Uproar over Plans for Meadow House

Posted October 25, 2012 *

“Walsall council has begun consultations on the future of the site of the former Meadow House residential home. The development plan is looking at residential in the form of a mix of 2-bed bungalows and 2-3 bed starter homes up to a total of 19 properties.”

This was the first paragraph of an article written by Cllr Ian Shires back in June 2011 and reflected Walsall Council’s desire for the future of the empty Meadow House which had been de commissioned on the completion of the new residential home on Sandbeds Road, Short Heath.

That being the case, you can imagine our surprise when last week we picked up on the following planning application

 
DESCRIPTION
 ALTERATIONS TO ELEVATIONS INCLUDING NEW ENTRANCE, NEW STAIRCASE, DETACHED GYM/ACTIVITY ROOM AND ALTERATIONS TO CAR PARK TO PROVIDE AMBULANCE SPACE, DISABLED PARKING AND DISABLED RAMPED ACCESS
ADDRESS
 MEADOW HOUSE,STROUD AVENUE,WILLENHALL,WV12 4ET

Further the Design and Access Statement  makes the following reference.

” to prepare a Design and Access Statement  to support the
application  for a proposed  Residential  low-secure  Mental Health Facility,
Meadow  House, Stroud Avenue, Willenhall,l/0/l2 4ET”
This would appear to be a departure from the Development Brief for this site. As a result we have asked for further details to clarify exactly what the applicants, St Mary & St Michael Medical Company, have planned for the site. At this point in time we are awaiting a response to this request.
The view of the Short Heath Liberal Democrat Focus Team is that this application is a departure from the “Development Plan” for the site. This plan was the result of extensive consultation both by the Team and Walsall Council back in the summer of 2011. Further there is a clear need for housing as described in the Council’s Development Brief in the Short Heath area and as a result we would be very unhappy to see a unit as described above being placed within the local community.
A further point worth making is that the use being proposed by St Mary & St Michael Medical Company would not be serving a need from within the local area, but would bring in people from far and wide across the Country.
Great concern has been shown by local residents which culminated in an impromptu meeting Tuesday evening  in “The Homestead” pub which overflowed onto the car park. A petition is being circulated and our advice to residents has been that if they are opposed to what is being proposed for Meadow House then they need to write or e-mail the council:

Regeneration – Planning and Building Control
2nd Floor, Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DG

Email planningservices@walsall.gov.uk
Telephone  (01922) 652452
Textphone and TextBox  0845 111 2910
Translation Line  (01922) 652426
Fax (01922) 623234

Liberal Democrat Cllr. Doreen Shires has “Called in” the application which will ensure that it goes in front of the council’s Planning Committee which is held in public. We will update residents as we get further information.

October 25th, 2012 in News |

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Daniel Barker

13 Greaves Close
Walsall
West Midlands
WS5 3QT
T: 01922 634413
E:

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