Reference the proposed planning development of houses on the Sharmans cross Road Rugby Club grounds.
I object to the development as a local resident for the following reasons 1. Density - The development will destroy the character of the neighbourhood. 100 houses are effectively 4-5 times the density of property on Winterbourne Rd. This is unacceptable overdevelopment of the site and will be both out-of-scale and out- of-character in its appearance compared to existing development in the vicinity.
2. Increased traffic and associated pollution - The development will have a serious effect on highway safety and the convenience of road users,
including:
. Increased volumes of traffic moving in/out of new site, most likely
turning right out of site towards town, increasing gridlock on Sharmans Cross Rd, Streetsbrook Road, inevitable increase of traffic on side roads.
(SX Rd is currently jammed from 7.45am to 9.00am.)
. Danger to pedestrians, unaccompanied children going to/from Sharmans
Cross Junior School and secondary schools.
. Danger to cyclists, as this is a designated cycle route.
3. Parking - In addition to cramped parking for the new development, Arden Club could lose approximately 75 parking spaces. This will affect safety and congestion through increased street parking. Parking is already chaotic during peak times/school drop-off and pick up/sporting fixtures.
4. Flooding - Sharmans Cross Road is already subject to flooding during heavy rain. The development will worsen this problem.
5. Permanent loss of sporting facilities - This is one of five sports grounds at risk in the LDP. As there is a shortage of pitches in Solihull, SMBC has a statutory requirement to ensure lost pitches are replaced with facilities of equivalent quality and accessibility. Sport England has found that Solihull is in the 3rd quartile nationally for over-16 participation in sport three times per week and continues to fall in the national league tables.
The extra volume of traffic would cause further traffic congestion along Streetsbrook Road which at present from around 0745 to 0915 traffic can be queueing thom Solihull Centre right back to St Bernards Road.