Canal side flats plan slammed

12:20pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

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By Bev Holder »

STOURBRIDGE canal enthusiasts are up in arms over plans to build a six-storey waterside apartment block as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment in the town's conservation area.

Quinton based Quadrant Land Partnership has submitted it's town-changing proposals to build 86 new homes on the old Stourbridge Rolling Mills Site off Bradley Road and Canal Street.

But members of Stourbridge Navigation Trust say the plans as they stand will spoil the popular Stourbridge Arm Canal conservation area that they have worked so hard to protect - and they are urging the developers, part of the Revelan Group, to re-think the scheme.

Trust chairman Graham Debney said: "We are not against the development of the site.

"The Trust is suffering from vandalism and anti-social behaviour and the only way that's going to stop is when that site's developed. What we don't want is development of any kind at any price.

"We want something that's going to be sympathetic to the conservation area. We don't want things like six-storey apartment blocks right on the waterfront, it would be like looking from the Bonded Warehouse to the top of the Grand Canyon."

Trust financial director Chris Dyche, and treasurer of the Staffs and Worcester Canal Society, echoed his concerns, adding: "We don't want six storey flats up against our moorings."

He said the Trust wants to see low rise housing close to the canal and any apartment blocks built further away from the water, plus plenty of public open space.

He added: "We owe it to the people of Stourbridge to make sure the whole thing is sympathetically looked at."

Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho is also against the current proposal. She told the News: "It is ridiculous to propose six storey flat development along the canal side. It is completely inappropriate in this conservation area.

"The canal is a key jewel in our Stourbridge heritage.

"I hope councillors will reject this application and ask the developers to go away and think again."

Nicki Lister, spokesman for West Midlands Waterways, said British Waterways supports regeneration of the area in general, but said it was too early to comment on specific proposals.

According to Dudley Council planners - the application is not likely to go before the development control committee before the summer.

Quadrant Land Partnership did not wish to comment.