A LEADING ornithologist will appeal for a Halesowen beauty spot to be given enhanced protection at a public examination into Dudley’s blueprint for the next decade of development.

John Ebrey is battling to persuade Dudley Council to apply to Natural England to make Coombeswood Green Wedge a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

He will take his fight to the public examination by a government appointed inspector into the Dudley Development Strategy, which is being held later this month.

The wedge, which is an important breeding grounds and migratory corridor for birds, is designated greenbelt, but is largely owned by developers St Modwen.

Although it has low level protection, Mr Ebrey does not believe this will be enough to deter a future planning bid for a housing estate under proposed government changes to the regulations.

He also points out that local nature reserves and one national reserve at Wrens Nest are concentrated in the north and central areas of the borough, with none in the southern section, from Stourbridge to Amblecote, Cradley Heath, Halesowen and the borders of Blackheath and Quinton.

Mr Ebrey has been given permission to put his argument for making the wedge a LNR at the three-day examination which will be conducted by independent planning inspector Jamieson Bridgwater at Dudley Council House, starting on Tuesday May 17.

The council has refused to add his proposal to the strategy – which forms the Local Plan up to 2026 – arguing the plan does not have the remit to designate the wedge a LNR.

In its response, the council said: “It is not within the remit of the Local Plan to designate a LNR as this needs to follow a separate legal process.

“If it is successfully pursued then its status would then be reflected in future plans.”

But Mr Ebrey said that could be too late to save the wedge from developers and vowed to pursue his plea with the inspector.

"It is outrageous if it is not going to be mentioned n the planning document."

He added: "It has been clearly shown it qualifies easily as an LNR in terms of landscape, public realm and nature conservation, which are the requirements of Natural England."

The inspector can recommend to the council that an application be pursued.

The strategy document sets out borough-specific planning policies to guide development decisions and planning approvals as well as providing draft sites primarily for housing and employment uses up to 2026.