Comment

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 8159

Received: 14/03/2019

Respondent: Mrs Sally Wilcock

Representation Summary:

1. Site will become a 'blot on the landscape'. Former hedge that fronted Lucas onto the Stratford Road was necessary for the aesthetic appeal.
2. Road system in area cannot cope with current traffic volumes. Combined impact of all proposed development in Shirley/Blythe/Dickens Heath will make this much worse regardless of any improvements to public transport.

Full text:

For many years the hedge that fronted Lucas onto the Stratford Road was considered necessary by the council to enhance the frontage and for aesthetic appeal and was truly a 'green'. Now this area is already covered in car dealerships and soon '650 units'. This obviously no longer makes the site 'aesthetically appealing' but is blight on the landscape. The traffic entering and leaving the proposed development will be significantly increased and will only shunt the problem further up the Strafford Road towards Shirley and surrounding roads, like Blackford Road and Marshall Lake. The queues to enter the Monkspath roundabout in rush hour are already severe as are those to the M42.
In addition a proposed junior school will make matter worse for residents as the 'school run' will create more traffic and add to the chaos as is evident with Our Lady of the Wayside school Stratford Road.
The road system cannot cope with the volume of traffic at most times of the day. There is limited scope for improving the A34 arterial road system already the most congested roadie Britain outside of London.The A34 Stratford Road both Northbound and Southbound through Hall Green is the worst for congestion. Financial services comparison website GoCompare analysed data from a number of different sources and the A34 came out as the worst.cThe A34 Northbound between Robin Hood Lane and the A4540 is the worst for congestion with motorists experiencing delays of 44 hours per year. The A34 Southbound between the A4540 and Shaftmoor Lane has delays of 42 hours per year.cThe research also revealed Birmingham as the fourth worst city in the UK for congestion with drivers stuck in traffic for an estimated 34 hours per year. The date was collected from a variety of different sources, including INRIX & the Department of Transport. The 38% load in Shirley/Blythe/Dickens Heath will undoubtedly significantly contribute to this problem regardless of what improvements are made to public transport.

Whilst this is a preferable site to the GreenBelt land for housing, the impact of this site must have a bearing on and be taken into consideration when analysing other proposed sites