As a resident of Solihull near the Rugby Ground, I am writing to object in the strongest terms to any proposals to redevelop the Rugby Ground for housing and any allocation therefore in the Local Development Plan.

This site is of significant local interest to the community and should be retained as a sports ground and for recreational use. You will recall the 2013 all party committee affirmed that the Council would not sell the freehold of the Rugby Ground nor lift the covenants restricting the use of the site for sporting facilities. Can I ask therefore why the Ground has been listed as available for residential mixed use? This is directly contrary to the commitments made.

Recreational and sporting facilities are in decline in the borough and the Council has a responsibility to the residents of Solihull to ensure it is doing what it can to preserve opportunities for such recreation and open space generally.

The Council appears to want to shoe horn residential development into every available spare corner - much like 'garden grabbing' tactics deployed by developers- which will destroy the character of Solihull as a borough and will be particularly detrimental to the area around Sharmans Cross Road and the Rugby Ground. I chose to live here because of the character of the neighbourhood. The proposals are totally out of keeping with that and must be thrown out. They will materially adversely impact on the appearance, quality, use and amenity of the surrounding area and hence will devalue the neighbourhood.

The proposals for residential development on the site are objectionable for a number of other reasons also:

1. The development is not in keeping with the character of the area.
2. Dense development would add a considerable burden on the surrounding roads, drainage, infrastructure and amenities.
3. Parking and traffic would be intolerable.
4. Solihull is known for its greenery and many trees in and around the site are protected by TPOs. Trees should not be felled for this sort of development. The adverse impact on ground conditions and climate generally is well documented. Also, if these trees are felled then what's to stop other landowners gaining permission to do the same? Removal of green space will also destroy natural wildlife habitats.
5. Solihull is already struggling severely with demand for things like GP appointments and school places. Trying to get an appointment with a GP can take weeks. Slotting in dense developments of the sort proposed will make this problem considerably worse and that is simply unacceptable.
6. Crime rates in Solihull are already high - dense developments increase populations locally but there is no policing in the borough to cope with that.

Whilst Solihull does require more housing, the Council should look for other sites which have more space for the associated infrastructure demands and look to release land in greenbelt for proper, considered development which can deliver better quality housing. We don't need more flats and shoebox size mixed tenure residential development but actual homes which are created in a less dense urban environment.

Strong objections were raised when a previous application of this nature was made in respect of this site. Those objections have not disappeared.

I trust that these objections will be taken fully into consideration and any application or allocation for residential development on this site be categorically refused.