The Reform leadership in Walsall faces renewed scrutiny over a contentious school development project at the forthcoming public council meeting.
Council Leader Elaine Williams will be asked to give a firm assurance that she will not agree to a 125-year lease of 13.7 acres of woodland in Reedswood Park. This site had been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) as the location for the proposed £50 million Windsor Apollo Academy.
The government submitted a planning application for the school in July; however, the proposal was recently refused by Walsall Council’s planning committee.
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Prior to Reform taking control of the council, the previous Conservative-led cabinet had approved a £1 million payment to the DfE to cover unusual costs related to initiating the project. They also agreed to a 125-year lease of the woodland area to the DfE.
In August, the Reform-led cabinet voted to withdraw the previously approved £1 million expenditure.
Deputy leader of the Walsall Community Independents, Councillor Khizar Hussain, has now called on Councillor Williams to guarantee she will refuse to sign the 125-year lease for the land. He also seeks her commitment that a Reform-led council will never agree to lease this open space for a school or any other development.
Local residents have opposed the scheme mainly due to concerns over the proposed access route via Reedswood Lane. They argue that the road is already congested, often reduced to a single track by parked cars outside peak times, and would struggle to handle school drop-off and pick-up traffic.
In addition to traffic worries, there is significant opposition owing to the potential loss of valuable woodland habitat. Ecological surveys submitted with the planning application identified 30 different bird species, nine species of bats, six reptile species, and at least six types of mammals residing in the area.
Many community members have questioned why the nearby vacant Sneyd Comprehensive School site was not considered for the development. The DfE has not publicly explained their dismissal of this alternative location.
Councillor Hussain’s question to Councillor Williams regarding the lease will be formally raised at the full council meeting on Monday, 28 September.