Date received: 8 February 2024
Signatures received: 381
Name of petitioner: Lottie Mellor
Petition response:
Thank you for your petition, regarding the prevention of building on Balls Field, Wolstanton. The County Council is required to manage its assets effectively and to dispose of those that are surplus to requirements. This land isn’t required now or in the future for council purposes. It was not donated to the council, rather it was purchased for school building from the same person in two parcels in 1923 and 1931.
In order to obtain best value for the disposal of property the council is obliged to obtain maximum value. In the specific case of the land referred to as Balls Field it was considered best value to dispose of the land for residential housing.
Consultations with the borough council indicated that the site would be suitable and a planning application was submitted. The planning officers report to committee indicated that the proposals were in line with the national and local planning policies.
The application process requires full consideration of all the potentially relevant ecological and environmental factors, some of which are mentioned in your petition. The details of all the surveys and considerations are contained in the planning application documentation available on the borough council’s website.
The planning process also included a biodiversity net gain assessment. This showed the proposals to not negatively affect habitats and biodiversity.
In terms of walking and leisure, site surveys indicated a number of informal paths with low levels of use. The proposals provide for a specific walking route with verges and tree planting to continue but also enhance the opportunities for walking across the site.
Therefore, the council is of the opinion that there is no loss of habitat or damage to ecology and that the proposals include for enhancements to walking provision and as such disposal for use as residential housing remains the best course of action in terms of the councils obligations.