Opponents' dismay at new Brownhills beauty spot plan

Bosses at Walsall Council have come up with fresh proposals for Brownhills Common, which involve cutting down fewer trees at the site.

But campaigners say they do not want to see a single tree chopped down and say they will continue their fight to keep the common exactly as it is.

Barrie Poxon, vice-chairman of the Local Brownhills Committee, said: "I'm pleased the council has revised the plans. However, my main concern is that we don't want the trees touched at all. We want to keep that common as it is and we want to keep all the trees.

"We'll definitely be pushing for no trees to be removed. The trees make the place."

A petition of more than 1,400 names was submitted to Walsall Council in protest at the move to increase the amount of heathland at Brownhills Common.

It was announced at a council scrutiny meeting on Monday night that the controversial plans had been revised.

The fresh proposals have been scaled back from original plans to remove 50 per cent of conifers but still involve removing 30 per cent.

The revised scheme was drawn up after public consultation events and meetings between Walsall Council officers, the Forestry Commission and Natural England.

Under the new plans, heather will be encouraged to grow around the edges of plantations as they are thinned by spreading cuttings and all mature native broadleaved trees within plantations and heathland would be left. No tree felling would start before autumn this year.

Pleck Councillor Khizar Hussain said there needed to be more 'transparency' now between the council, Forestry Commission and Natural England, and the members of the public over the revised plans.

He said: "Why was there not a consultation? For me that's really ridiculous. There needs to be more transparency this time."

Chasewater Wildlife Group member Graham Evans said he was in favour of creating extra heathland, adding: "We are scared of change. Please listen to the experts on this."