Fight to keep playing field free from development

5.33.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jul 2007

Alistair Dow (right) has joined local residents in fighting a proposed housing development on the Westhill Playing Fields.

Cllr Alistair Dow has backed residents concerns regarding the possible loss of a seven acre greenfield site, which is currently used as playing fields, for a proposed housing development.

"The Westhill College playing fields are a terrific local amenity and should be retained rather than being sold to a developer," said Alistair Dow.

Cllr Dow has backed resident's suggestions that the area should remain as open space and has pledged his support to the Lodge Hill Residents Association campaign to persuade the site's owners (the Westhill Endowment Trust) not to develop the area.

The residents association recently held a meeting which was attended by Cllr Dow and one hundred residents that suggested a number of alternative options for the site, including offering the playing fields to sports organisations in the city, making the site available to local schools and offering the site available to youth organisations.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Dow said:

"I hope that the Trust will consider residents' views carefully before going ahead with the proposed sale. We have very little open green land in this area and to lose this amenity would be a great shame."

"If the sale does go ahead and planning permission is granted for housing development then I will be looking for a substantial area of green space to be retained to provide play and recreational facilities for local people."

"We have lost far too many green open spaces in Birmingham. This is another "green lung" that could soon be covered in bricks and mortar."