My grounds of objection follow:-

Site 4 is still included – the intention to build a further 350 homes in Dickens Heath will not only impact the immediate vicinity of Dickens Heath but all the surrounding areas in Shirley including increased car users without any consideration for improved Routes for walkers/cyclists which Solihull should be putting in place equitably across the borough.

* There are numerous sports fields included so this will affect our children (and adults) who play rugby and football on these fields, including Old Yardleians Rugby Club, Highgate Football Club and Wychall Wanderers Football Club, as well as Fitbox boot camp on the rugby field.

* The land is high grade GREEN BELT – Government policy is to protect Green Belt and develop Brownfield land first.

* Site 4 is surrounded by Local Wildlife Sites and Ancient Woodland – this will be so detrimental to the deer, badgers, bats and other wildlife that roam in these fields and adjoining woodland.

* The narrow rural road network cannot take further development and is already overloaded.

* Site 4 is mostly in flood Zone 1, these fields flood every winter and whenever there is a particularly heavy rainfall as the area is of bolder clay that restricts permeability.

* Sustainability – Some of the mitigation measures included in the Plan are not achievable, therefore it isn’t sustainable. Other sites are more sustainable.

* The character and setting of the Village will be adversely affected and sense of community and identity compromised. There are strong, definable boundaries to the existing Village being the canal and the woodlands and ancient hedgerows.

*Existing pressures on GP surgeries and schools will be further exasperated.