Burntwood Action Group

15/07/2025

Unprecedented: Lichfield Councillors to Visit Battery Storage Site TODAY – A Race Against Time for Our Greenbelt?

Lichfield, 15th July 2025 – In a development that has sent ripples of concern through the local community, Lichfield Councillors are set to visit the controversial battery storage site TODAY at 2pm.

Read the full post on our website and if you haven't already sign up whilst there to receive updates via email as we share them.
https://burntwoodactiongroup.org/2025/07/15/unprecedented-lichfield-councillors-to-visit-battery-storage-site-today-a-race-against-time-for-our-greenbelt/

15/07/2025

NOTICE: Cameron Homes will NO LONGER be presenting at the Hammerwich Parish Council Meeting.

BAG troops stand down! We do not need to be present at the meeting Wednesday evening 16th July.

The Hammerwich Parish Council Website notes:
“Presentation from Cameron Homes on development on Highfields Road ” will not be transacted at this meeting.

The developer will now meet Hammerwich Parish Council online, date/time to be confirmed. We will update on website when we have more details.

It is expected that the Cameron Homes will also hold a public exhibition for this development. Members of the Public are advised to look out for the event details when available.

https://hammerwich-pc.gov.uk/meetings/council-meeting-16-july-2025/

12/07/2025

🚨 URGENT WILDLIFE ALERT! 🚨 Say NO to 300 Homes on Coulter Lane!

We need YOUR help to protect our precious local wildlife from the proposed development of 300 homes on land off Coulter Lane/ Church Road. This isn't just about buildings; it's about destroying vital habitats for creatures like Barney the Badger and Oscar the Owl!

🎥 Watch our video below featuring footage caught on a Ring camera in Ashmole Avenue, right next to the proposed development site. It shows Barney the Badger and Oscar the Owl, clear evidence of the thriving wildlife in this area.

A local resident shared their concerns: "We're confident that there will be badgers and/or burrows on the land off Coulter Lane/ Church Road, given the proximity, in that our gardens are adjoining the land."

This development poses a direct threat to protected species!

Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This Act makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy, or obstruct access to a badger sett, or to disturb badgers in their setts. Any development must adhere to this vital legislation.

Owls and their habitats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This Act safeguards wild birds, their eggs, and nests, and protects against the intentional or reckless disturbance of certain species, especially during nesting.

We cannot allow this development to proceed without full consideration and protection of our wildlife. Losing these green spaces means losing our wildlife.

What you can do:

👉 WATCH & SHARE THIS VIDEO WIDELY! Let's make sure everyone sees the wildlife at risk.
👉 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS and express your strong opposition to the Coulter Lane development, highlighting the protected species.
👉 STAY INFORMED and join local action groups fighting for our green spaces. Like and follow our page. Subscribe to our website: https://burntwoodactiongroup.org/

Let's stand together for Barney, Oscar, and all the incredible wildlife that calls Coulter Lane/ Church Road home!

🐾🦉

12/07/2025

11/07/2025

Cameron Homes to present at Hammerwich Parish Council meeting Wednesday 16th July.

Your Town Needs YOU! Don't Miss This Crucial Meeting!

Womens Institute Hall, Hammerwich on 16 July 2025 (Wednesday), commencing at 7.00pm.

Read more on our website:
https://burntwoodactiongroup.org/2025/07/11/cameron-homes-to-present-at-hammerwich-parish-council-meeting-wednesday-16th-july/

11/07/2025

📢 A Greenbelt Gauntlet: Councillor Dave Robertson MP for Lichfield, Burntwood and the Villages Finally Responds to Burntwood's Campaign.

Read the details on our website and whilst there, if you haven't already, subscribe to receive email updates.
https://burntwoodactiongroup.org/2025/07/11/a-greenbelt-gauntlet-councillor-dave-robertson-finally-responds-to-burntwoods-campaign/

Burntwood, UK – July 6th, 2025, 8:00 PM Sunday Night – The Burntwood Action Group (BAG) and local residents fighting the proposed Greenbelt development under the banner of “Wrong time, wrong …

05/07/2025

We need your help! The current housing targets aren't sustainable or required. It encourages developers who have potential options on Green Belt. Help by signing the petition below and like and share this post.

Lower national homebuilding targets to an achievable level for local councils, builders and infrastructure providers, rather than what we think are arbitrary numbers. We think changes in housing targets need to be in small, workable increments.

04/07/2025

Read our latest post on "The conversion of Green Belt land to Grey Belt for development" and whilst you are there subscribe to our blog receive updates as we post them.

https://burntwoodactiongroup.org/2025/07/04/the-conversion-of-green-belt-land-to-grey-belt-for-development/

02/07/2025

📢 Lichfield Planning Committee not convinced by Elgin Energy

LDC Planning officers were recommending approval for the installation of a large battery storage system, ‘BESS’, on greenbelt land in Hammerwich. But the LDC planning committee meeting 30th June, were not convinced the development was sound.

Even though all the boxes were ticked to ‘downgrade’ the site from Greenbelt to the governments new Greybelt category, officers were not convinced that ‘exceptional circumstances’ quoted by Elgin, showed the site was suitable.

The potential environmental issues associated with such an installation were expressed. The proximity to Crane Brook and the M6Toll were an issue. Hammerwich residents and the M6Toll fear that a malfunction resulting in a Lithium Iron leak or fire, could close the M6toll and leak into Crane Brook, which would carry pollution int the local river course.

Representations were made by a local resident who was concerned the notorious Hammerwich narrow country lanes would not cope with heavy vehicle associated with the plant. The lane known as Lions Den is a narrow single track throughout its length.

This was supported by Councillor Serina Mears who was very concerned that the village of Hammerwich was not being considered appropriately.

Councillor Leona Leung made a formal objection on behalf of Hammerwich with Wall Ward, expressing her concern re noise pollution and access to the site should there be an emergency.

After lengthy debate, the Committee was split, and the Chairman exercised his prerogative to defer the application pending a site visit and review of several environmental concerns.

02/07/2025

Infrastructure is needed to support the current population in Burntwood before even thinking about more houses. Does developer money really get used to support improving infrastructure or is it swallowed up by other critical issues? How about developers directly fund infrastructure and build it? They wont because the maths do not work and the cycle continues.

We need great homes for families, but that’s no good without services to go with them 👨‍⚕️ 📚

Too many have been built without GP surgeries in areas that really need them - such as Fradley and Burntwood.

I raised this problem with the Housing Minister. This government knows how important it is for councils to get the money they need from developers to build the schools, doctors' surgeries and parks we all want in our towns and villages 🏫 🧑‍🏫 ✅