Dear Sir,
I was very concerned to hear at the Parish Council meeting that two pieces of land in School Road, Hockley Heath have been removed from the green belt. What is the point of green belt protection if it can so easily be lifted? You are no doubt aware that the survey of Hockley Heath residents in preparation for the local plan demonstrated that concern for the green belt was a major consideration, with around 90% siting this as their first priority. This proposed development of between 100 and 130 houses will substantially alter the the aspect of the village for the worst. We only have to look at the development of Dickens Heath to see what can go wrong.
I believe that there is no way to mitigate the impact of the traffic from this development and it will only be a matter of time before a school child or other local resident is run over.
Traffic on school road is already too fast and needs control. When this is added to by traffic from the Blythe Valley development this area will be impossible to negotiate.
While I am aware that new housing is needed in Solihull I think it needs more local attention to understand the impact.
At the council meeting the 'promoters', their term,of this development claimed that they had spoken to the head of the primary school and that she was quite happy with the changes. Firstly, I would suggest that the school is already at maximum capacity and without the disastrous development onto the playing field there is no room for growth. Secondly, with due respect for the head she does not live here and may not be the head next year. We need a long term view of this project, we don't need someone with only passing interest.
Further to this the promoters claim to have carried out a traffic survey, no local residents are aware of this work being done. I am not trying to accuse them of lying but surely someone would have noticed this activity?
I would be very interested to hear what you are doing to protect the interests of the residents of Hockley Heath.

Yours Sincerely,

Stephen Batchelor