Residents defend green wedge

Battle cry over sports club move

By Ben Lammas

Developers have been warned to expect a “fight” in their bid to build a sports club on green land in Halesowen. Dozens of residents turned out to a consultation evening to confront St Modwen over the proposals.

The firm plans to sell off Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club in Coombs Road for housing and move the club to nearby fields. But people living near the proposed site claim it will ruin wildlife and deprive them of their only surviving green patch.

Sheila Jones, of Hillwood Road, was among those at a consultation evening at Olive Hill Primary School last night.

She said she has lived in the area for 32-years and enjoys having the empty green space backing onto her home.

She said: “It is like having a nature reserve at the moment and I don't want golf balls and cricket balls coming flying through my windows every five minutes.”

Important

Her husband Roy said: “To me green wedge land is more important than green belt as green belt is on the outskirts and green wedge is on our doorstep for us to use and enjoy every day.

“First this green wedge will be re-zoned for recreational use and then further on down the line it will be used for housing – that is where we are going.”

Protesters also called St Modwen's offer to build new sports pitches and facilities for nearby Olive Hill Primary a “sweetener”.

“They have got a fight on their hands,” Mr Jones declared.

Ian Romano, development surveyor for St Modwen, said: “We have had some useful feedback which will all be considered when coming up with the plans. I think the main concerns people have relate to the wildlife on the site which we are doing surveys on to find out what is there.”

He said initial plans were likely to be submitted in June.

Express & Star 12th March 2008