Campaigners lose battle as Sandwell woodland faces the axe

Campaigners have lost their battle to stop homes being built on the Thimblemill Recreation Ground in Smethwick after an independent planning inspector overturned Sandwell Council's decision to refuse the plans.

Councillors have been left furious by the decision and say it goes against democracy.

Developers have faced a long battle to chop down the woodland, with the row dragging on for more than a year.

But Selbourne Homes will now be able to begin work on 13 luxury homes after bosses at the council ruled out applying for a potentially costly judicial review.

Members of the council's planning committee originally refused the application after taking the arguments of residents on board.

Ward councillor Richard Marshall who led the protest, made his feelings on the decision clear.

He said: "This is a real sickener. I'm gutted, and very annoyed.

"This represents the last remaining piece of natural woodland in the whole of Smethwick, and I don't think due consideration was given to that.

"There are dozens of potential building sites within easy walking distance from here, but these people choose to run their bulldozers through an area of natural undeveloped woodland which contains bats, owls and a wide variety of insect species. Nor do I think anyone considered fully the highways issues in respect of the planned entrance on to Thimblemill Road.

"This is an already dangerous stretch of road, where children cross to get to school, and where safety measures have already had to be put in place, and yet it will now have yet another hazard point.

"If a child dies or is badly injured here, someone will have to examine their conscience, because I will be making clear to people that we advised in advance that it was dangerous."

The council's deputy leader Steve Eling previously said he felt the process of 'faceless civil servants' being able to overrule elected councillors was 'obscene'.

Councillor Eling, who represents the nearby Abbey ward, was also left fuming by the decision.

He said: "I've always had concerns about anonymous planning inspectors being able to overturn democratic decisions.

"Clearly a lot of our residents were very concerned about the prospect of this development, particularly as there was other brownfield building land close by.

"People are angry. They feel as residents their views of what the shape of their neighbourhood should be have been totally disregarded by someone with no accountability whatsoever. People feel there is injustice in that."