Wolverhampton City Council (WCC) annnounced an "information session" on 5/Nov on plans already underway to install unnecessary metal barriers in Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve (SVLNR). Work had already commenced without meaningful consultation on solutions prior to this date. Neither Smestow Valley Liaison Group, nor the Tettenhall Community Forum have been consulted - and disagree with the work now implemented. WCC have replied to the community forum and liaison groups since this "information session" with ambiguous platitudes, and are insisting on proceeding with work against residents' wishes, not consulting on agreed designs and not undertaking remedial work for safety problems the implementation has now caused.
Sign our petition to stop unnecessary and unsafe barriers in Smestow Valley.
Post “November Information Event” Plan -
The statement from WCC as follows: “Minor amendments to the contract for the treatment of some areas has been made following feedback received. This decision was reached to address the long-standing issues of antisocial behaviour at the site. Timber gates and fencing have been vandalised, businesses have suffered damage and valley users have reported feeling unsafe. “ “The installation of the barriers and fencing at the site is supported by West Midlands Police local policing team. “
This is not an acceptable justification as it ignores the fact that the implementation does not meet the aims proposed, and further is ambiguous about what changes have been made, which in turn should be presented to the community for agreement
The council still feels it may proceed how it wishes based on spurious red herring justifications without “meaningful” consultation and a lack of attention to detail; which we do not find acceptable.
The project must still cease and consult meaningfully with residents through the Tettenhall Community Forum, with Smestow Liaison Group, to come to an agreed solution, without inappropriate justifications foisted on the community for:
Agreed solutions for Smestow Valley safety which;
Provides safety solutions for all anti-social behaviours caused by all non-pedestrian traffic
Meet local requirements / complete remedial work for newly introduced safety problems caused
Is not injurious to Smestow Valley aesthetic and green policies
Follow Gunning Principles for consultation
Meet the requirements of the ‘Management Group’ (Smestow Valley Liaison Group) responsible for the Specific Site Proposal of “Smestow Valley”
Be compliant with Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan policies and methods of consultation
Issues Are:
Pre-December revision plans:
The barriers do not meet the aesthetic requirements
Barriers are unnecessary except for at entry and exit points and locations should be consulted and agreed with residents through TCF and Smestow Valley Liaison Group
Money saved should be awarded to the District CiC to distribute for other safety issues and maintenance around Smestow Valley, including works provided by Friends’
The Specific Site Proposal (Smestow Valley) is covered by Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan policies, which includes mandates as to how consultation will proceed, in this case the council is in breach of its own adopted policies
The consultation is not compliant with Gunning Principles by reaching decisions beforehand and not allowing time for consideration
The implementation is injurious to the enjoyment of amenity by residents and produces a new safety issues for dog owners, which was not present before, and must be fixed by remedial action in the Post “November Information event” plan
The revised post “November information event plan” is ambiguous as to what changes have been made, and explicitly does not mention remedial works to resolve newly introduced dog safety concerns
Remedial Action Specifically for dog safety – kissing gates are to be re-installed at; Compton Hill Drive, Old Bridge footpath, Meccano Bridge to Old Bridge footpath
The project does not meet the overall safety needs when considering a policy on “electric bicycles”