Candidate vows to oppose building on Wolverhampton Environment Centre site
A council candidate has vowed to fight plans for 14 homes on the site of the former Wolverhampton Environment Centre if elected.
The proposals took a step forward last year after Spellar Metcalfe was appointed to develop the site off Westacre Crescent, Finchfield.
Now Conservative candidate Ellis Turrell has said he would make it clear to Wolverhampton Council that the plans "should not proceed" if elected in May.
Council chiefs said discussions were ongoing over how the site will be developed – and they continue to listen to feedback from local residents on the issue.
Mr Turrell, a candidate for Tettenhall Wightwick which includes the area, said: "As a resident of the local area myself, and a frequent user of the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, I am fully aware of the strength of opposition to the council’s plans to build on the WEC site.
"It would completely alter the character of the area, and does not fit with the requirements of the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan.
"People from across Wolverhampton often come to walk along the Smestow Valley and enjoy its natural beauty.
"I fear that the council’s plans to build 14 homes in the middle of the nature reserve will cause more harm than good, and would restrict access to a site that should be preserved for community use.
"I object to the plans, as do many others, and if I am elected to the council in May I will represent the views of local residents in making it clear that the development should not proceed."
The proposals have been met with strong opposition from residents – with more than 2,000 furious campaigners having backed a petition to stop the housing plans before it was approved.
The site is owned by Wolverhampton Council and it is their housebuilding arm WV Living which has drawn up the plans.
Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman, cabinet member for city assets and housing, said: "We have worked closely with the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association to get to this stage.
"More than 90 per cent of the original Wolverhampton Environment Centre (WEC) land has been dedicated to wildlife and opened-up to the public as an extension of the adjoining Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve, in line with the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan.
"Securing Local Nature Reserve status on an overwhelming majority of the site now also doubly protects it from being built on by developers, preserving it for future generations to enjoy.
"Investment has also been made in the form of woodland and pond management, meadow creation, improved car parking for walkers, new paths throughout to connect it to the wider Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve, and new entrances from the disused railway line pathway into the reserve.
"The smaller parcel of land remains under council ownership and we continue to listen to feedback from the local community.
"Discussions are ongoing between the council and WV Living over how the site will be developed. Our commitment to our new climate strategy and supporting our carbon neutral challenge will feature heavily in the final decision on this land."
