Tack Farm, Uffmoor Lane, Romsley, Halesowen B62 0NP

St Modwen, I understand, wants to develop the land for housing, when we need it to grow our food to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One contact I have for St Modwen is Rob Flavell who is copied into this email if he wishes to clarify for us where his company stands on this matter.

I would also be glad of your support for Rob/St Modwen to finish the Dowery Dell Trail - our name for the walkway on or near the Halesowen Railway line to Longbridge High Street. Roy Burgess gave it that name. It runs from the new path I re-opened on the public right of way in 2019, that starts in the SE corner of land owned by Romsley and Hunnington Sports and Social Club, opposite the former Blue Bird sweet factory. We have the landowner's permission to walk the railway line from the site of the Dowery Dell viaduct to the right of way subway beneath the M5 and, from there, it is a cycle-walkway, signed as a public footpath that soon becomes the Princess Diana Way and/or NCR5 but, goes only to the A38 at Rubery/Rednal. It comes out into Leybrook Road by Colmers Farm Primary School on the A38.

St Modwen knows that it needs to be finished, through their land, on the north side of the R Rea, aka Callow Brook so that it takes the old railway line tunnel beneath the A38 (safeguarded and available) into Austin Park. However, it is taking a very long time to be finished!

Would you also be so good as to support Prof Kathryn Moore, also copied in so you get her email address, over the West Mids National Park plan that is fully endorsed by the WMCA. Mick Freer (michael.freer@btinternet.com) is not enamoured with the idea, thinking that the purpose is to facilitate economic growth and more loss of greenbelt. However, Roy Burgess and I are wanting the Clent Hills Country Park to be extended into its foothills as the Clent Hills Regional Park over our 32 sq Kms Golden Green Triangle, bounded by M5, A456 and A491.

Many thanks and best wishes

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

Walking and working in our Golden Green Triangle

Thanks, Stuart for your last email. All very helpful. This is copied to Roy Burgess who is mentioned here and who also needs to know what is going on. He founded the Halesowen Abbey Trust in 1986 and has been active in public service ever since. Now, more in Leasowes Walled Garden, in Leasowes Park, that is as good as any NT garden. It is included in the annual competition, 'Halesowen in Bloom'.

To keep you in the picture, I have on Monday submitted a request to WCC via their official online website form, for the rough 'path' from Bromsgrove Road to Illey Brook/Illey Mill to be made a right of way. Reference no 717548. More immediately, I would like their staff to cut a path through the long grass of the roadside verge at the Bromsgrove Road end. My very rough path starts at the brambles where I have cut a narrow path through. I will continue to keep the brambles, thistles and nettles back at that short section on the verge below (south) where the long grass is. I have done it for my own use, primarily but I also think that the more walkers can keep off that very busy country lane the better. It is also an extension to our wonderful network of public paths that 'end' at Illey Mill. Roy also has his many walk leaflets that also use Illey Lane for access from Halesowen. Walkers may discover, in due course, that there is an alternative to walking on tarmac and risking an accident.

Last Saturday, I had a wonderful walk from home to the new Longbridge High Street on mostly public paths. The only exception was when I tried the railway line and found, from Dowery Dell, south to the M5 and beyond, that it was still possible, mud free and gave some great views to either side. It actually became the Princess Diana Way SE of the M5 in Frankley but you must know that! Many, including children, have illegally walked the railway line ever since it was first opened, I understand. In the 20th century, trespassers were risking a 40 shillings fine. I walked parts of it in the 1970s, even before I moved to Halesowen in 1976. Some were shouted at by train drivers, Roy told me. Now, the fine for trespassing on the railways is £1,000!

While I was in Dowery Dell below the dismantled viaduct, I cleared two or three branches that completely blocked the public right of way above the wooden steps on the Frankley, south side, of the brook. It was Roy and friends who built the steps, he told me, very many years ago. Was it in the 1980s, Roy? It was done with the knowledge and help of WCC. My Saturday walk took four hours but I came back by three buses after an evening meal in the High Street 'Beefeater'.

Stuart, if I get the permission of Bernard Williams, would you want to use your strimmer to cut my grass slashed path even shorter, please? I know, it is not strictly necessary, so don't worry. The right of way is much more important. I'll use my slasher, again in a week or twos time. My contact with Bernard is via Mark at the cricket ground on 07799 332544. Mark was OK about my slashing a path through the open woodland and speaks with Bernard Williams. You are always welcome to ring Mark yourself, of course, for confirmation.

There is one badly leaning concrete post on the cul de sac path that I want to dig out and reposition vertically. I am using my mountain bike to get to the path from home. The concrete posts are so important in showing the old cart track and how very wide it was, originally. All part of our very important heritage in caring for the past to benefit the future. If the posts get removed, any future landowner/farmer may well encroach onto the ancient farm track to get a bigger field. My preference is one half of the cart track for walkers and the other half of impenetrable brambles to ensure Jenny's caravans are less obvious. We must keep Jenny pleased with what we are doing and walking the path herself! I want Mark and Bernard to take a look, too sometime. Mark said he would.

All the best