“Draft Local Plan Consultation Response”
To whom it may concern:
39% Planning in Shirley
I am incensed that the Solihull Council should continue to be so unfair in their planning. Shirley is still unfairly loaded with 39 % planned homes. While we all realise there must be new builds. It is unfair that Shirley should take the lion's share. Open space for the residents of Shirley is small (most populated area in the borough). To take yet more green belt from this area is totally wrong.
Andy Street and Solihull Council, we are told, work hard to meet the challenge – “development on the Green Belt isn’t desirable”.
“At a regional level we are working to promote a ‘brownfield first’ approach to housing – and have brought in £434million to clean up derelict sites for homes, easing pressure on Green Belt sites in places like Solihull. This is a key part of the WMCA’s wider programme to advance the delivery of homes and is an example of how it is breathing new life into former industrial land by clearing the way for new homes and commercial premises to boost employment and the economy.”
Site BL3 formerly Allocation 26
Flooding in the area will be a major problem: The junction of Bills Lane and Haslucks Green Road already has a flooding problem when there is a high rainfall. More buildings in this area will alter the water table. Will the builders and Council pay compensation to the houses affected in this area, if they find themselves flooded out?
Why is there no development on the green belt in Dorridge and very little in Knowle to share some of the pressure from Shirley?
Traffic
Bills Lane Traffic: The roads are already busy with Shakespeare Drive completely transformed from a quiet lovely road to a thoroughfare. Haslucks Green Road is already a very busy road without additional traffic.
Doctor Surgeries
Shirley is overwhelmed with care homes and retired living accommodation. I am retired myself and I have no desire to be surrounded by nothing but old people, who already put a great strain on the local doctor’s surgeries, which is totally unfair to the younger members of the community. I have given up trying to get an appointment to see a doctor, so for families with young children it must be very stressful.
Social services generally will be overwhelmed with the need to support the aging community. I am not complaining from a personal point of view but for the greater good of the community.
I understand and, to some extent, sympathise with the Council having to answer to Local Government but please be fair. Shirley is becoming an area with no back yard or green belt. There are predominantly houses, Old people’s homes, care homes, car showrooms and very little else.

Sylvia Gardiner
22 Binton Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 2QH