A CAMPAIGNER, who has fought for 40 years to protect Halesowen’s greenbelt, has launched a Facebook page to save England’s countryside from developers.

Hales Owen Abbey stalwart Mick Freer, who is currently spearheading the restoration of the Leasowes historic walled garden, fears rural landscapes face their biggest ever threat.

The former chairman of the Local Access Forum, believes “we are on the precipice of a crisis for our countryside and environment”.

He accuses the government of “disinterest” and fears rapid population growth will lead to an assault on the countryside to accommodate it.

Mr Freer said: “A worrying aspect is the repeated government talk of how little of our nation is involved in built development and a figure of eight per cent, or thereabouts, is quoted with the implication that taking a few more percent will have little impact.

“However, the reality of a further four per cent on a pro-rata basis, would mean increasing the population by more than 30,000,000.”

He is also concerned about the impact of fracking to extract gas from the earth, “massive infrastructure works” for road and rail, new industrial enterprise zones – such as the one proposed for Halesowen’s greenbelt off Manor Way near junction 3 of the M5, which was dropped after a public outcry.

The Facebook page, England’s Threatened Countryside, set up on Monday, attracted 45 likes in less than 24 hours from supporters including fellow trust member Joyce Daniels.

She posted: “This page may well be the start of a national fightback by many people who simply do not realise just what is, and will be, a never ending creep into our countryside by developers after the next big buck. I think it may well stop here. Well done.”

Mr Freer hopes the page will circulate nationally, encouraging people to post their own news of problems and concerns which can be shared by a wide audience.

He added: “I’m pleased with the response to the page so far as I didn’t promote it – it’s amazing it’s just got picked up.”