Hundreds of identical letters against green belt land plans "as good as one"
Almost 700 letters of objection have been sent to Lichfield District Council over plans to earmark green belt land for homes – but they have been deemed "as good as one letter" by the authority because they are identical.
Burntwood Action Group has described the plans to re-designate the land between Coulter Lane, Nether Lane, Rugeley Road and Church Road as an attack on the green belt.
Lichfield District Council recently held a consultation on preferred options in its Local Plan review, which ended in January.
The plan is set to provide a blueprint for future development of the district in the years leading up to 2040, setting out how around 11,780 new homes could be built – including a contribution of 4,500 towards the Birmingham and Black Country housing market area.
Councillor Iain Eadie, cabinet member for investment, economic growth and tourism, said at a meeting last week: "Representations were made by 460 individuals and organisations and we also had 685 of a standard letter that Burntwood Action Group has circulated and got people to sign – it’s effectively the same letter and the same issues that have come forward.
“It is as good as one letter having come in because it is the same. It is saying they don’t believe the land at Coulter Lane should be changed to a safeguarded site rather than green belt."
