04 Dickens Heath - West of Dickens Heath

Dickens Heath / Tidbury Green
While I support the development of these areas, the current preferred area to the West of Dickens Heath would result in the closure of several important and well supported local amenities/businesses, while the land to the south (Refined Parcel 73) would be more sustainable in terms of transportation, access to existing services, would not result in the closure of businesses and while it would bring Dickens Heath and Tilbury Green closer together, there would still be a strong enforceable boundary, and it would prevent Solihull/Bromsgrove/Birmingham merging along the Western boundary.

I am writing to comment on the Draft Local Plan which is currently open for consultation.The item I wish to comment on is Proposed Housing Allocation 4, West of Dickens Heath, Dickens Heath.
My property backs onto the field between the last line in DH and Akamba and is at the far side directly alongside the Stratford On Avon Canal. I bought this flat in April 2014 and its main attraction was the fabulous view over the field and Canal. Before completing my purchase I checked the existing Local Plan which was introduced in 2014 and was to run until 2028 and saw that the field outside my flat was not to be developed. On that basis I went ahead with the purchase.If I had known that the plan was to be revoked and replaced within two years I would not have gone ahead. It seems ridiculous that a Council can make a Plan for a period of 14 years and then rescind it two years later. Perhaps you will tell me what avenues are open for compensation if this proposal goes ahead. I would like an answer to this question.
AS regards the Local Plan itself I would like to make the following comments on the proposed DH development ( No 4) which I think is totally unsuitable for the following reasons:
1) Tythe Barn Lane is already receiving too much traffic. The whole of Tythe Barn Lane is already too narrow and although the part where the proposed development is be built can be widened the DH end cannot as the houses are too close to the road. The ridiculous pinch point by the primary school is already the scene of many near accidents and is not helped by the Councils decision to allow parking even on bends. Basically the road is too narrow. I dread to think what it will be like if the proposed development takes place.
2) The other roads in DH are generally too narrow and cannot currently cope with the amount of traffic.
3)The shopping area in DH is currently too small and parking is totally inadequate.
4) The local primary schools are oversubscribed and cannot provide further places.
5)The Secondary school for the area is too far away and is oversubscribed.
6)The one local dentist is full and will not take any more NHS patients.
7) The GP practice IN DH is bursting at the seams and couldn't cope with more patients.
8)Tythe Barn Lane currently houses several sports clubs. Will the council be providing land elsewhere for sporting leisure activities. The Borough should not lose these facilities.

In addition the whole area is being spoilt by the constant expansion. DH which was once a nice village with a real village atmosphere is being transformed into a large concrete jungle and is losing its identity. I doubt it will win many more awards if this continual expansion goes ahead.

I hope you will take these comments into account and let me have an answer to my earlier question

I object to development on sites 12 / 13 / 4 for the following reasons...
I am against green belt land being taken for developmental use in this instance as not only will it ruin the character of Dickens Heath 'village' and Shirley, it will be a disaster for the local wildlife which reside there. Green belt was called as such for a reason, to distinguish between settlements and create a pleasurable environment for residents. The green belt in these areas provide a home for many wild animals, a escape for dog walkers and cross country runners, a football pitch for those wanting to be fit and more importantly an area that produces clean air for locals and plants and trees that soak up excess water. I fear without these areas if they are ALL to be built on as the council are proposing it will cause a serious flood risk.
My personal main concern is for the development which is proposed to be opposite my home - site 12 Dog Kennel Lane. This area specifically Tanworth Lane end is a farmed area which surrounds a LISTED Light Hall Georgian home. To build in this area would in my opinion spoil the characteristic rural feel of the area which separates Shirley from Dickens Heath and Cheswick Green. Not only would the view of the Hall be blighted ( I assume developers plan to keep it as it is a listed building?) But the farmland would be lost as well. With Britains recent exit of Europe I would have thought local farming were of even more importance now than before?!
The traffic into these new developments are also a concern. Currently there is heavy traffic daily along Tythe barn lane/Dickens Heath road and Tanworth Lane resulting in THREE accidents in the two weeks before Christmas to my knowledge! The traffic volume outside my house has already increased with the expansion of Cheswick Green and the tarmac roads are getting more and more damaged not to mention the noise level! I can no longer have a conversation on my drive without shouting! With no additional proposed access roads to these new expansions I only see this gridlock worsening. The bottle neck that is Tythe Barn lane actually at a number of points becomes a SINGLE lane, is this really sufficient for a development of 700 homes most of which will probably have two cars? Developers design the estates to cram in as many houses as possible (Dickens Heath Village included) without thought it seems to where people will park their vehicles, thus causing residents to park on the road side blocking the already narrow roads. With the development proposed along Dog Kennel lane (site 12) for a further 850 houses, the gap between Shirley/Dickens Heath and Cheswick Green will have diminished, loosing farmland/jobs/woodland/recreational sites & character of the area in its wake.
Tythe barn lane houses not one, not two, but THREE football teams ground where children and adults go to play and keep fit. The government are encouraging (children especially) to exercise, how can they be expected to do this if areas such as this are being built on and taken from them? The proposal I know states 'potential for provision of sporting facilities' but I fail to see how sufficient space to house the THREE sets of teams from site area 4 and another from site 13 can be made to fit, thus creating a shortfall of pitches within the area.

The proposed sites map fails to show the development of the Tidbury Green area which would also narrow the green land between settlements, could these new housing numbers not be added to the required build total set by the Government to reduced further plots having to be found?
There also is the question of schools. At present schools in Shirley and Dickens Heath are at capacity, with no room for expansion, so where do all these new additional children go to school? There are no plans to build a new one so will children have to travel to out of area schools thus making a mockery of the education policy that children need to be within a certain radius, allowing children to WALK to school! The same question applies to Doctors, I have not seen/heard any plans to build additional practices in the area so does this mean residents have to wait even longer to get appointments to meet additional demand?
My other worry is that of flooding, by removing this much farmland/green belt (a third of the councils allocated number in ONE area) and building on it, there will be less earth/trees to soak up the excess water which will inevitably cause flood damage along the way. I don't see why these new homes cannot be built creating a completely new settlement on a sustainable site nearer to where the creation of jobs is going to be nearer the airport/HS2 line. This way workers will be closer to the proposed new jobs and won't have to travel so far causing gridlock along the way. Areas near the airport I understand have to be left free from development to allow for 'accidents' but what of the residents of Marston Green who are already directly under the flight path, do they not count???
I would have thought it more sensible to put affordable housing nearer these areas as house prices are significantly lower in these areas anyway. Potential workers for the new jobs the HS2 will provide will then have lower travel costs also.
I understand we need to build more homes to house our growing numbers especially affordable ones, and I have no objection to the TRW site (site 11), what I don't agree with is the expansion concentrated in what to me it seems is nearly a third of the Governments allocation in one area (Shirley/Dickens Heath). It seems a very unfair distribution. I have lived on the edge of the Dickens Heath boundary for over five years now and have enjoyed the wonderful view of the LISTED Light Hall home of our neighbours. My only hope is that developers consider the CURRENT residents views/outlook and quality of life and attempt to screen off these new properties around boundaries before imposing them on our doorstep and devaluing what we have worked hard to achieve.

I would like to make comment on the Solihull Borough Local Plan

My objections are on the following grounds:

1 The Road Infrastructure

To enable this development to be successful, significant road infrastructure works are required.
The levels of traffic within Dicken Heath are problematic currently, with navigation within Dickens Heath very challenging. Parking has also been a notable problem. The infrastructure of the roads, pavement and lighting in the locality of Major's Green is that of a rural community, not suitable to support a further 1,300 new homes. There are single, decaying paths, with little or no lighting (particularly near the Whitlocks End Train Station). To increase the amount of traffic will require due regard and upgrading of the pavements (to have pavements on both sides of the road and suitable for two people walking or a pushchair, not just a single individual) for the residents. Given this is in another councils boundary - what scope is there for join working?

Tythe Barn Lane has traffic calming measures - these would need reviewing in light of the new proposal.

2 Traffic Flow

Traffic from South Birmingham commute to both Solihull and the M42 junction 4 through this area.

Currently all communting traffic is routed through Dickens Heath causing major traffic congestion. I would recommend re-opening Tythe Barn Lane so that traffic can avoid the centre of Dickens Heath. This may require reinforcement or replacement of the canal bridge.
Alternatively, a new road should be developed to enable the fast and efficient movement of traffic around the periphery of the new development.

2 Combined development impact by boundary councils

With significant development already planned and implemented both in the immediate vicinity on the boundaries of Birmingham (Aqueduct Road); Bromsgrove (Gorsey Lane, Tidbury Green,) has already overwhelmed the area with traffic and put demands on other infrastructure such as Doctors, Schools etc. The full impact won't be known until all developments are occupied.

What integration and liaison across boundaries have there been given this proposed area is on the periphery of all three.

3. Loss of Amenity

The open green area and football clubs would be a great loss to the public, particularly in these days of obesity concerns and related NHS demands.

4. Loss of Green Belt, Flood Plains

What provision for soak aways will there be when the green areas are paved over? Does the existing drainage systems have capacity to cope with water channelled down from 1300 new house?
The area has been prone to both surface water and flooding. Without these areas of soak away available, what will the impact be on existing premises?

5. Combined Sewage

Can the Victorian water disposal systems accommodate the additional sewage demands from this level of development?

6. Development on Green Belt

This green belt land, was a boundary to stop the urban sprawl. If you build on it - where will the sprawl end?

I think the proposed changes in the Dickens Heath etc area will remove our green areas and we will end up merging into one site. The infrastructure was not developed to deal with this and Dickens Heath Village was never meant to be the size it is and already has a negative impact on travel. Much as I dislike the idea I think a purpose built new village with appropriate planned infrastructure would be the best solution.

see attached letter

As a resident of Haslucks Green Road we have seen a large increase in traffic with the development of Dickens Heath and Whitlocks End Station. I feel that the proposed expansion of Dickens Heath will have a huge impact on our road and will affect property values

Representations re Solihull Local Plan Review - Proposed Housing Allocation to the West of Dickens Heath
I refer to the current consultation process in respect of the Solihull Local Plan Review and, in particular, the potential impact of the proposed housing allocation to the West of Dickens Heath.
The proposed housing allocation gives rise to a number of key concerns:
1. Impact on the Green Belt
The proposed housing allocation would erode the Green Belt between Dickens Heath, Major's Green and Trueman's Heath. This risks the semi-rural character of Dickens Heath being detrimentally impacted and represents a major step towards the village being subsumed within the Birmingham urban conurbation. The housing allocation would also cause the loss of a number of local sports facilities and a popular African-inspired garden centre.
2. Pressure on existing amenities
I have lived in Dickens Heath since September 2000 and I have personally witnessed the increasing pressures placed on local amenities, most notably on the Jacey GP practice and the inadequate parking in the village centre (exacerbated by the loss of a substantial number of parking spaces to new residential dwellings in the past 18 months). Dickens Heath simply does not have the amenities and infrastructure to bear the proposed village expansion.
3. Traffic Management
Another existing issue which will be exacerbated by the proposed housing allocation is the traffic congestion during peak commuting hours between the village school and running along Tythe Barn Lane and Dickens Heath Road, until the roundabout in front of Miller & Carter. The absence of highway and traffic management improvements has led to a high degree of congestion and the council's failure to use on-road parking restrictions along Tythe Barn Lane (either side of the existing speed control measures) to prevent on-road parking by residents has caused further congestion. The increased flow of commuter traffic to central Solihull and to the M42 will worsen the existing congestion.
My view is that there are more appropriate areas for housing allocation within the Borough which have a reduced impact on the Green Belt, place less pressure on existing, stretched amenities and have a reduced impact on the character of the existing residential area.

Solihull Local Plan Review
Consultation Submission

I refer to the following areas proposed for housing development:

1. Proposed Housing Allocation 4 West of Dickens Heath
This development will result in the loss of a significant number of playing fields and sports amenities that are close to south Shirley and Dickens Heath. Research shows that "Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers by at least 30%." The UK Government has a clear policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/get-active-to-get-healthy) to encourage people to take regular exercise to reduce the possible impact of obesity with its attendant impact on not only the health of our nation but the cost to the NHS in treating obesity. These open spaces and sports and leisure facilities should not be lost whilst the health of our population is declining.

2. Proposed Housing Allocation 12 South of Dog Kennel Lane
This development will considerably reduce the open countryside between Shirley and Dickens Heath. This is contrary to the NPPF which seeks to retain individual communities and to resist coalescence of villages. In para 83 the plan talks about "The network of strong and vibrant communities across the Rural Area will have been sustained with a range of local facilities and services that are readily accessible on foot and by bicycle and that are appropriate to the scale and hierarchy of the settlement" whereas the plan seeks to extend many communities and leave only a small strip of dividing land.

3. Proposed Housing Allocation 13 South of Shirley
This development will considerably reduce the open countryside between Shirley and Dickens Heath. This is contrary to the NPPF which seeks to retain individual communities and to resist coalescence of villages.

In Para 87 there is no recognition of the new development at Lowbrook and Tidbury Green Farms for 387 houses in Tidbury Green. The plan review should recognise the reality of house building that has taken place in and around Dickens Heath. Since 1989 when approval was given for 700 houses to be built in Dickens Heath the area has seen approval for over 1500 houses plus the expansion of Dickens Heath from 700 to over 1500 houses, with the attendant loss of green space and little or no increase in amenities or leisure facilities.

Whilst the Borough has a vision to "retain its sense of identity both in its urban and rural area (including appropriate protection of the Green Belt); and the quality of the environment that make it a special place." It is difficult to reconcile that statement with the level of house building that has and will be taking place at considerable cost to the green belt (Site 4, 12 and 13 are all in the green belt.).

Conclusions
The Local Plan Review should seek other ways to meet its housing needs other than extending urban areas by pushing their boundaries into the green belt, and should not build on existing sports and leisure facilities that are close to urban areas unless there is a clear replacement and extension plan.

The proposed housing sites at the west of Dickens Heath and south of Shirley should not be included due to the following reasons: loss of open countryside around the rural village of Dickens Heath; loss of the rural character of Dickens Heath; significant adverse impacts on the natural environment due to loss of ancient woodlands at Little Tyburn and Birch Leasow Coppice; significant negative impacts on the local biodiversity due to loss of hedgerows, mature native trees and ponds, and also potential for loss of habitats that support legally protected species including great crested newts, badger setts and bat roosts.

The doubling of size of Dickens Heath (site 4), combined with the impact of sites 12 & 13 (Dog Kennel Lane/South of Shirley) will make traffic on the A34 between Marshall Lake Road and M42 even worse than it already is (regularly takes 10-15 minutes to get from Marshall Lake Road to the junction with Monkspath Hall Road.
Furthermore, site 13 is a particularly valued local amenity as it is the only place in the local area where dogs can safely be exercised off lead which is not privately owned. Please do not deprive us of this!

I wish to put my concerns forward on this proposed site. I have newly moved into Peterbrook Road, Major's Green, Solihull only to be overwhelmed by the amount of traffic running along this road and the parallel Haslucks Green Road. We had hoped our move would alleviate the problems of traffic we were previously experiencing on Lode Lane, but found that this is in the same volume around the times of work people, school runs both morning and evening. The roads are used to get into Birmingham and the speed which cars reach is more often than not way above the warning sign of 30 mph. I have to exit my drive with great care and worry about cars suddenly appearing from either end of Peterbrook Road before I have managed to get out into the road. If this is already a very busy route then we would find ourselves virtually trapped in our drives should the proposed housing site be completed. Without better road management this will be a hazard to all along these roads.
I am also concerned that a lack of public transport on these routes will mean that everyone will take to their cars. I hope this has also been considered. Both these problems exist now and can only be made worse by a substantial building programme on the green belt. Not forgetting that green belt used to mean a green space not to be built upon so people had access to scenery and walks for the good of their health.
I hope at your final consultation you will consider all my e-mail.

I live at 14 Fords Road, Majors Green and am very concerned about the building work you are about to do.

We moved in 13 years ago to be out in the country and it seems now that the houses are being brought to our front door, resulting in our green belt being taken away, which we didn't think was allowed.

I understood that Dickens Heath was going to be a self contained village, but it's now expanding on all sides.

I feel very upset about this situation, as do many of my neighbours, and hope that you will reconsider doing this building work.

I have recently been made aware of this draft plan so wish to make the following comments.
I have lived in Fords Road,Majors Green for 29 years and have seen the traffic increase enormously during the last few years due I believe to increased housing in our local area and Wythall and Dickens Heath.
I am extremely concerned that this proposal is for another 1300 homes which I feel our roads and local services cannot cope with being already overstretched.
Walking to and from the rail station is hazardous particularly when trying to cross at the junction of Haslucks Green Road and Tilehouse Lane and by the station.
The footway to the station is narrow, when large vehicles pass they are very close to pedestrians. I would add that my husbands arm was hit by the wing mirror of one of these vehicles when the latter happened.
Due to the current increase in vehicles Fords Road is often used as a car park by train travellers, cars are parked both sides of the road at times causing problems for delivery vehicles.
I am extremely concerned that these plans totally eliminate the Solihull green belt here causing loss of habitat to our birds and animals so much valued not only by ourselves but also newcomers to the area.

We wish to register our protest against the proposal to extend Dickens Heath by building on green belt land to either side of Tythe Barn Lane. This will lead to the destruction of community facilities i.e: football and rugby pitches. In addition the inevitable increase in traffic will put an intolerable strain on what are basically country lanes such as Tythe Barn Lane, Birchy Leasowes Lane and Tilehouse Lane culminating in increased traffic flows on Haslucks Green Road, Bills Lane and Peterbrook Road, also the increased risk of accidents at traffic hazards such as the acute bend and canal bridge at Haslucks Green Road, the Drawbridge and Aqueduct adjacent to Peterbrook Road.
We would urge you to reconsider and scale back these proposals to be more in keeping with local infrastructure.

With reference to your Local Draft plan, it will affect myself and all residents in Major's Green, just over the border in Worcestershire in the following ways:-

1. The traffic situation will increase immensely and the road structure will not cope with the increased demand for space for vehicles.
2. The car parking facilities at Whitlocks End Railway station is just about sufficient at present.
3. Where will all the sports facilities go. 3 Soccer clubs and a rugby club. I thought we were to encourage youngsters to participate in sports not deny them the opportunity.
4. What about the Green Belt opportunities around Catherine-de-barnes, Hampton-in-Arden, Knowle and Dorridge, or is there an element of NIMBYism involved here?

Please find alternative sites for these houses as there are other Green Belt sites available in your Borough.

The proposal for the housing development at the A and B sites on the plans for Dickens Heath area appear to be extreme.
Dickens Heath was 'created' in the late 1990s, guided by an architect-led masterplan and is described in the local plan at that time as 'award-winning' and 'critically acclaimed'. Since then it has undergone very rapid expansion. These most recent proposals would change the village into a suburban sprawl.
The roads in and around Dickens Heath do not appear to have been designed to accommodate the volume of traffic, including heavier traffic, now using it. They are probably difficult to upgrade because of the closeness of the highway boundaries, and are becoming difficult to negotiate because of the amount of traffic There must also be problems with the sewer system as the council has already sent teams to put cameras down to investigate. If the proposed expansion takes place the problems will be exacerbated.
Considering all the above, the infrastructure does not seem suitable for any further housing development. The development iin Dickens Heath has already been tremendous and the future plans for this area seem to be out of proportion with that planned for the rest of Solihull.
I understand that the provision of extra housing in Solihull has been linked to the requirements of Birmingham. However, the impact on Solihull in general and Dickens Heath in particular will be so great that perhaps the executives of the two councils should give more consideration to the planned development taking place in the Birmingham area.

I must object to the proposed plans to extend Dickens Heath estate to
the boundary with Hereford and Worcester. I live in Majors Green ( Peterbrook Road), due to house building very close currently and in the past couple of years, all Solihull area, (Aqueduct Road, Tidbury Green etc.), we can no longer get exit our driveway very easily with amount of traffic passing morning or evening. Traffic is often backed up way down Haslucks Green road and into Peterbrook.
We have had a massive increase in litter thrown from vehicles and speeding traffic during the evening and night hours.
Majors Green will become gridlocked.

There will also be a loss of green belt land and at least three community football clubs.
With some Solihull councillors constantly harping on the fact Solihull hospital cannot cope with obesity, it seems a bit hypocritical to close down these amenities.
I think this area has had enough building and loss of green areas what with ten acres of Shirley park being given away to one of the richest supermarkets in America with absolutely no gain to residents, (where is the twenty four hour parking we use to have outside the British legion, now maximum three hours).
Where are the new schools, doctors, shops???

Quite frankly Solihull council has now got a country wide reputation as the developers friends.

Proposed development on Whitlocks End Farm and Dickens Heath Road
As a local resident who would be adversely affected by the proposed developments I should like to forward my observations.

Between 7.30am and 9.00am on week days the traffic can queue back from Maxstoke Croft onto Tamworth Lane trying to merge onto Tamworth Lane. This is as a result of the heavy additional traffic from Dickens Heath and Cheswick Green developments where no additional road routes have been built to service either of these huge developments - this is before the current ongoing building developments have been finished.

Judging by the current poor state of local road repairs, potholes and congestion Solihull council is unable to afford to maintain current road provisions. Will there be any additional budget on top of that allocated for the house building to improve and increase road routes to service the additional car use that will inevitably occur BEFORE the houses are built?

Will additional doctor and hospital provisions be funded? My family have needed urgent care in past and have nothing but praise for the care we received, however, there were times when the ambulance did not know where to take the patient as no beds could be found in any of the Heartlands Trust hospital. The current hospital facilities are at breaking point now; if there are to be 6000 new homes in our borough a new hospital will have to be built BEFORE the influx of extra people. Will this be included in the plans?

All housing developments will clearly be unwanted by the local residents and so platitudes are often embraced by the developers to justify their plans, one of which is, 'we must provide more homes, particularly those who want to get on the housing ladder'. My understanding is that the current average wage is £26,500, if I suggest that a financial institution will lend 5 times the salary, (which I suspect is unrealistic as over generous) just how many of these houses will be £132,500 in price to give any young adult even a remote chance of 'getting on the housing ladder'? Building lots of lovely expensive houses (>£250k) do not help local people on average wages to buy property locally! Will the council have in-built stipulation or clauses to any prospective buyers of these new homes that they can only be purchased by people that are not property owners already?

I accept that new houses will have to be built somewhere, but on the current plans, there does appear to be a disproportionate amount of homes earmarked for the Whitlocks End Farm and Dickens Heath Road site, with, for example, no intention of building any homes in Dorridge? Which is my understanding? Therefore, can you give a guarantee that all local brownfield sites have been utilised before ploughing up our fields - which once developed can never be replaced.

Consider that, perhaps one reason that Solihull is such a desirable area is that it isn't totally over developed and congested and so building on all available open spaces will ruin its character.

i have lived in majors green for 34 years and object to the above on the following grounds;

Local roads and in particular Haslucks green road close to the junction with Tilehouse lane (which is where i live) is unable to cope with current traffic volumes as evidenced with a continuous queue of traffic trying to negotiate the notoriously dangerous junction with Tilehouse lane, a situation which the local highways and police are very well aware of. This proposal along with the expansion of the car park at Whitlocks end station can only make

for a higher level of road traffic accidents at this location. I accept that more houses are required but as things stand at the moment the planning process should consider whether local roads have the capacity to deal with housing expansion on this scale. My objection is based on the fact they simply do not!

Comment on draft local plan - proposed housing allocation 4 west of dickens Heath
As I border the proposed development I'm personally concerned about development I'm concerned about size, scope of the development and type of housing that Will be built. The proximity of new housing to my home & garden and the potential loss of privacy and my house becoming overlooked to the point of it being overbearing. Will the new housing be in keeping with size, design and type of the existing local housing. What green provision, corridors and borders be kept / crested between existing and new developments?

This development has the potential to change my local area from a rural area to an urban area this has the potential to effect the value of my own house.

I am concerned about practical matters if building occurs such as noise & disruption, dust, early morning and weekend working, construction traffic and all over a lengthy period of time to build 700 houses.

The local infrastructure also concerns me schools, doctors, dentists are struggling with the current demands, and with new housing already being built this will only be under more pressure.

The roads /parking struggle to cope with current levels of traffic, small roads and affluent multi car house holds mean that 700+ house will Add significant additional cars, and at peak times the roads are already congested.

The building will damage The local environment merging dickens Heath with Shirley, tidbury green, withal and there will be little distinction. There will be less and less green belt taking away the rural character of the area increasing the urban sprawl.

As I border one of the proposed areas I believe the wildlife of the area should be protected. The loss of habitat will damage birds, bats deer all that live in the area.

Recent and ongoing developments have already increased the size of dickens Heath way beyond what was originally planned, this proposed new development increases the pressure on all aspects of infrastructure and community.

I would question if other sites should be given increased priory over this development and if the council has truly researched other non developed area in the borough. Considering a genuinely new development rather than further extending dickens Heath.

Overall I believe the location, size and scope of this proposed development will adversely effect the community and surrounding area, it will adversely effect local residents and will become overbearing and detrimental. It will remove precious green belt, a wild life haven and a natural corridor between local communities, removing it will damage the local character of the area. In my view this is an inappropriate development that will harm residents.

see attached letter

Draft local plan
Accepting the need for more housing
The sites earmarked around dickens heath do not take into consideration the inadequate road system for the existing population

Dickens heath road itself is in a terrible condition. The pot holes are getting worse.

This road needs urgent resurfacing

The station car park is already full on weekdays.

Dickens heath road, rumbush lane and tythe barn lane are unsuitable to take the extra traffic the additional housing would require.

Akamba is a gem for the area. A lot of work has gone into making this the unique attraction it is. Please do not affect this.

I hope any plans to develop in dickens heath will be dropped.

I am writing with regard to the new houses planned for Tidbury Green/Dickens Heath,Solihull. I have lived in Majors Green for over 75 years so I have seen it grow from a small village to what it is today and very little has been done to the roads in the area. With all the extra houses these roads will never cope with the amount of traffic and there is no public transport - only a bus every hour and to get to Shirley or Solihull it takes over 20 minutes to do a 5 minute journey if you use this bus. Therefore there is no encouragement for people to leave their cars at home! The amount of traffic using the drawbridge is tremendous and I have seen cars queuing back to Haslucks Green Road and that is during the winter so during the summer it would be a major issue. Haslucks Green Road is already a notorious accident spot. All the roads in the area are not wide enough to take the traffic, especially roads like Drawbridge Road where cars frequently mount the pavement.
I went to Asda to one of your consultation meetings. I felt the people there were not very informative and could not answer many questions being asked. One of which was: 'had Bromsgrove been consulted?' as you will appreciate that some of the area which will be involved is in Bromsgrove.
I hope some of these points will receive serious consideration in your plan. I would finally like to draw your attention to the sewerage pumping station in Tythe Barn lane and whether it is capable of taking the waste for all these developments you are planning

I am strongly Against the proposed planning by Solihull Council for the house development for the Shirley, Dickens Heath and Majors Green Area. I feel it will be very damaging for the area and the people who live and will be living there in the future . There are roads which aren't much more than lanes in some parts, some with narrow footpath and pedestrians have to step into the road to pass each other. I myself have been hit twice by vehicles wing mirrors in Haslucks Green road by vehicles moving over to avoid traffic coming the other way. The roads in peak time is very heavily used and there has been several bad accidents recently at Bills Lane, Haslucks Green Road, Rushleigh Road ,Cambria Drive and Whitlock End Station Bend, fortunately up till now not a fatal one. I feel the area is being over developed by property developers who will cram as many house as they can into the area and Solihull Council who see green fields as £ signs.
Schools, Doctors, Hospitals and other services & amenities are stretched now. Will they be able to cope with an increased the population. Are there Plans to improve these services and facilities .

I have recently had a leaflet put through my door explaining that Solihull council are considering a plan to allow the building of hundreds of new homes on a site around Tilehouse Lane and Tythe Barn Lane, Dickens Heath.

The road infrastructure around Dickens Heath is currently over loaded at peak times. These are essentially country lanes and simply cannot cope with the current volume of traffic. The road surfaces are in a terrible state with pot holes appearing at an alarming rate, I assume no plans are in place for road widening or resurfacing?

The current route through Dickens Heath, towards the Stratford Road, passes a primary school and is littered with residents parked cars and traffic chicanes. At 7.45am two busses collect the children, as there is no provision in Dickens Heath for secondary school pupils, this blocks the clock roundabout for 10 minutes each school day. Also, did anyone from the council attempt to drive through Dickens Heath last Halloween (2016) - because it was grid locked from all directions.

It is already difficult to get a doctors and dentist appointment, so can I ask what the plans are to support already stretched local services in this area.?

I would also like to ask - are any plans in place for improvements to the pavements which are inadequate in some areas, especially around the approach roads to Whitlocks End Train station, these are dangerous and need attention.

To be honest I cannot believe this proposal got as far as consultation. At what point will the over development of this area STOP. We have already lost a large area of green belt with the new housing development at Solihull Lodge High St and Aqueduct Lane. Now it is proposed to build over the remaining green belt between Majors Green and Dickens Heath.

Therefore I strongly protest against this plan - it will ruin our neighbourhood. We moved to Majors Green because of its green spaces and easy access to countryside walks. Solihull council must realise that this development is just too large for this area and really will spoil what is currently a very pleasant place to live.

see attached letter

Shirley Conservatives newsletter reply

Shirley Conservatives newsletter response

Too much green belt land is being built on in Shirley.
The area south of the Stratford Road is already congested and will not be able to cope with the amount of traffic. There are insufficient transport connections such as railway links to these areas. By reducing the green belt areas, Shirley's image is reduced from the lovely 'town in the country' it always was.
More high density housing could be built in the north of the borough. I also disagree with the East of Solihull development of 650 units on green belt again.