Reference: Local Development Plan Site 245.

The all-party policy committee meeting of 2013 agreed that the council will not sell the freehold of the Rugby Ground at Site 245 or t lift the covenants regarding the sites only to be used for sporting purposes and as ancillaries to sport.
The construction of a large number of houses will cause several negative issues for the current residents of the area, especially, but certainly not only, to residents of Sharmans Cross Road.

The new buildings will unlikely be in the character of the area and this will have a huge negative effect on the distinctiveness of the area. Maintaining the character of the area and also of Solihull in general is of great importance to the current residents. The pleasant character of Solihull town is one of the main reasons why people would want to live in this town.

It is very important to maintain the current density of the area. This proposed development will be 4 to 5 times the current density of the area. This will have a very significant effect on the quality of life in Solihull.

This development, if it goes ahead, will have a worsening effect on the already inadequate drainage facility in the area. The current drains in Sharmans Cross Road are Victorian in origin and are now proving to be inadequate for the purpose they were built.

Flooding in the area is becoming very common, especially after heavy rain. Climate change that we are experiencing in the current period is likely to make heavy rain more common in the near future and therefore, even if no more houses are built, flooding in the area will become a common occurrence.

Building this development will inevitably cause trees to be cut down. Most of the area has tree preservation orders and apart from this, reducing the population of trees in the area goes totally against the current need of increasing the number of trees for the benefit of the environment.

The traffic density on Sharmans Cross road has increased significantly in recent years and this development will cause more traffic jams and more important traffic pollution.

Parking is another issue that will be made more evident. There are significant parking issues during the week and this development will worsen this already poor situation.

The current school and medical capacities are already stretched in Solihull. This development will make these capacities even more stretched resulting in poor education and health care.

The facilities that are offered by the Tennis Club are few and far between in Solihull. This in addition of the fact that sports facilities in the Borough are not adequate for the current size of the town population.

Sports facilities are even more important today than they have ever been. Sports facilities are so essential for the well-being and health of all, but in particular for young people. The sedate life style of some younger people in particular should be discouraged, and sports activities are one of the best means to avoid this unhealthy way of life.

This development will reduce significantly the opportunities for an active life style for a lot of residents of Solihull.

The lack of sports facilities in Solihull are reflected in the poor position occupied by Solihull in the National league tables for participation in sports.

Site 245 must be maintained as a sport facility. There are clubs in the area that would be more that glad to use it if the rent is sensible. Also local schools can be encouraged to make use of the sports facilities offered by this site for their students. For the reasons above this should be encouraged by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.