Plan for thousands more trees cut back by inspector

Dudley Council’s plan for 5,000 more trees in Brierley Hill got pruned during an enquiry into the proposal.

Government planning inspector Louise Nurser has been holding hearings to examine the authority’s proposed local plan to shape development in the borough until 2041.

On October 9 the council’s ideas for Brierley Hill came under the spotlight, including the policy that at least 5,000 new trees would be planted.

As she quizzed council planning officers at the hearing in Dudley Council House, Ms Nurser said: “When you say a minimum of 5,000 trees being planted within the Brierley Hill plan area during the plan period, isn’t that just a statement of intent?”

The inspector went on to question how easy it would be to monitor tree planting in comparison to other aspects of the plan like house building. The council says Brierley Hill has less tree canopy coverage than the rest of the borough and more trees would help combat problems like flooding and air pollution.

The draft plan added: “The lack of green spaces and parks in the centre has been identified as an issue. ”

A target number of new trees to be planted within the Inset Plan boundary during the plan period is considered an effective way of making a significant contribution towards the greening of Brierley Hill.”

Notes for the planning enquiry said: “A specific policy is required to address the unique challenges facing Brierley Hill.

“This should include measures to increase tree planting, enhance canopy cover, and improve wildlife corridors and green connectivity between nature conservation sites.”

Representatives of Dudley Council agreed to look at how they could amend the wording of the plan to make the concept of thousands more trees in Brierley Hill ‘supportive but not as proscriptive’.

The proposed local plan says specified areas for more tree planting would include designated wildlife corridors, sites of local importance for nature conservation, key pedestrian links, Brierley Hill High Street and Pedmore Road including the formation of a new entrance to Saltwells National Nature Reserve and a footpath link within Saltwells Wood.