Thank you for your letter 29/01/2019 regarding Golden End Farm Ref A4

I would support your original decision not to include the site in the plan but object strongly to its reclassification as an amber site.

Please consider the following concerns:

Erosion of the green belt.

I understand the requirement to build new housing but I am not convinced enough is done to secure genuinely suitable locations or indeed properly utilise existing housing stocks. Building on green belt should not be a default option, the land in question is prime quality arable farming land. There are many alternatives where the land is of less agricultural value. It is my understanding SMBC's own investigation support this, so am at a loss why you would reconsider its reclassification.

Increased Traffic Volume and Congestion.

Traffic through the village is already extremely busy and at peak times can be gridlocked. The Kenilworth Road/ Warwick Road, Wilson Road/Station Road intersections are already unsatisfactory. That is without any additional vehicle loading into these junctions. I understand that SMBC have already carried out traffic evaluations, but the results are not yet available. In attendance at a recent KDBH forum meeting, two council members were questioned on this specific concern. The response was, "measures would be taken if it became a problem". Surely a legitimate planning strategy should be proactive and not reactive to what is an inevitable problem. If Golden End Farm were to be developed it could easily give rise to another 500 vehicles coming onto Kenilworth road, most of which would attempt to pass through the village.

Overloading Knowle.

A large proportion of working people in Knowle look to access Solihull, Birmingham and the M42 on a daily basis. Large volumes of traffic already flow through the village with a 'funnel' like effect. A conservation area where its listed buildings are suffering remorseless abuse. Assuming the likelihood of the Arden triangle and Hampton Road sites being included in your plans, it seems inconceivable that another large development should be considered. If the numbers are still inadequate for housing quotas then look to the west, in particular parts of Dorridge, certainly into Bentley Heath. A more even spread of development would be desirable. More over, increased traffic would be less likely to journey through Knowle, but take alternative routes to Solihull, Birmingham, onto the Stratford Road (A34) and access to M42, Junction 4.