13 Shirley - South of Shirley

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 wish to object in the strongest possible terms to the proposed housing estate to be built on the fields near Stretton Road/ Bills Lane.
This beautiful piece of countryside is used and enjoyed by local residents and had been a cherished place to walk since the Stretton Road Estate was built many years ago.
Unlike the park, it is an unspoilt, not manmade green space and the council should be protecting it not building on it. There are not many natural green spaces like this left in Shirley.

I am contacting you regarding the plans for a new housing estate on the fields behind Baxters Green and Baxters Road. I would like to know if there are plans for a road, from the new housing estate through to Baxters Green and Baxters Road as this will cause a major problem with traffic, there are a lot of elderly and disabled people who live in this area. More traffic will be a major problem, plus more noise and constant traffic, with cars cutting through for a short cut to the Stratford Rd and other area's.
A new housing estate, this will cause more children on Baxters Green /Road, Also children riding through on there bikes and causing trouble . Some of the children from Lighthall School cut through to Dickens Heath, to were they live and this will cause MORE children to cut through . This will cause more noise, litter and more hassle for the residents of Baxters Green /Road.
Baxters Green and Baxters Road is a nice peaceful area and having a new housing estate will create more traffic, noise, more children /people hanging around, using it as a cut through and spoil the area.

I have recently been made aware that you plan to build new housing on the fields surrounding the woodlands estate in Shirley B90. I think this is unacceptable. We have lived here 12 years, and these fields are the reason we bought our house.
Beautiful green land around a built up estate, somewhere to go for family walks, to escape the noise of traffic and car fumes. You wish to add to the world's pollution and destroy habitats for our wildlife. Why? There is insufficient infrastructure to meet the needs of a burgeoning population, which will make access all the more difficult. Yes we need housing, but not at the cost of reduced quality of life. Find somewhere else. This decision will likely affect the local house prices in a negative way. I just hope enough people oppose this ludicrous idea, as it is a very big mistake.

I mr barlow ,am responding to the new housing estate to be built on the fields faceing our houses in woodloes road,For one it will be an eyesore if it goes ahead,we have a great view at the moment which we have had for 40 years,the house prices will fall in this area which we are not happy about wheres our compensation going to come from,we all have been very happy living around here for years ,.the problems I see are ,the inforstructure in this area we are at breaking point at the moment,the schools are at breakeing point,the doctors in tamworth lane is all ways full you have to stand in a queue to make an appointment,what will it be like with 600 new homes just in that one place not counting the other develepments which will be takeing place now and in the future.and in tamworth lane the traffic is queing from the top of the road after the doctors right down past stretton road,that is now ,add 600 new home x2 cars there 1200 more cars to deal with,the roads can not cope nowhere is the sence of coursing more disruption,then you have the hospitals they are all at breakeing point,why is it that no proper throught would have gone into this before they are built,we all know that if these 600 homes are built it we create huge problems which will not be put right the council will in there own way bury there heads in the sand and leave the problem festering for years to come and the nice area will become gridlocked because not enough thought and money will be spent to make sure that this or these problems are sorted,we are strongly against this proposal and we all hope that this gets squashed.yours mr mrs barlow.

I have become aware of the above proposed development plan and wish to register my objections in the strongest terms.

I live in Baxters Road and am therefore well aware of the heavy use age of this open countryside by the south shirley community

My objections are based on the following:

1) Whilst realising the council have obligations to provide additional housing the size and concentration of this proposal is totally in appropriate. Instead of these large development proposals the council would be better off agreeing a larger number of smaller developments spread around the borough to include such areas as Dorridge where there are no new estates proposed

2) Erosion of valuable green belt at a time when we are encouraged to live more healthy lifestyles

3) The plans include the building on the football field. Again a valuable community facility when there are limi ted sports facilities in this part of the borough

4) The proposal moves South Shirley even closer to joining up with Dickens Heath so losing the different characteristics of the two communities.

5) The current infrastructure is already totally inadequate. At peak times both the area around Miller and Carter and the A34 are virtually gridlocked

6) The doctors surgery in Tanworth Lane is already over capacity and provides an inadequate service

7) Both Lighthall and Woodlands schools are full and at the beginning and end of the day the area becomes gridlocked with cars and is dangerous for the school pupils

I note the consultation period ends on the 30th of January and hope the above factors will be taken into account when the proposals are considered further.

The potential plan for this development has been brought to my attention and, as a local resident, I'm writing to express my concern.

The area concerned is the only public area for walkers and dog walkers in the area between Tanworth Lane and Dickens Heath. The proposal goes right up to the boundary of the massive Christmas tree plantation and airstrip. Rather than ruin the area for all the local people, why not compulsorily purchase the tree plantation and only upset one very rich person, rather than hundreds of ordinary ones?

However, whatever you do, there will need to be substantial improvements to the road network to cope with, probably, 1,000 cars and related vehicles arising from the new dwellings. Tanworth Lane, Dog Kennel Lane and Blackford Road are already overcrowded in rush hours with constant queues.

Please ensure my comments are fed into the debate.

I am emailing you regarding the plan for a new housing estate in south Shirley.

I have lived on Woodloes Road for 15 years and have always made active use of the fields that are directly opposite my house. I am extremely disappointed that this is now being turned into a housing estate removing this land from not only myself but also many dog walkers.

I'm interested in hearing how 600 new houses are being built yet no new schools to accommodate this amount of people moving into the area. The removal of the new doctors surgery is also a concern as it means patients at this surgery will now have to find another doctors as well as the people that will be moving into the area.

I feel this has been a poorly planned decision and that the fields in south Shirley should remain and the plan be moved to a more appropriate area.

I am speaking on behalf of everyone at my address with this e-mail.

I have been informed that Solihull council is planning to build new housing estates within the fields adjacent to my property, and I would like to appeal against this. If the proposed housing estates are built I believe that local properties (my own included) would depreciate in value. While this is a major concern to me and my family, there is also the fact that these fields are an area of natural beauty, that many locals (again including me and my family) use to exercise, take dogs out and have a relaxing walk.

see attached letter

We have recently viewed the proposed plans for the additional homes in the above area.
Having previously lived in a more built up area of Solihull, with all the associated issues such as heavy traffic, no local amenity space etc., we made the decision 3 years ago to move to Shirley Heath for our retirement. One of the attractions was the nearby public amenity space for walking for both ourselves (as active pensioners) and our proposed dog.
We now have the dog and use the open space several times a day - which is of benefit to all concerned health wise and very much a social event for people and their dogs. Some of these people are elderly and live alone and the only contact with other people is when they are utilising the benefits of the open space and meeting with other like minded people. It is also one of the only safe areas, away from traffic, where families can walk together for exercise/leisure.
We are horrified to see the plans. We understand the need for additional housing but feel those proposed are excessive and will be of severe detriment to the existing area, residents and local wildlife and potentially a drain on the local services (bus services, Doctors Surgery etc). With the closure of Shirley Police Station what proposals are there for policing of all these new units and potential effects on demands for emergency services etc? We would also point out that with the number of homes proposed the potential for future vehicles due to families 'coming of age' and obtaining licences/vehicles is horrendous and do not believe any amount of amendment to the existing road infrastructure will be able to cope with such large volumes of additional traffic.
We also have grave concerns over the number of properties and the loss of green open space and the effect this could have on flooding in the area etc., due to large areas of 'soakaway' land becoming unavailable due to tarmacing, concreting etc.
We very much ask you to reconsider the numbers proposed in this area and, at least, retain the amenity area between Woodloes Road and Baxters Green as this is of great benefit to all local residents and for any potential new residents when any new housing is completed.

I am contacting you to voice my concerns regarding plans for new houses to be built within Housing Site 13 South of Shirley. I am a local resident and my wife, our two young children and I greatly value this beautiful area of countryside within the very built-up area of Shirley. I feel that such an area is of necessity to local residents and is indeed why many residents moved to the area. I would be extremely disappointed if any new houses were built on this land and will fight against any plans to do so. We have only recently lost parkland in Shirley park to the Parkgate construction and to lose another local green area would be devastating. I am certain that the local residents will not let this happen.

see attached letter

I am writing to register my objection to the plan to build housing estates on the fields near the Woodlands Estate in Shirley. To remove such a vast amount of green space would be detrimental to the local environment, as well as depriving residents of access to these spaces. An increased population would also negatively impact on local resources such as roads (with the accompanying pollution), public transport, schools, healthcare, and council services.

I am writing to confirm my objection to a new housing estate off Bills lane in Shirley.
Building a new estate here will create pollution from the vast increase of traffic this will bring. Not only that but the reason I bought a house on this estate was due to the expanse of field at the back.
I, along with many people I imagine am most disheartened to see that you could not make the effort find a better plot of land on which to build on.
The trouble building here would ensue is limitless not only for access but also for crowding and as I said pollution.
These fields are a lovely part of Shirley that many people enjoy.
Please reconsider and try to fill your pockets at another location!

Hello,
I'm writing to object to the planned housing estate on the fields in between Stretton Road and Dickens Heath.

We love walking along side those fields towards the canal from our home on Woodlands Lane, it's one of the reasons we love living here. It is massively beneficial to health to walk in the country side and we currently have this on our doorstep. Please do not take this away from us.

Please acknowledge receipt of this objection

Hello,

I am writing to object to your proposed new housing estate on the south side of Shirley next to Stretton Road.

This is a beautiful area of countryside enjoyed by most people who live in the existing estate. It provides a safe place to residents to walk away from traffic and to meet and chat with neighbours. It is also full of wildlife in particular a wide variety of birds most noticeable at dawn and dusk.

We love to walk and run through this area to get to the canals and it is a big part of the reason we bought our house on woodlands lane. Please do not take this away.

I would like to register my objection to the proposed building of 600 new homes on the site south of Shirley estates.

The site is one of the few areas remaining where countryside can be enjoyed within the Solihull district to the west of the M42.

The fields are well used by the community and it is important to preserve an area of land which is available for the existing community which you represent.

The fields are also home to much wild life, and we have seen song thrush, stonechats and even red wing on these fields, alongside our friendly bats of course

Please preserve this area, not just to preserve the quality of life of the current people living in Shirley but also for the future generations. We need to preserve this remnant of countryside for the benefit of all.

Proposed housing site 13. south of Shirley
Dear Sirs

Re. the above planning proposal. This is a public amenity area that myself and others have enjoyed for many years. There are established colonies of Butterflies on these fields as follows:-

Meadow Brown
Ringlet
Gatekeeper
Speckled Wood
Small Skipper
Large Skipper
Essex Skipper
Common Blue

and Grasshoppers-

Common Green Grasshoppers
Meadow Grasshoppers
Common Field Grasshoppers

and occasional-

Roesel's Bush Cricket

as well as a Badger sett on the boundary etc. etc.

Although admittedly these are not species of conservation concern at the moment, this may not be the case if we persist in covering the natural environment with concrete and tarmac. It is a known fact that this is already one of the most wildlife depleted countries in the world, partly due to habitat loss, over 50% of species having declined since the 1970s. If this area has to be developed, I hope that wildlife will be catered for within the project.
Yes we are all well aware that people have to have somewhere to live, but do we have to be packed in so tightly, more vehicles means more pollution leading to health issues. Although not proven, the increase in dementia has been connected with exhaust fumes. Where does it all end.

Hi Policy and Spatial Planning
My name is Russell Trevis I live at No 76 Binley close Shirley can I can i please opposed the above planning application. I have lived in my road for 14 Years i have used the the proposed land daily for all these years where i have taken my children for walks and also my dogs. I was under the impression that the land you are applying to build on was actually green belt land so why are you building? I cannot believe the infrastructure of Shirley can cope with the extra houses you are planning on building. I travel to Derby each day to work (my worst part of the journey is the a34 towards the M42 junction 4) and in the mornings it can take up to 30 mins just to get down the A34 it is totally gridlocked. When i get home around at 5.30 again the A34 is like a car park. Where are you proposing to re site all the football fields you are planning on destroying, my son plays for Highgate Utd which is based on Tilehouse Lane. There are also not enough schools in the area the 2 schools in our catchment are Light Hall and Alderbrook both schools last year were oversubscribed. What about medical facilities in Shirley to get a doctors appointment within 7 days is almost impossible so building 1000's of new homes will cause major issues here to.

I expect a e mail back with your proposal/answers to my questions in the mean time i will be consulting with my lawyer with the legality of your proposal

Good evening,

I have just heard that there has been an interest in the land opposite Miller and Carter, Solihull. The planning application I believe is to build 2000 houses on green fields. Unfortunately I could not make tonight's meeting (copy of minutes please).

I was under the impression there may be some development on Dog Kennel Lane too, so if these developments are agreed, this will mean that the whole of Shirley South will be engulfed with further housing instead of the lovely countryside which drew me to coming from Shirley East.

I live just off Stretton Road and come across traffic queues from Tanworth Lane to Blackford Road/Dog Kennel Lane on my daily commute to central Solihull. This will be much worse once this development is erected. Currently we have the excess traffic from the existing Dickens Heath village plus new developments, Dickens Manor, The Paddocks and Cheswick Place which has definitely increased.

I understand there has been a willingness to sell land from the Christmas Tree farm owners and the Football Ground which I am very surprised.

We have lots of dog walkers, joggers and cyclists go through this area, where will they go now? Also there are steel Pylons through this land, surely that is not suitable building land?

I am very concerned about the old people living round this area and the extra houses and noise.

What you should be concentrating on is flattening the speed bumps on Tanworth Lane, Stretton Road and Hathaway Road and reducing the amount of noise from motorbikes and them using our roads like a race track.

What is going to happen to the pressure on school places with our schools bursting at the seams already? Both Dickens Heath and Woodlands cannot be expanded due to space, no one has thought about this. Why not build at Blythe Valley, right by motorway access? LEAVE SHIRLEY ALONE

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning,

We kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use. This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning,

We kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use. This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning

We kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use. This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning,

We kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use. This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning,

We kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use. This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning,

We kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use. This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.

Proposed site in Shirley
My husband & I wish to protest against the proposed site in Shirley. We have been in residence here for 40 yrs & are both getting on in years. The amount of housing in the time we have lived here has almost doubled, even taking up some of our local park area. The 41% which the council have proposed to put here is much too high, apart from the traffic (which is already horrendous) our green belt is being taken away from us, we will now have nowhere to take an afternoon stroll.
As we are both in our 80's & my husband (who is 86) & an invalid it is the only place near enough for me to be able to push him in his wheelchair to get a little bit of country life, so the Bridle path is very important to us & of course dog owners too, let alone all the walkers that use it. While we appreciate that there is a need for more houses, surely 41% is MUCH too high for a place like Shirley. Please reconsider, as some of us don't have too many years left to enjoy our little walks & taking away our Bridle Path is a step too far.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Phyllis Brookes & Mr Vernon Brookes.

see attached letter

Dear Solihull Policy & Spatial Planning,
Please could I kindly request that Housing Site 13 South of Shirley be retained for public use? This public amenity area is well used amongst the local community and is especially important for an area that has such a low provision of open space and parkland. Please reconsider other areas which are more logical infill sites and not used by the public.
I live on Hawkesbury Road and see how well used this area is by local residents, not just me (walking, bike riding) but also dog walking, enjoying with the family, on a daily basis.
It would be such a shame to lose this green space