Dear Sir,

I have reviewed the draft local plan on your website and wish to comment on the planning proposals for the site West of Dickens Heath which in section 7, Providing Homes for ALL, shows an indicative number of 700 houses.

The following question on which I wish to comment is:
Do you believe we have identified the infrastructure[35] required to support these developments? If not why not? Are there any additional facilities you believe are required, if so what are they?

My concerns relate to the level of car parking at Whitlocks End Station and the additional level of traffic which will inevitably use Tile House Lane / Haslucks Green Road if this development goes ahead.

The likely infrastructure requirements listed in Appendix C does not include any expansion of the car park at the train station. This car park has already been extended once and is at capacity. The building of additional housing will inevitably result in more cars wishing to use the station car park. Whilst it might be expected that residents would walk to this car park the reality is people are lazy and, especially in bad weather, will wish to use their car. Plans should be included to extend this car park if the houses are to be built.

Inclusion of a pedestrian crossing would be necessary.

Infrastructure requirements indicate improvements to bus services but with no indication how frequently or where these will travel. There is currently one bus which services Whitlocks End Station which travels from Wythall to Hockley Heath via Solihull. This is an infrequent service and travels along Tilehouse Lane for a short section from its junction with Haslucks Green Road. This part of Tilehouse Lane is very narrow and as a frequent pedestrian I have been forced off the narrow pavement onto the scrub to avoid being caught by the bus. If more busses are expected to be a part of future plans how will the local roads cope with these types of vehicles?

If busses are expected to use Haslucks Green Road to access Shirley Train Station or the A34 junction are there plans to widen the section from Bills Lane to Drawbridge Road?

As the volume of traffic on Haslucks Green Road has increased bus lay byes should be included to reduce future congestion.

There have been recent developments to the junction with Tilehouse Lane and Haslucks Green Road and Haslucks Green Road (near the junction of Cambria Close) in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents. An increase in road traffic will increase this risk unless road improvements are made.

Please include my comments along with others for consideration by Solihull Council.