1. Impact on the Green Belt
The proposed housing allocation would erode the Green Belt between Dickens Heath, Major's Green and Trueman's Heath. This risks the semi-rural character of Dickens Heath being detrimentally impacted and represents a major step towards the village being subsumed within the Birmingham urban conurbation. The housing allocation would also cause the loss of a number of local sports facilities and a popular African-inspired garden centre. Government policy is to protect such greenbelt land and to develop brownfield sites first.
2. Pressure on existing amenities
I have lived in Dickens Heath since September 2000 and I have personally witnessed the increasing pressures placed on local amenities, most notably on the Jacey GP practice and the inadequate parking in the village centre (exacerbated by the loss of a substantial number of parking spaces to new residential dwellings in recent years). Dickens Heath simply does not have the amenities and infrastructure to bear the proposed village expansion.
3. Traffic Management
Another existing issue which will be exacerbated by the proposed housing allocation is the traffic congestion during peak commuting hours between the village school and running along Tythe Barn Lane and Dickens Heath Road, until the roundabout in front of Miller & Carter. The absence of highway and traffic management improvements has led to a high degree of congestion and the council's failure to use on-road parking restrictions along Tythe Barn Lane (either side of the existing speed control measures) to prevent on-road parking by residents has caused further congestion. The inreased flow of commuter traffic to central Solihull and to the M42 will worsen the existing congestion. Furthermore, in the past 12 months village residents have sought to avoid this congestion by instead seeking to exit the village via Tythe Barn Lane, past the BL1 site. This has resulted in tailbacks from the junction with Tilehouse Lane, a problem that will be dramatiacally exacerbated by the introduction of a further 350 dwellings at BL1.
4. Impact on wildife
I note the plan's statement that, "The smaller northern site is an existing arable field with few constraints. Views onto and access to the Stratford-upon-Avon canal will be enhanced, whilst retaining its important function as a wildlife corridor and key piece of green infrastructure." In what way does placing 350 homes on the land "retain" a wildlife corridor or "enhance" canal access? Such a development can only adversley impact local wildlife and further erode the greenbelt.
5. Access to amenities
Quoting the plan again:
"The sites are opportunely located in very close proximity to Whitlock’s End Station, which has 3 train services per hour to the centre of Birmingham with a short journey time of 20 minutes. Furthermore, local services and shops in Dickens Heath village centre will be easily
accessible by foot or bicycle, and it is important that convenient links are provided. "
The walking distance from the proposed site to the centre of Dickens Heath village does not represent "easy accessibility" and the reality is that car use to the village centre will increase, without an increase in the limited car parking currently available, which is already overstretched. With regard to the train station, the reality of British weather is that many of the new residents, if choosing to use the train, will discover that the Whitlocks End car park is already fully utilised during commuting hours. Moreover, many of the residents will not use public transport, instead relying on car travel which will increase pollution and result in the traffic management concerns outlined above.
My view is that there are more appropriate areas for housing allocation within the Borough which have a reduced impact on the Green Belt, place less pressure on existing, stretched amenities and have a reduced impact on the character of the existing residential area.