It's time to help give Burntwood a heart, say campaigners
'Our town has got no heart and that is what we are crying out for.' That was the message from Burntwood Action Group as they unveiled ambitious plans to transform the Staffordshire town over the next 12 years.
They warned a new multi-million pound retail development which will bring 12 units to the former Olaf Johnson site next to McDonald's, could 'kill' existing shops unless it was reworked.
The group has come up with an alternative vision which would hopefully regenerate the town centre and provide sites for hundreds of homes which they are trying to prevent being built on green belt land.
It is feared land at Coulter Lane and Highfields Road are now under threat with the sites earmarked for a combined 330 properties between now and 2029.
BAG has proposed:
The Olaf Johnson scheme should be expanded to encompass a redevelopment of Sankeys Corner.
The Salters Meadow Centre site on Rugeley Road be released and developed into much-needed housing.
Derelict land west of Morrisons on the A5190 known as the blue hoarding site be allocated for housing and a new medical centre.
Industrial sites at Mount Road and Prospect Road used for additional housing.
Presenting plans to more than 150 residents at St. Matthews Social Club BAG member Simon Caron said: "There has been twice as much growth in Burntwood than Lichfield has had in recent years.
"It is time to stop growing this town without a plan.
"As soon as something happens on one of our roads we get gridlocked.
"It is time we got something better for Burntwood.
"We have got no identity. Pubs are closing, shops are closing. Now is the time to make a change.
"We haven't got a heart and that is what we are crying out for."
The forthcoming development at the Olaf Johnson site, put forward by London and Cambridge Estates, was passed by Lichfield District Council last month.
Iceland and B&M are believed to be on board and the scheme was welcomed by most quarters.
But BAG see it as a potential threat unless the scheme is expanded dramatically.
Group member Peter Button said: "That's going to form a barrier between the new shops and Sankey's Corner. It is going to kill them. The remaining shops are all going to want to move to it because it has a car park.
"We would like to see it keep going into Sankey's Corner and have the existing shops redeveloped.
"If we could get that then there is a lot of scope there for a plaza; a square with apartments and boutique or niche-type shops.
"And I'm not talking about executive homes but one and two bedroom apartments.
"We still want the new shops but we want people to go to those big shops and then visit the interesting ones." Mr Button said proposals to build large housing schemes at Mount Road and Prospect Road had been previously ruled out because there were up to 30 different landowners to negotiate with.
However BAG believe they would only need to convince three of them to sell land which would accommodate up to 100 homes.
The group conceded while what they were proposing was logical it was also 'complex'.
They pleaded with council bosses for more time to speak to landowners, developers and the council officers about turning their vision into a reality.
Mr Button added: "These are common sense things, we don't think we are coming up with rocket science.
"But we need an extended timescale. At the moment this is not a deliverable plan.
"We are asking for more time so we can talk in more detail with developers to put flesh on our bones."
District Council leader Mike Wilcox said: "We are keen to listen to all the suggestions. We will take all of these ideas forward."
