I am surprised and disappointed to see that in the current incarnation of the Draft Local Plan an area adjacent to Damson Parkway, Pinfold Road, Hampton Lane and Lugtrout Lane has been identified for housing development.

At a councillors' workshop a few months ago I pointed out that the staggered junctions of Yew Tree Lane, Hampton Lane, Marsh Lane and the Solihull Bypass cause significant traffic congestion (with concomitant noise and air pollution and delays to journeys) particularly back along Hampton Lane towards Catherine de Barnes, and not only at peak times. Traffic congestion along Damson Parkway/Yew Tree Lane will inevitably be exacerbated by the opening of the JLR logistics operation and traffic flow through Hampton Lane is likely to increase with the eventual development of UK Central. A housing development opening out on to any of the adjoining roads/lanes could only make matters much worse. Some of the land is used for children's sports and the football pitches, the need for which would increase with the influx of new families, would be lost.

I suggested the alternative proposal of developing instead land to the south of Catherine de Barnes, along and between Henwood Lane, Berry Hall Lane and Ravenshaw Lane. Catherine de Barnes, which already has some community infrastructure in the shape of a village hall, pub, shop, restaurant and some small businesses, could then be enlarged into a sustainable settlement with the addition of a school and health centre if there were sufficient new homes. Upgrading Ravenshaw Lane to provide direct access on to the A41 Solihull Bypass near Junction 5 of the M42 would not only serve the new development but actually alleviate some of the existing congestion along Hampton Lane. This proposal has the added advantage of preserving the green space between Damson Parkway, Lugtrout Lane, Field Lane and Hampton Lane as a buffer against urban sprawl.

This alternative proposal, which seemed the obvious solution when the local maps were scrutinised, was well received at the workshop by my fellow Councillors. I would like to know why it has not been incorporated into the current version of the draft Local Plan and I advance it again.