A group formed to campaign against development proposals set for Halesowen's Coombes Wood Green Wedge were delighted to discover that a famous long distance footpath crossing the greenbelt land was created by local author Trevor Antill. Trevor, a Halesowen resident for over 30 years, originally devised the Monarch's Way route in 1994. Interest in the footpath, now marked on Ordnance Survey maps, has since boomed due to the popularity of “The Monarch's Way” guidebooks volumes 1, 2 and 3. Trevor has also written four other walking guidebooks.

A member of Friends Of Coombes Wood Green Wedge emailed the Monarch's Way Association website www.monarchsway.50megs.com at the end of last week. The email detailed concerns including St Modwen's proposal to relocate Coombes Wood Cricket And Social Club to the Coombes Wood Green Wedge, a much-needed open space with views across Shropshire and home to wildlife including protected skylarks and great crested newts. When Trevor read the email he responded immediately, revealing his Halesowen location to the surprised and delighted group member.

Thanks to the good fortune of the author being close at hand a Green Wedge visit was able to take place on Sunday morning. During the visit Trevor inspected the footpath and expressed concerns about the proposed development, including the threat to views of Clent described in “The Monarch’s Way Book 1” :-

“'Ahead and below you will see the emergent canal.   Only a couple of factory chimneys now remain between you, the Clent Hills, and the promise of green fields heralding the end of the Black Country conurbation.'

A further concern was the likelihood that the scale of the development could alter the local water table, swamping sections of land which could make the footpath impassable.

The historic Monarch's Way path follows the route of Charles II's flight from Cromwell after the Battle Of Worcester in 1651. It begins in Worcester, crosses the Midlands and runs the length of the Coombes Wood Green Wedge before continuing on for another 440 miles to the South Coast.