Object

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 10292

Received: 12/03/2019

Respondent: Professor David Walton

Representation Summary:

Object to scale/distribution of growth resulting in 1750 dwellings/45% increase in Balsall Common, contrasting with reductions in Dickens Heath/Dorridge. Inequitable distribution, on top of HS2 disruption. Council not exercised by residents' concerns regarding identifying alternative sites. No contingency plans for HS2 cancellation, or changes in population distribution.

Full text:

The Plan demands a huge 45% increase in size of Balsall Common (1750 habitations on top of 3900), which will have a disproportionate and damaging effect. The green belt will be severely reduced, while the quality of life, well-being and lifestyle of existing residents will be greatly changed. It is not clear that sufficient and timely resources will be in place for the benefit of such an influx of population (who will need extra amenities for health, education, transport, jobs, shops, living-space etc etc). I once lived in a place massively-expanded under a Plan, and things did not work out as expected. Sustainability, accessibility, effect on the environment are difficult to quantify, but what effectively the concreting-over of an already-full village pressurise the infrastructure to the extreme.
I have elaborated these points in the attached file, which also covers my answers variously to Questions 4 to 10