TWO Stourbridge community groups have joined forces to try to save an untouched oasis for wildlife in Amblecote to try to keep it safe from development for future generations.

The Save The Corbett Meadow Action Group and Stourbridge Community Land Trust are looking to work together to protect Corbett Meadow and to see it managed for public benefit in the future.

Located behind Corbett Outpatients Centre, the meadow is part of land that was gifted to the people of Stourbridge in 1892 by John Corbett for the building of a hospital.

Fourteen acres of meadowland, however, were never built on and they remain a home and important travel corridor for birds, owls, bats, amphibians, small mammals, foxes, badgers and insects.

The future of the site, however, is uncertain as the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the outpatients centre, owns the land and has listed it on a register of publicly-owned land with potential for housing development.

The action group has voiced strong opposition to any plans to develop the land and is calling for it to be protected as a Local Green Space in the Black Country Plan when it is published in the summer.

Long-term management of the site for public benefit would still need to be assured though - and the Stourbridge Community Land Trust is keen to take on the management of the meadow as a community asset.

The trust works to improve people’s lives and well-being by acquiring and managing land for that purpose and it has numerous projects in the pipeline ranging from building low energy, affordable apartments in Stourbridge through to community cohesion work in Lye.

Working together the two groups are now looking at how best they can collaborate to secure the future of the meadow, off Vicarage Road, in perpetuity.

Helen Cook, of the action group, said “Firstly we have to see off the threat of new housing development taking away the meadow forever - but we also need to see it used positively for the benefit of the people of Stourbridge just as John Corbett wished."

Eddy Morton, for the Stourbridge Community Land Trust, added: “The meadow can become a wonderful place for people and protect the abundance of existing wildlife, a place where physical and mental health can be refreshed and restored in a 21st century version of Corbett’s intentions. Together we can make this happen."

Developers Countryside Properties held an exhibition at Stourbridge Football Club in November 2019 to showcase a proposal to build up to 136 new homes on the land but after the extent of local opposition to the scheme became clear the company announced it had withdrawn its interest in the site.

Residents in Amblecote opposed to any development of the land were delighted at the time but said future battles would likely have to be fought to save the wildlife haven from being lost forever...and just this week it was confirmed that plans to sell off the site for development have not gone away.

Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group, said: "In light of financial challenges that face the NHS we are under a duty to make the best use of our resources and public money. NHS guidance sets out our requirements to dispose of any surplus assets. We are required to sell the parcel of land we own at the rear of Corbett Outpatient Centre, and reinvest the money directly back into patient care for the people of Dudley and surrounding areas.

"The money will be spent on crucial medical equipment to support the local communities’ healthcare. We are therefore in ongoing discussions with a developer regarding the surplus land."