‘Huge uncertainty’ for Walsall residents as major school decision looms

Protesters are set to demonstrate outside Walsall Council House ahead of a planning meeting tomorrow night.

Campaigners from Save Our Park are calling on the council to reject a major application which could see the destruction of 13.7 acres of woodland. 

The plans, submitted by the Department for Education, involve building a £50million three-storey secondary school with 1000 student places at Reedswood Park woodland. 

The school, if approved, will be named the Windsor Apollo Academy and will be managed by the Windsor Academy Trust. 

Locals have long-opposed the scheme due to the chosen access route of Reedswood Lane. 

They claim the road will not cope with school drop-off and pick-up times as it is already often reduced to a single track from parked cars during none-peak times. 

The Highways Authority has also provided an objection to the application, stating that ‘fundamental matters’ had not yet been overcome.

As well as traffic concerns, residents oppose the plans due to the loss of woodland habitat. 

Ecological surveys submitted as part of the application found 30 different bird species, nine species of bat, six reptile species and at least half a dozen types of mammals in the area. 

Despite huge opposition to the project, the Department for Education, led by the Labour government, is ploughing on with its plan to deliver the school. 

The DfE has never publicly confirmed the reasons for choosing Reedswood Park or why other sites were discounted. 

Many residents have queried why the nearby vacant Sneyd Comprehensive School site can’t be used for the project. 

Earlier this year, the then-Conservative council approved a £1million pay out to the DfE to cover abnormal costs associated with starting the project. 

They also approved a 125-year lease of the woodland to the DfE. 

However, last week, the new Reform cabinet voted to revoke the previously agreed £1million spend. 

Tomorrow night, the council’s planning committee will be tasked with deciding whether to approve or refuse the DfE’s application. 

Campaigner and local resident Mark Webster said: “While we welcome the council’s decision to withdraw the million-pound contribution to the project signed by the previous administration, we are still waiting for a clear statement about what their intention is. 

“In the meantime, residents are living with huge uncertainty about the scheme which is currently due to go to the planning committee on 3 September. 

“Are we to understand that the withdrawal of funding means that the council wishes to withdraw the scheme? If that is the case we would welcome a statement that makes that clear before the planning committee.”

Shokt Faisal, from Agenda 21 and Friends of Reedswood Park, said: “We are calling on the council to reject this scheme outright. It does not reflect the wishes or the interests of local residents.”

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “A planning report for a proposed new secondary school on land north of Reedswood Lane is due to be considered by planning committee on 3 September 2026. 

“The planning committee carefully considers applications alongside professional advice from officers, consultation responses, and the views of local residents and the wider community. 

“Decisions are made in accordance with planning policy and relevant material planning considerations.”

Save Our Park has called on residents to meet at 5pm outside Walsall Council House, Lichfield Street, on Thursday, September 3.