Campaigners fight plans to destroy Walsall Woodland for 1,000-place secondary school

Protesters gathered at a Walsall woodland which is set to be destroyed to make way for a 1,000-place secondary school. 

The planned £50million school, managed and funded by the Department for Education (DfE), has proven extremely unpopular with residents. 

The trust chosen to run the school once it is built had arranged a public drop-in session for locals to give feedback on July 14.

But Windsor Academy Trust pulled out at the last minute and moved the consultation online after being made aware there was a planned gathering in protest of the plans.

Despite the academy chain backing out, at least 50 Reedswood residents turned up to make their voices heard. 

Locals have long-opposed the future Windsor Apollo Academy due to the loss of 13.7 acres of Reedswood Park woodland, and the chosen access route of the already-congested Reedswood Lane.

At the protest vice-chair of Birchills Agenda 21 Shokt Fazal said: “I want our kids to have the same childhood that I had. If the park goes, what future will our kids have? Why is there a public body that is so intent on destroying our park?

“If this goes ahead it’ll destroy all our lives. Future generations will look at all of us and say what did we do? We’re on the right side of history so let’s keep fighting.”

Chris Jones, chair of Birchills Agenda 21, said: “The calls for a new school will be on the east side of the borough because that’s where all the development is going to be. 

“They chose this site because they thought it would be the least opposition. The fight is not over yet, this is the beginning.”

Vicky Miller from Keep Reedswood Green said: “We believe that progress should not come at the unnecessary cost of losing green space. They need to listen to residents and work with the community, not against it. 

“They may have cancelled the face-to-face consultation but they cannot cancel our voices.”

Local resident Sarah Tullo added: “I would have welcomed the chance to speak directly with the trust and explain that my opposition to the school isn’t about stopping education. It is about protecting the irreplaceable green space that defines our community. 

“The development will permanently destroy vital natural habitats, and directly threaten local wildlife populations, including bats. 

“The environmental impact this proposal will bring is not minor or reversible, it is profound and long lasting. We urge the DfE to find a more suitable location for the new school.”

Shahin Aktar, representing the Walsall Trades Union Council, said: “We stand in solidarity with local residents opposing the proposed development on Reedswood Park. 

“Green spaces are essential for the health and wellbeing of our communities, providing places for recreation, exercise and bringing people together. 

“While we recognise the need for investment in education, we believe this should not come at the expense of one of our valued public parks. We support the community’s call for alternative solutions that protect both educational provision and our precious green spaces.”

Local resident Michelle Moore said: “I’m worried about the woodland. The amount of wildlife that’s in the woods; birds, bats, frogs, toads and newts, they’ll all be homeless.”

Beechdale, Leamore and Reedswood ward member Councillor Matt Eason, Reform UK, said: “It was in our manifesto pledge that we will be supporting you. There’s a lot of things going on in the background. We’re all on the same page and the council leader is on your side as well.”

The Department for Education has not provided a comment. 

A spokesperson for Windsor Academy Trust said: “We fully respect the right to peaceful protest and understand the community’s passion for green space. 

“However, site selection is entirely within the remit of the DfE and Walsall Council. Our Section 10 consultation is focused strictly on gathering feedback on the educational vision for the school.

“We are proud of our deep roots in Walsall, where we already run Goldsmith and Rivers Primary Academies. 

“If planning permission is granted, this circa £50 million government investment – which is strictly ringfenced for a new school and cannot be spent elsewhere in the borough – will deliver a state-of-the-art school and vital SEND provision for local children.

“Our decision to move Tuesday’s Section 10 consultation event online was taken to ensure that everyone who wished to take part could do so comfortably and without barrier. 

“Our six-week consultation has been highly proactive, featuring digital campaigns, media notices, local school outreach, direct stakeholder meetings, and leaflets delivered twice to 300 nearby households.

“Should planning permission be granted, we are absolutely committed to being good neighbours and working collaboratively with the local community.”

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “A planning application for the proposed new secondary school on land north of Reedswood Lane is currently being considered. 

“As part of the statutory planning process, a public consultation is underway and residents are encouraged to view the application and submit their comments through the council’s website.”