Thanks to reader The Bear, who kindly commented today with the application number, the plans for the new Oak Park Recreation Centre are shown below. This will come as a surprise to some – it certainly did to me.
The application is number 12/1422/FL and can be found by typing that number in to the search box on this page. Sorry, because the geolocation on this application is buggy, I can’t link direct. It’s normal for some applications to break in this way – it’s the age of the system, nothing sinister.
All the documents on Walsall Council’s planning system as of Monday Evening, 5th November 2012 are linked at the bottom of this post. You’ll need adobe reader and patience to peruse them all. In contradiction to my original feelings, this plan is clearly now in a second iteration (note the ‘revised’ documents) and has been through quite a lengthy design process.
I recommend interested folk check out the Amended Planning Statement and Proposed Site Plan. Questions about the trust status of the land seem to be dealt with in the former, and it does answer a range of other questions.
My feelings about this haven’t changed. I’m still unsure why it has been pitched as a political issue, and why the local councillors put out a leaflet directing feedback to their party office rather than planning at the council. I’m also highly sceptical that any money will be found – the council simply doesn’t have the cash and it’s very doubtful the organisations they plan to pass the hat to will, either.
I personally don’t have a particular objection – and indeed, some of the improvements look quite decent to me, including the junction improvements at Coppice Road. However, I’m mindful of objections and understand them. Please feel free to comment.
This still has a long way to go, and there’s still no money on the table. I remain curious as to what we’re being distracted from…
The proposed site plan. Contrary to my original feeling, this has clearly been some time in the design. Click for a larger version.