley, Langley Green and Bristnall, are campaigning to keep the land as an accessible green space and to stop urban development on the land.
It is earmarked for a plan to create Brandhall Village which consists of 550 homes, a large new public park, space for a new replacement for Causeway Green Primary School, pedestrian and cycle links and new wildlife areas.
They now argue the unlocking of the gate for the public to use is a small victory against the redevelopment of the green space.
Clive Heywood, a member of BGSAG, said: “My argument was that if Sandwell council have illegally padlocked the entrances to the public rights of way, how do you expect people to use it?”
“Having informed Sandwell council three months ago that the top gate entrance to the public rights of way on Grafton Road were illegally padlocked, and being informed two months ago that [Sandwell council] agreed the entrance to the rights of way should not be obstructed, they finally advised me it will be opened to access on December 9.”
“After being informed that it should not have been locked in October, I waited eight weeks, then served a notice quoting the Highways Act.
“On the same day, I got an email response telling me it had been unlocked the previous day. Uncanny that.”
Mr Heywood claims the council appeared to be “reluctant” to look into his query.
“After a number of emails and a promise of a site visit they got back to me. My feeling is that they felt if they did nothing I would give up – but I didn’t.
“It’s a little bit more pressure on the council and increasing the awareness. of the benefit of this wonderful green space,” he added.
The unlocking of the gate comes after Councillor Yvonne Davies spoke to protestors outside Sandwell council last week and argued that there was “no public access” to the green space.
She claimed because of this, a development on the space could be given the go ahead.
A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: “We were contacted during October about public rights of way at the former Brandhall Golf Course site.
“The situation with regards to public rights of way at the site is complex as there are a number of rights of way which cross it, some with legitimate gating orders.
“Once we confirmed the situation, our highways team reopened it as soon as they could.
“Sorry if we couldn’t get to this as quickly as Mr Heywood would have liked. It was opened the day before Mr Heywood issued his notice, this was a genuine coincidence.”
