A REVIEW of Dudley borough’s green belt has been suspended by the local authority after pressure from protestors, councillors and MPs.

Campaigners have been fighting tooth and nail to stop the review - analysing which parts of the borough’s green belt would be made available for new homes and industry - claiming it was not agreed by Dudley Council’s cabinet.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the wording of a questionnaire issued as part of a 10-week consultation.

The announcement to put a halt to the review was issued in a joint statement by Cllr Patrick Harley, council leader, Cllr David Vickers, deputy leader, Mick Freer, of Save Halesowen’s Countryside, and Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris.

The statement said: “Today, Friday 19th January 2018, following a meeting of campaigners, Councillors and Council officers, Cllr Patrick Harley has instructed senior officers of Dudley Council to suspend the review into Dudley’s green belt.

“In June 2017 the Cabinet agreed to a 10 week consultation on the Black Country Core Strategy, however at the same time a green belt review was initiated. This review was not agreed by the Cabinet and was not part of the Cabinet agenda.

“The responses from the consultation have not yet been made public, or been reviewed by the Cabinet or campaigners. The officers will now be collating these and presenting them to a future Cabinet meeting in the near future.

“In order for members of the public to have faith in the process and decisions of the Council it must be seen to be doing them transparently and fairly.

“This decision has been made for exactly these reasons.

“Following the Cabinet meeting further talks will be had between campaigners, Councillors and officers to discuss the next steps in this process.”