A new campaign group has launched in Walsall, comprising residents who are opposing a proposed school development. The group, named Keep Reedswood Green – Say No to School Development Site, held its inaugural meeting earlier this month, attracting approximately 100 attendees.
Concerns Over £50 Million Project
The group, led by Victoria Miller, has significant concerns about the £50 million project being delivered by the Department for Education (DfE). The development includes a three-storey school building and outdoor sports pitches, providing over 1,000 places for students aged 11 to 18. To accommodate the school, more than 13 acres of woodland at Reedswood Park would need to be cleared, with access to the facility from Reedswood Lane.
Residents Not Opposed to a School, But the Location
Victoria emphasised that the group is not against building a school in Walsall, but rather the chosen location. Key concerns raised by residents include the environmental damage from the loss of woodland and the access route along the already congested Reedswood Lane.
Victoria said: “We live on the new Lockside Estate, which backs onto the park. You only have to walk through there to hear the wildlife and the birds singing. The thought of that being replaced with concrete didn’t sit right. It’s usually dark and home to bats and badgers, but it will become a flood-lit concrete jungle.”
She added: “The general consensus, from speaking with residents at the meeting, is that they’re really concerned about losing their green space because it’s so widely used and valued. It’s also the impact on the traffic, if you look at the plan, Reedswood Lane is the main entrance.”
Alternative Sites Suggested
Victoria stressed that residents are not saying no to a school, but question why it must be built on a new site. She noted: “There’s a lot of noise about why it has to be a new building site. You only have to drive around Walsall to see how many brownfield sites there are. There’s a lot of empty buildings and empty land. It feels very unfair.”
The DfE has refused to confirm whether it will consider alternative sites for the new free school, despite overwhelming opposition at a recent drop-in event it hosted. Victoria expressed frustration: “It doesn’t sit right with me, there’s other sites that are standing empty. Other land that isn’t filled with trees and nature, birds, and has better access. As much as I tried to hear in the consultation, I can’t get on board with the plans. At the end of the day there’s a community there that wants to be heard and decisions must be made with us. We want input on this.”
The DfE has been approached for a statement.
