Blakenall fields 'won’t be lost to housing' vow councillors
Campaigners battling to protect much-loved Walsall fields have been assured housing will not be built on the sites.
Walsall Council deputy leader and regeneration boss Adrian Andrew that he would not be bringing forward residential proposals for Swannies Field and the Lea in Blakenall.
Fears for the future were raised earlier this year when it emerged Swannies Field and the Lea were part of a study which was assessing the value of the land as Green Belt.
This was ahead of further technical assessment work on these sites – and others in the borough – which could have eventually seen them deemed suitable for housing development in the Black Country Plan currently being put together.
This prompted the start of a petition and campaigns to save Swannies, which has seen major enhancements to improve facilities over the past 10 years.
Walsall Council insist no sites have been earmarked for housing and the process, which will include public consultations is in the very early stages.
But, despite that, Councillor Andrew has confirmed the Blakenall sites are off the table.
He was responding to questions put to him by former Walsall Mayor and ex-Blakenall ward councillor Pete Smith at a full council meeting on Thursday.
Mr Smith, who has voiced his objections to redevelopment of the fields he calls the “lungs of Goscote”, asked how much money had been invested in Swannies Field and the Lea and then later pressed Councillor Andrew to give a public reassurance.
Councillor Andrew said: “The process is at a very very early stage with evidence being prepared and there will be at least two stages of public consultation before the Black Country Plan will be submitted to the secretary of state.
“No decision or proposals have yet been made about any sites.
“At Swannies Field and the Lea, major improvements were undertaken in 2016/17.
“Works included new paths, tow-path improvements, landscaping, play equipment and other recreational equipment.
“The works were done by the council through grants received by Walsall Housing Group through the Black country local fund.
"The grant totalled £1,002,600 and such improvements will be fully taken into account together with information on the amount of open space available and how it benefits residents.”
He added: “I do recall a former Labour councillor called The Lea ‘scrubland’.
“But we clearly don’t have that view and I will not be bringing any residential proposal forward or any housing proposal forward for these two sites.”
