I want to strongly object to the rugby pitches, accessed from Sharman's Cross Road, being approved for inclusion on the above Local Development Plan.
My objections are as follows: -
1. Permanent loss of sporting facilities - I have written and spoken to council employees and local councillors on many occasions about this matter. It is a crying shame that we have let (what once were) wonderful facilities just fade and decay into what they are now. I am 72 and I remember playing on these pitches, as did my son. I have had to watch them fall into disrepair over the last few years when I know that various local clubs would have loved to be able to use the facilities. However they have been prevented from doing so by Oakmore charging exorbitant rents so that they could then say that no-one uses the pitches and so enhance their opportunity to develop the land.
2. Use of land - I understand that SMBC have previously minuted its policy about the use of the grounds only for sport and that they would not sell the freehold. This presumably means that the land is not appropriate for inclusion in the LDP. Has this policy now changed and, if so, when and why?
3. Density - The proposed number of dwellings is considerably more than the density of property in the surrounding areas. The site will be both out of character and out of scale compared to existing development in the vicinity.
4. Design and appearance - This area contains several mature trees with Tree Preservation Orders. It has environmental benefits and is also home to bats, badgers and buzzards.
5. Increased traffic and associated pollution - the norm nowadays is for every adult to own a car. With the number of houses proposed for the site this will exacerbate what is already a very severe problem with traffic, causing gridlock, especially at school starting and finishing times. Sharman's Gross Road is already virtually impassable from 8am to 9am, at least. I really don't need to highlight the danger this would cause to pedestrians, unaccompanied children going to/from schools, cyclists (in what is a designated cycle route) and other vehicles. In addition to there being insufficient parking for the proposed new development, nearly 80 parking spaces would be lost at the Solihull Arden Club. This will obviously affect safety and congestion through increased street parking. Parking is already chaotic during peak times
6. Flooding - The development will worsen what is already a problem with flooding. I have to regularly clear the ditch at the back of my garden, on the rugby club side, to prevent my and my neighbour's gardens being flooded. Sharman's Cross Road is already subject to flooding during heavy rain.

7. Schools and medical centres - there are insufficient schools and medical services already and further development in this area can only cause a degradation of services for existing residents.
8. Sustainability - The site is nearly double the distance away from local amenities than is required in The National Planning Policy Framework so the criteria of that framework is not being met.
I would therefore ask that you remove the rugby pitches from the Local Development Plan for new houses and also that you retain the site as a sports ground as specified in the current SMBC lease with Oakmoor. It would also be in the interests of everyone if SMBC could work with Oakmore and existing or new sports clubs to ensure that the ground is used for sporting purposes in the future.
Finally, the 2013 all party policy on the Rugby Ground maintaining the sports ground only covenant and not selling the freehold should be retained. We need to create a structure for the ownership of the Rugby Ground which would protect it in the future.