Local’s fury over plans to develop rural greenbelt in Berkswell

A row is continuing over the need to build more rural homes – and the cost to the countryside and locals.

Berkswell Windmill has been a prominent feature on the region’s landscape since 1826, and it still will remain so, but what’s angering locals is what’s possibly coming nearby on green belt – a housing estate.

Solihull Council has identified the area as a good site for 200 homes, next to land where a housing estate is already being built. But the locals of Berkswell aren’t happy, as they say they can see their rural idyll becoming somewhat less than idyllic.

Jeanette McGarry, one of the protesters, said: “Well government says you shouldn’t build where you have great-crested newts, barn owls, red kites and they all live on that site. It’s alive with wildlife.

“Government also says you shouldn’t build where you have historic monuments – well it’s right opposite the windmill and what’s the council doing? Building exactly where the government says you shouldn’t.”

But, not everyone is against it, the owners of the land in question have been spoken to and one other landowner who may sell their property for development.

They said new houses have to be built somewhere and they disputed protesters claims about the abundance of wildlife here. They also said, even if they sold up they won’t necessarily make lots of cash and will have to find new homes themselves.

The housing estate idea hasn’t got as far as planning application yet and the windmill will remain untouched. But the protestors think there are brownfield sites – not green belt – nearby where the houses could go.

But even then, they say Berkswell and Balsall Common couldn’t take the extra traffic and people.

A local resident said: “There are 14 brownfield sites in and around Balsall Common. The council has however not brought any of those forward and they have chosen three greenbelt greenfield sites and we want to know why.

“There isn’t enough infrastructure in the village to cope with the amount of houses.

“I saw two accidents in the village in one day because there’s no parking. I just think we feel Solihull just simply hasn’t listened to our proposals for where the houses could go and they’ve chosen sites which are totally inappropriate.”

This idea for 200 new homes is part of Solihull Council’s plan for housing up until 2028.

They say this current idea will be subject to further consultation and examination and added: “It’s important that the council has a sound plan in place to help guide where development takes place so that the new homes the borough’s residents need, can be accommodated in a planned and sustainable manner.”

Read more: http://www.itv.com/news/central/2017-02-16/locals-fury-over-plans-to-develop-rural-greenbelt/