Business park proposal sparks 100 objections

PLANS for a major development in Pensnett have sparked more than 100 objections from residents who fear a traffic increase could make local roads unsafe.

The application for a business park on land off Dreadnought Road – owned by Hinton, Perry & Davenhill Ltd – have been submitted after Dudley councillors threw out an earlier proposal in May.

The council’s planning committee rejected a plan for a new access road to the site after residents voiced fears over traffic safety and increase in heavy goods vehicles along Dreadnought Road and Tansey Green Road. At that time councilors were told there had been 12 collisions in the last five years on local roads, with half associated with speeding or alcohol and 100 per cent involving driver error. Three-quarters of the incidents happened outside of peak hours.

Recommending approval in May, planning officers said: “Whilst the development will generate a small number of additional movements in the peak hours, given the low peak hour accident rate, it is not considered the development will have any material effect on the highway safety in the area.”

But during that meeting objectors pointed out a 17-year-old man was killed in a fatal car crash just a week earlier, after a vehicle overturned on Tansey Green Road.

The new application is asking permission to build a commercial unit of 3,716 square metres and associated offices.

More than 100 residents have formally objected to the plans and are being backed by Brockmoor and Pensnett ward councillor, Sue Greenaway. She said: “They are really worried about more heavy traffic using the road and I can’t see the need for another trading estate there, there are about four in that little area only. Residents will keep objecting because they are incensed by it. The land could be turned into something much better like a health centre which Brockmoor and Pensnett needs.”