Object

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 6986

Received: 03/03/2019

Respondent: Mr Roger Grainger

Representation Summary:

The sports fields are liable to flooding most years and this would exacerbate the flooding problem to neighbouring properties. The Site consists of deep boulder clay which does not drain well and dwellings would need to be built on deep piles. Dickens Heath School is already oversubscribed, and the demand for extra places will become vast.
Extra people/traffic will exacerbate congestion through the Dickens Heath Village, on the A34 and surrounding roads especially at peak times. Parking at the station and in the village centre is already inadequate, and demands on local rail services will become critical.

Full text:

Site 4 Development & its Effect on Dickens Heath

On 9 February my wife and I visited the drop-in session in Dickens Heath Library regarding the Solihull Local Plan Review and although we posed a number of questions to your representatives there, we were extremely dissatisfied with the unsatisfactory answers we were given. Like many of our neighbours we are horrified at the cavalier way Solihull seem to be riding roughshod over local opinion even after seeking the views of local residents. As a resident of Birchy Close for 6 years, we have seen massive changes which have impacted upon us hugely - the increase in traffic (for which there has been no allowance made), the overloading of the infrastructure (which has not been improved) and also the lack of understanding of the original concept of Dickens Heath as a village. I feel we have been swamped. As a member of the Birchy Close Residents' Association, we have been kept fully informed of the intended developments of Dickens Heath at Site 4 and this leaves me with no hope for the future.

Provision of Housing Near Whitlock's End Station

There are other sites in the Solihull area of a lower grade of Green Belt which would have lesser adverse impact and be in a more sustainable location - this would significantly outweigh the benefits of building houses near the railway station

Loss of High Performing Green Belt Land

This is contrary to Government Policy, and would lead to coalescence between Dickens Heath, Whitlock End, Majors Green and Bromsgrove District.

Traffic

Extra people/traffic will exacerbate congestion through the Dickens Heath Village, on the A34 and surrounding roads especially at peak times. Parking at the station and in the village centre is already inadequate, and demands on local rail services will become critical.

Sport Facilities

Loss of sports grounds/recreation areas for 9 clubs which is contrary to Government Policy.





Village Concept

As I stated earlier, the original "village" character was what made it attractive. This would be lost. The award winning design & concept of Dickens Heath is of a new village surrounded by Green Belt with no part more than 800 m / 10 mins walk from village centre - Site 4 housing proposals are beyond this circle. Any proposals to make a footpath onto Birchy Close would be strongly resisted by the residents. Therefore the location of Site 4 is unsustainable: not linked to Dickens Heath (no physical connection by road or cycleway or footpath) and outside the 800 m circle from the village centre. There are existing natural boundaries to the Village - canal to east and north, line of woodland (Ancient woodland, LNR) on west side and this proposal will be out on a limb detracting from the character of the Village.

Ecology

The development would have a significant adverse impact on the ecology of the area, which has 4 Local Wildlife Sites, affecting the ecological connectivity of the area. Also potential for loss of habitats that support legally protected species including great crested newts, badger setts and bat roosts.

Flooding

The sports fields are liable to flooding most years and this would exacerbate the flooding problem to neighbouring properties. The Site consists of deep boulder clay which does not drain well and dwellings would need to be built on deep piles. Other recent developments (e.g. Rumbush Lane) experienced severe flooding problems in May of 2018 despite the contractors having provided "adequate" drainage facilities and holding pools. At the meeting I attended on 9 February the council planning representatives were very reluctant to discuss the council flooding team's researches.

Objections to Site 4

90% of respondents to the last Dickens Heath Parish Council survey objected to Site 4.
Akamba Garden Centre

As a unique and very individual contribution to the locality, this should be retained.



Dickens Heath School

This is already oversubscribed, and the demand for extra places will become vast.

Finally, I feel that Dickens Heath and Tidbury Green have already had more than their "fair share" of development during the lastLocal Plan allocations - the distinct pressure on on roads and other infrastructure has increased to a stage where we are seriously considering moving away from Solihull whom I believe are paying no real attention to the residents, and in every way the Borough is failing to retain its "Urbs in Rure" motto