OPINION
So how many people responded to the latest so called “consultation” on a plan that has been going on for over 1 decade without any resolution?
I have to say that having participated at every stage of the original Sandwell Plan this latest gaslighting bullshit “let’s start again” exercise is just a prime example of the stupidity of a council that decided to “plan” early using the previous National planning policy Dec 2023 edition knowing that this crazy Government would just rip that up down the pipeline for their HMO bonanza for dinghy filth from across the channel. IT WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION TO DO THAT, AND HAS WASTED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF MONEY AND TIME.
Sandwell is now running two Local Plan processes at once: the existing Sandwell Local Plan 2024–2041 is still at examination and may yet be adopted, while Sandwell Local Plan 2 (2026–2044) has now formally commenced under the new Dec 2024 NPPF. Sandwell itself says Local Plan 2 will ultimately replace the emerging plan after that plan is adopted.
Has the inspector and her examination report for SP1 been officially nobbled by Westminster and some top tier civil service prick , or just the political class? Was SP1 that unsound that the council would basically have to scrap it anyway given the number of houses that Labour are demanding should be built where there is no land available in Sandwell to do so?
Just for clarity, Sandwell failed the 80% threshold test for new housing being unable to complete the figure claimed would be needed in the plan period.
The 15 pages of the consultation gave few questions, just a complex web of policy, buzz word phrases and stilted agendas that mean nothing at all to any layman reading it. This of course is why no one would respond to such a thing, as is the council’s hope.
Having read one question near the start when asked if AI should compile responses I nearly blew my top! There would be so few to actually read that if an officer can not even be bothered to read what REAL people think then why the fuck are they even in the job- as OUR public servants? AI relies on what you tell it to look for, and I can only believe that it will be told to rebut any reasonable objections to the plan and how Sandwell council officers in planning policy wish it to be. As it is, SMBC recently advertised a new job role specifically to deal with this new plan.
The council cannot just cherry pick parts of an unapproved plan and insert them into the new one, even if the original ever sees the light of day. It is patently clear that this Government wants fast track approval of new build and wants to impose these on any authority it chooses. The new Sandwell council regime must say “NO” and challenge that at every opportunity, or they will all look like asses.
