'We're not Nimbys': Council leader expected to join protest against 880 new homes on green belt near Dudley
Residents will hold a demonstration against plans to build 880 homes on green belt land near Dudley.
Dudley Council leader Councillor Patrick Harley and Mike Wood MP are also expected to turn out for tomorrow's (Saturday) protest in Kingswinford.
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Dave Stringfellow, of the Wall Heath and Kingswinford Action Group, said he expected between 40 and 50 demonstrators to turn out in opposition of plans to build homes on two greenbelt sites in the area.
They will meet at the island opposite Hickory's Smokehouse in Swindon Road, and plant banners at the side of the road.
The demonstration is being held in protest against proposals against proposals for 550 new homes on an area of green space in Kingswinford known as The Triangle, and a further 330 on land next to the historic Holbeche House in Holbeache Lane.
Outline plans have been submitted by Persimmon Homes to develop the Holbeache Lane site, which is next to the house where the Gunpowder Plotters made their last stand.
Real estate company Barberry (Summerhill) Ltd has held a consultation on proposals to build on the Triangle site, bounded by Lodge Lane, Kidderminster Road and Swindon Road.
Pressure to develop the sites led to Dudley Council controversially pulling out of the joint Black Country development plan with neighbouring Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils, and producing its own 'brownfield only' plan to meet future housing requirements in the borough.
But Mr Stringfellow said Barberry was also trying to get The Triangle reclassified as 'grey belt', which would make it easier to gain planning permission.
He said the Dudley development plan, which was approved by the Government last month, included 650 homes on a brownfield site at Ketley Quarry.
"We're in favour of that, we're not Nimbys, but you can imagine the pressure on the infrastructure if that and another 880 homes were built in the area, that's 1,530 new homes, with children requiring school desks, and demand for doctors."
The protest is scheduled to start at 10am.
