I do not agree entirely with the infrastructure requirements.

I do not support the Balsall Common By-pass
Whilst I appreciate that some road construction can offer temporary relief to traffic problems, it is ultimately a
"hair of the dog", or "similar similibus curantur" solution. This doesn't work long term. Solutions would be providing genuine alternatives to car travel along congested routes.


I support enhancements to the centre of Balsall Common.
Enhancements do not just help to improve the quality of life of those living in a place, they also raise esteem and create identity. There are however consequences to diverting traffic away from a centre. Through traffic can play an important role. There are alternative means of addressing the detrimental impacts of traffic volumes and speed. Traffic calming, average speed cameras, Traffic Regulation Orders to change speed limits, create one-way routes are all alternatives to a By-pass.

Car parking is not the only problem affecting train usage.
Whilst limited car parking is presenting an issue at most stations around the borough, it is not the only problem, nor is increasing parking provision the only solution.
Most stations around the borough have poor facilities for bike storage. Bike commuters want their bikes to be kept secure and dry. In addition, providing more options for cyclists to accommodate the elements and still drive at work looking 'professional' is a further barrier, that can be overcome. Learning from the places that do this successfully is key to devising solutions to this problem.


I support additional bus services.


I support the creation of a new primary school
There is clearly a need for additional school places and proper spatially planned schooling contributes significantly to promoting sustainable travel and reducing road congestion. This can also contribute towards enabling greater economic productivity of the parents.

Secondary Schools have limitations.
There has been a continual expansion of existing Secondary Schools. I recognise how and why this has happened. The number of students required for a secondary school is significantly greater than for a primary.
Whilst that explains why we have ended up in the situation we are in, with overcrowding in some of our Secondary's, it is not a justification.
I accept that Heart of England appears to have decreased in total number of pupils when comparing academic year 2007-2008, with 2017-2018. Notwithstanding this, I am concerned of a general approach across the borough of funding schools to expand.


Self-contained settlement with limited economic activity.
Whilst the absence of economic employment is limited within Balsall Common, there are hubs within sustainable travel distance from the settlement.
By bike, the airport, NEC, UK Central, Resorts World are all in reach. In the direction of Coventry, there is both the University of Warwick and Network Rail in cycling distance (20-30 minutes).
By train, Coventry and Birmingham are easily reached in reasonable commuter times. Trains from Berkswell to Birmingham take 17 minutes and to Coventry they take 11 minutes.
This makes the possibility of modal shift eminently viable. The limitations more pressingly exist on bus services, though this is a common complaint across the region. Few locations are blessed with such good transport links to two major economic hubs of the region.