A BURNTWOOD councillor says a petition against a new housing development in the town will not impact the eventual decision.
More than 1,700 residents have signed to register their objection to the plans for Coulter Lane.
But despite the petition's introduction stating 2,500 signatures would spark a committee review and 5,000 would lead to a full council debate, Cllr Steve Norman said Cllr Andrew Clissett's decision to present it at Staffordshire County Council would have little impact on whether or not the scheme gets the go ahead.
Cllr Norman, who serves on both Lichfield District Council and Burntwood Town Council, said:
"Planning applications for housing developments fall under the district council as the local planning authority, not the county council.
"A petition on a planning application is simply recorded in the report to the planning committee – it cannot be debated in the way other petitions can be.
"It is worrying that the chair of the county council scrutiny committee for highways and the built environment appeared not to know that.
"The county council, as a consultee, has stated that it has no objection to the Coulter Lane application on highways, flooding or school capacity grounds."
Cllr Norman said there were other ways residents could provide input into the planning process and the potential development.
He explained:
"I feel sorry for those objectors who have been misled into thinking the petition was going to have an impact on the application.
"However, the individual letters containing well-researched objections, helped by the Burntwood Action Group, are relevant and must be addressed by officers and members of the planning committee when they consider it."
But Cllr Clissett, Reform UK representative for Burntwood North at Staffordshire County Council, said Cllr Norman had missed the point.
He said:
"More than 1,740 local residents signed a petition to stop the Bloor Homes Coulter Lane green belt development which would add 250 homes.
"Cllr Norman calls it 'nonsense' and says it was presented to the 'wrong council', but he’s missing the point.
"Lichfield District Council’s Local Plan was withdrawn as not fit for purpose. That leaves Burntwood exposed.
"Developers are pushing forward while roads, schools, and crossings are already at breaking point. Presenting the petition at county council ensured officers saw the full picture, not just incomplete developer reports.
"Protecting our green belt isn’t about politics – it’s about standing up for the town. The petition is now moving to Lichfield District Council, where it will be formally considered.
"Residents know what’s at stake. They don’t need pity, they need action."
