I am writing to express my multiple concerns in relation to the proposed housing development on Sharmans Cross Road. As a home owner of 42 Winterbourne Road, we back onto the site. My objections are as follows:-

1) Sporting Facilities - I understand the Rugby pitch has a stipulation which requires the site to be used for sporting purpose.
As a football coach of a Solihull based u12's football team, and having been so for 6 years, I know how difficult and expensive it is to find local facilities.
We currently have to travel twice a week, both times for an hour in rush hour traffic, to north Solihull to find adequate facilities to train on. Additionally, we also have to move out of the area to play our home matches on Saturday, both due to the lack of, and over subscription of the current sporting facilities available locally.


Not withstanding the inconvenience this causes, for parents all of who live in the B91 area, I know that as just one team I pay around £4,500 -£5,000 for training grounds, match day pitches and club facilities/hospitality, which I would much prefer to spend helping my local facilities and businesses.


I, myself would be interested in leasing/using the facilities, however I understand the holders either do not respond to enquiries, or price the site unrealistically, so that it makes it unviable for the use it was intended.
It feels that the current leaseholders are not interested in using this as a sports facility and this really feels like an underhanded approach by the holders.


I believe with this stipulation that these grounds are inappropriate for inclusion in the LDP, even though multiple attempts for planning permission have been put forward.

My concern is that grounds for sport will disappear with these plans for building and others in the area. We really need to invest in our youth to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Taking away facilities does not support this philosophy. This experience is supported by the data from the National league tables for participation in sport 3 or more times a week which indicates that Solihull is the 3rd quartile (in the 50th to 75th spot).


2) Local Amenities - As a dad of 2 children (aged 13 & 12), I am concerned about the lack of local amenities to service an increased community/population as a result of 67-100 properties being built i.e. school & college places, doctor, hospitals etc.

3) Flooding -We already experience issues with flooding on Sharmans Cross Road and in the gardens running along Beaminster Road. The drainage systems are not equipped to cope with additional usage from an additional 67-100 families.

4) Additional traffic and issues with parking - I am concerned from a safety perspective (my children walking to school) and also the increase congestion and gridlock in the morning and evening.

5) Sustainability. The National Planning Policy Framework requires developments to have access to local amenities within 800m/10
minutes' walk. The site is 1700m from Solihull town centre and 1000m from the station, so these criteria are not met

6) Schools and Medical
Centres. These amenities are already oversubscribed. When calling to make an appointment for my son this week, I found myself number 36 in a queue and had to wait on hold for 35 minutes to get a doctors appointment, having called within 1 minute of the surgery opening at 8am.
This development will further increase demand leading to a degradation of services for residents.

I am really concerned with these plan, and would appreciate you an acknowledgement.