RESIDENTS in Netherton fear proposed new industrial units could put road safety at risk.

Dudley Council planners are considering a proposal by Hovi Developments, who are looking to construct two buildings divided into eight new units at Westminster Industrial Estate, on Cradley Road.

The developer said the project would help bring new jobs and investment into the area and would not negatively impact on neighbouring houses.

But several residents have voiced concerns about the increase in noise, more traffic and the loss of green space resulting in the loss of wildlife.

One resident said Cradley Road was a black spot for crashes adding there had been two fatalities in the last 12 years. In 2015, pedestrian 53-year-old Gary Wroblewski was killed in a hit and run incident.

The then 22-year-old Jordan Edwards, of Salop Street, Dudley, was jailed for four years and nine months at Wolverhampton Crown Court in May 2016.

In the application, agents RCA Regeneration said: “The application site comprises a vacant brownfield site on the Westminster Industrial Estate.

“Residential development adjoins the site to the north-east, and it is not unusual for housing and employment uses to be located close together within these parts of the borough.

“The scheme will bring new jobs and investment, allowing small local businesses to start up and existing businesses to grow in an area where much of the employment land is either being lost to residential development or is of poor quality.

“Overall, we consider that the scheme responds positively to the economic growth agenda for the borough, at a scale and of a design that will not undermine the living conditions of adjacent neighbours. We consider that the full proposals should be supported.”

One resident said: “As a close neighbour to the site, we wish to complain regarding nature of business ie general factory use, the height of frontage being detrimental to our property, noise and an increase in traffic safety, having seen numerous crashes and near misses having lived here 12 years with two fatalities.

“Having actually lived here in the 1970s at an address two doors from where I live now, I can remember traffic and noise from the workforce.”

Another added: “Whilst I am in favour of creating jobs and industry by making good use of such land, and especially to help our economy recover following the effects of both the pandemic and Brexit, my family and I are not satisfied with the replacement green area proposed.

“That would only result in six tree seedlings being planted, that will take twenty-five years to mature.”