More than 200 sign petition against new school

More than 200 people have signed a petition against a major school development in Walsall.

Resident Shokt Fazal has described the campaign as the "last stand" to stop a three-storey school being built at Reedswood Park.

The £50m scheme, delivered by the Department for Education, will see the destruction of 13.7 acres (5.5 hectares) of woodland and has proven incredibly unpopular among many residents and political groups.

Vehicle access for the school will be gained from Reedswood Lane - a narrow residential road off the Four Crosses junction with Bentley Lane.

The consultation period has recently lapsed and a full planning application is expected to be submitted this month.

Fazal, vice-chairman of community group Birchills Agenda 21, said he wanted to stop the government "overriding local wishes".

He said there was £50m of investment coming in with the school, but that residents would not benefit

Fazal said other sites at Sneyd Comprehensive on Vernon Way, the former Hawbush Centre in Leamore and Manor Farm on King George Crescent should be used before destroying green spaces.

He also questioned why the money had not been used to upgrade and expand existing schools.

The DfE said the former Reedswood golf course was identified as "the only viable option" and the Sneyd site was reviewed, but was not deemed suitable.

It added that local residents and statutory bodies would be consulted by the appointed contractor prior to the planning application.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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