Hedgerows on the edge of Sutton Coldfield are under threat as plans for the new 5,500-home Langley estate include proposals to remove hundreds of metres of them to make way for a new cycleway and footway (Image: Cllr Richard Parkin)

Sutton Coldfield cycle path plan for huge new development sparks hundreds of complaints

16 Nov 2024, 05:00 by Nick Horner, https://www.facebook.com/nickhornerjourno · Birmingham Live

More than 1,000 people have raised objections to proposals that would destroy a wildlife corridor in Sutton Coldfield to make way for a new cycleway and footpath around a new development. Developers Langley Sutton Coldfield Consortium and Ciel Property Holdings Ltd – behind the new 5,500 home site on the edge of the town - have resubmitted plans for the ‘strategic infrastructure’ for the site.

This includes access roads, internal roads, green spaces, play areas and the bike and pedestrian networks. Part of the plan is for a new cycleway and footpath around the perimiter of the site. When proposed last year, the original plan was labelled a ‘land grab’ with Councillor Ken Wood (Walmley and Minworth, Cons) saying it would create a ‘dual carriageway’ or a ‘tarmac moat’ around the site.

That proposal was parked but a new one has now been submitted by the developers. And while it proposes saving 1,100 metres of hedgerow, some 410 metres of the longstanding wildlife habitat is set to be ripped out to build the planned new cycle and footpath.

The new proposal would see a stretch of hedgerow along Springfield Road from Lindridge Road to Ox Leys Road removed completely. While in the Walmley ward, trees are set to go with the cycleway and footpath there being placed on the existing Birmingham land rather than the developers side.

Furious Sutton Reddicap councillor, Richard Parkin, has been enraged by the proposal and now has more than 1,300 signatures on a petition (online and in person) from local residents, many who live near the proposed development. The petition is calling for 'the destruction of the local hedgerow to stop'.

The online petition calls the cycleway plan an ‘unnecessary destruction of the natural environment' and says it 'will have devastating consequences to local wildlife’. He has called for the cycleway to go the other side of the hedge, on the Langley side, to ‘not harm the local environment’.

Local residents in the Reddicap area of Sutton Coldfield are universally opposed to removing the hedgerow and verge along part of Springfield Road to make way for a cycle path and new footway says Cllr Richard Parkin (Image: Cllr Richard Parkin)

Cllr Parkin said the plans to destroy the hedgerow in his ward were ‘morally wrong’. He urged a rethink, adding that if the cycleway was the other side of the hedge, it would also be safer for cyclists. He posted on Facebook and said: “I have been knocking on doors to get more signatures to add to the online petition and over 1,200 people have signed the petition so far. Every single person I have met opposes the plans.

“The Langley developers will be building on vast swathes of our beautiful countryside as it is. We cannot allow them to rip out our ancient hedgerow, a natural habitat and home to local wildlife, and tarmac over it.

“It’s morally wrong. And it’s unacceptable. I can’t promise the campaign will be successful but I will do all I can to save the hedgerow.”

The Reddicap town and city representative told BirminghamLive: “At the end of last year the developers put some revised plans for the access roads going in to the Langley Development. The plans included plans to remove 1.5 kilometres of hedgerows.

“Residents and councillors complained. Plans have been revised and resubmitted in September. Now instead of removing 1.5km of hedgerows they are going to keep 1.1km. But they are removing 410 metres of hedgerow along Springfield Road from the Anvil Pub to Lindridge Road. Most of the damage is in Reddicap.

“I had a meeting with Savills [agents for the Langley developers}. They say the council is keen to have the cycleway facing existing residents. But to do so they are having to remove hedgerow in the Reddicap area."

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He continued: “This hedgerow has been there for at least 100 years. It could be 200-years-old. It’s established hedgerow. I am told Birmingham City Council want to have the whole length of the cycleway visible to existing Sutton Coldfield residents. I have been up and down the road and residents are against it.

“Two things annoyed me about this. First, thing they are going to do this early on. I’m not against a cycleway and footway. All I would say to the council is think about the plans and think about where it’s going to go. Secondly, this hedgerow is a natural part of the environment and is full of wildlife.

“They could run it the other side of the hedgerow to keep residents happy. This is on a busy main road. It would be safer for cyclists to be the other side.

“I have done petitions before and I have never had a reaction like this. I have been overwhelmed by the responses. Everybody wanted to sign the petition. The residents are more angry about the hedgerow being removed than being incentivised to go cycling. If they have got any sense they will listen to residents. It’s an appalling destruction of the environment.”

Cllr Parkin’s views were echoed by David Cooke from Walmley Residents Association who last year outlined concerns regarding the original plan. This time Mr Cooke said the council want to put in a 3m cycleway and 2m footway along Thimble End Road and Webster Way. And where there is a combined footway and cycleway ‘it’s 3.5m taking out the verge and the hedgerow with it’.

He said: “In Walmley it will wipe out all the trees and verge and some of the hedge. All of the trees will go. Some are mature, others only planted last year.

“It beggars belief. We found out in September, it’s not a requirement of the developer. It’s a requirement of Birmingham City Council. City council planners have got it in their heads that they want to encourage cycling and walking. They also say it will benefit from existing street lighting. Cllr Parkin said there is no street lighting along Springfield Road on the opposite side of the road to the houses.

“If the topography is suitable, I’m with it. We are sitting at the top off a hill. Very few people actually cycle here. All this infrastructure is taking out verges and hedges. But who is going to use them?"

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He added: “The hedgerow in Webster Way is a wildlife corridor. That’s got me cross. Developers consultations are not being clear. The plans don’t have any road names. They don’t show existing hedgerows and trees. To a layman, it’s not obvious.

“The reason this cycleway is on the side where the residents live is in part because Birmingham City Council want to encourage active travel. And the developers don’t want it on their side as it eats into their land

“But if you must have a cycleway put it the other side of the hedge and put some lighting in. We will be holding at meeting with residents to help them respond to the consultation.”

A representative for Langley Sutton Coldfield Consortium asked about the new plans said: “The Consortium has decided not to comment on this occasion.” Birmingham City Council has also been asked to comment.