Battle looms over plans for 33 homes at Fitness4Less site
Dozens of new homes and a gym are poised to be built along one of the busiest routes in Dudley but the controversial plans are facing opposition.
The redevelopment of the Fitness4Less site on Thorns Road in Quarry Bank could see 14 apartments and 19 townhouses go up along the road, near Merry Hill shopping centre, which carries 24,000 vehicles-a-day.
Applicants Fitness4Less – which already runs a gym at the site – say the existing gym requires ‘significant redevelopment to harmonise the site’ and provides an opportunity to ‘improve the built environment and user experience’.
But Dudley Council bosses say a site visit has been planned following objections to the plans with residents fearing further congestion, lack of parking and loss of privacy.
Mohammed Hanif, Lye and Stourbridge North ward councillor, said: “There is definitely objections there – I received quite a few via email.
“I’m going to visit it and we are going to discuss it from there.
"As a councillor for the ward I will be listening very carefully to the residents in Grosvenor Way where they are hoping to make the entrance.
"What they want to do is to make an entrance for the new proposed gym through a very residential area.
“Parking is very limited and people are already struggling.
“What people will do is take up parking spaces which belong to these residents – that is not fair to the residents.
“I think people are also looking at not just parking but privacy as well.
“I have campaigned around there recently and people are also raising the fact how this will affect their privacy with the gardens.
“I know the residents are very fed up and we will be visiting them all very shortly."
The redevelopment would look to reduce the shortfall of housing in the Black Country, creating temporary jobs during its construction stages and improving the social health of gym users, it is claimed.
