CAMPAIGNERS working to protect the Seven Cornfields site near Sedgley from development were claiming victory this week but Dudley's MP has warned it's too early to celebrate just yet as plans have not been officially approved.
Councillor Paul Birch, who sits on the City of Wolverhampton Council, posted a note on Facebook earlier this week telling people: "We have won. We have saved the Seven Cornfields."
Politicians and campaigners on neighbouring authorities have, however, been left a little shocked at the early victory claim as the Draft Black Country Plan which will outline preferred sites for future development is not due to be made public until Friday June 25.
Cllr Birch (Labour), pictured below, is understood to have been briefed on the plan and he confessed he'd decided to leak some of what he'd been told about chosen sites.
He told the News: "I know about the concerns our community has about the threat, and given all the bad news they have had to face this past 18 months, I wanted to bring them this good news as it’s been handed down to me."
The office of Dudley North MP Marco Longhi said although the victory claim had not been ratified officially - the MP was this week "cautiously optimistic" that it spelled good news for the cornfields bordering Sedgley and Wolverhampton which have been eyed up for development by Barratt Homes.
However - Mr Longhi (Conservative) said: "I have been working closely with residents to stop any of the proposed developments on our green belt via the Call to Sites initiative so I welcome any news that a proposed development will not be allowed on our green belt.
"However, we do not want politicians jumping ahead and inadvertently helping developers. I have contacted Wolverhampton Council for a full explanation of what decision has been made and to ensure the actions of Labour have not jeopardised the protection of our precious greenbelt.
"I genuinely hope the early announcement is correct and that this will support the actions taken by ourselves in Dudley, by Mayor Andy Street and other colleagues by the Government itself to safeguard green belt land via the National Planning Framework."
A spokesman for the City of Wolverhampton Council said: “The Draft Black Country Plan is set to go live on June 25 ahead of the public consultation and we are unable to comment on matters related to it until it is published.”
The plan is expected to go before cabinet members at all four Black Country authorities in early July.
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