Future of council-owned green spaces considered

The council has recently consulted with ward members about five sites of council-owned green spaces asking if they should be retained by the authority or declared surplus to requirements.

The five sites are Lapwood Avenue, Kingswinford, Seymour Road, Wollescote, Bent Street, Brierley Hill, Bryce Road, Pensnett and Corbyns Hall open space, Seven Drive, Pensnett.

At next Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, members will be asked to consider the responses from ward members for each site and determine whether they be retained by the council and excluded from the next stage of the plan or be declared surplus and be offered for disposal.

Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

We have made our views clear about what should happen to these sites and it is important we listen to the views of the ward members during this decision-making process.

This technical process allows ward members to inform a decision on these green spaces. It is important they have their say and this is something we regularly do with sites we own.

Last year almost 20,800 people responded to the draft Black Country Plan and a further 18,000 people signed petitions with the majority calling for green belt and green spaces to be removed from the plan.

Following the response, the leader of the council vowed to be a ‘brownfield first’ authority which should continue to look at previously developed land first.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said:

I continue to be very clear that we are a brownfield first authority and from the feedback we have had from ward members during this consultation this approach is overwhelmingly shared.

“I can assure residents we will continue to listen and act on the views of local people as we continue this formal process.

People can stay up to date with the plans at  https://blackcountryplan.dudley.gov.uk/bcp/