PLANS to build a 260-acre enterprise zone on Halesowen’s greenbelt are not “dead in the water” – claims a campaigner.

Hales Owen Abbey Trust secretary Mick Freer fears the proposal, which was rejected by Dudley Council last month, could still be pushed ahead.

He believes the “devastating report” by town planning and development consultants Ancer Spa, advocating development of the land between the M5 at junction three and Manor Way could be revisited.

Mr Freer is demanding a meeting with the Prime Minister David Cameron for an assurance that the land will not be developed by a combined West Midlands Authority.

The proposal, which protesters say would destroy historic greenbelt land, was drawn up as part of the bid for a combined authority.

Mr Freer said: “Just because Dudley councillors rejected it doesn’t mean other councils, who are part of what will become a combined authority, will reject it as well

“Some of the land to the north east is owned by speculators and they will want to sell to make their profit.”

He wants assurances the Government will not allow the plan, which it was estimated would generate 6,000 jobs and £300 million worth of investment, to go-ahead.

Mr Freer said: “Before the general election David Cameron stated he wanted to protect the greenbelt – we need to hold him to that promise.”

The report – which Mr Freer has just obtained from Dudley Council – dismisses several other brownfield sites in the Dudley borough as being unsuitable as a regional investment site.

It suggests access to the land from the western part of Illey Lane to connect with Grange Hill, or taking traffic eastwards along Illey Lane and Lapal Lane South.

There would be seven principal development areas totalling 260 acres, separated by a green infrastructure network to protect key environmental assets and the settlements of Lapal, Illey, Lower Illey and Manor Abbey Farm, - the site of the ruined 13th Hales Owen Abbey, all within an area totalling 684 acres.

But Mr Freer warned the countryside would be “devastated” by the areas of development.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris has vowed to continue supporting the objectors.

He said: "I will continue to work with Mick Freer and the 'Save Halesowen's Countryside' group to make representations to the local authority, in Parliament, and to Ministers - including the Prime Minister - to protect Halesowen's greenbelt if any further proposals are ever brought forward."

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, added: "Dudley Council rejected even the idea of a high-level feasibility study into developments in this area.

“However, as with any piece of land across the borough anyone can come forward with a development proposal which would have to be looked at under the statutory planning process in the normal way."