Borough green spaces protection proposals
Fourteen green sites in the borough will be given extra protection from developers if councillors give the proposals the green light.
Dudley Council officers are recommending that the sites either be designated or re-designated as Nature Conservation Sites, following independent inspections by ecologists.
Eight of the fourteen sites are being proposed for the first time – and half are in Halesowen, where an active campaign group has been lobbying the council to protect the green belt.
The sites are:
- Watery Lane, Wordsley;
- Coopers Wood and Lyeclose Meadow, Halesowen;
- Roundhill, Holbeache Lane, Kingswinford;
- Ashwood Haye Fields, Kingswinford;
- Racecourse Lane, Norton;
- Manor Abbey Farm, Halesowen;
- Raddens Pastures, Halesowen;
- Lyeclose Farm, Halesowen;
- Illey Hall Farm, Halesowen;
- St Mary’s Abbey Remains, Halesowen;
- Kitwell Brook Valley, Halesowen;
- Brick Kiln Lane, Gornal;
- Conference Wood and Gornal Sewage Works, Gornal
- Caslon Wood, Cradley and Wollescote
The proposal will go before Dudley Council’s ruling cabinet for approval.
Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:
I heartily endorse this proposal and will be encouraging the cabinet to give it their full backing.
It reaffirms our commitment as a council to the borough’s precious and much-loved green spaces, and shows we are listening to our residents.
The cabinet meeting will take place on Thursday December 17 at 6pm via Microsoft Teams.