Councillor at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Blogging about issues in Blythe Ward (Monkspath, Cheswick Green, Dickens Heath and Tidbury Green) and Solihull.
As a long standing resident of Monkspath, moving here in 1984, I was alarmed to notice the large buildings appear from the Highlands Road area when walking my dog on the parkland in March this year. I had always known this area was intended for commercial/business use but the size of these buildings surprised me. … More Solihull Business Park, Monkspath
Please find posted the latest report for the Rural section of the partnership – SMBC, Solihull Police, SCH. Newsletter July 2014 In addition to the report there are planned meetings, where you can chat to the local policing teams at the following times/dates and venues: Tuesday 19 August 2014Time 14:30 – 15:30 Beat Surgery Cheswick … More Neighbourhood Report – July 2014
Unfortunately, due to the judgement made at the High Court, in favour of Gallagher’s and Lioncourt Homes, who sought a judicial review into Solihull’s local development plan, the position of developments within Blythe ward are at risk. As readers will know, the sites identified for development within the ward were subject of phasing; allowing development … More Solihull LDP – Blythe ward perspective
Sorry for the delay in posting this: Please find posted the latest newsletter covering the whole of the rural sector, including Blythe ward, Dorridge, Knowle and Meriden. There are updates about the ‘Citizenscape’ project and contact details for officers and police staff. Newsletter June 2014
Its nice to be able to inform readers of good news on the planning front. An application to build a house on green belt land in Houndsfield Lane, Tidbury Green was refused by Solihull’s planning committee, despite representation by a former town planner and Blythe ward councillor addressing the committee to urge development on this … More Houndsfield Lane – Appeal dismissed
I have just returned from a briefing about the local development plan. In attendance (doing the briefing) were Anne Brereton (Head of Places Directorate SMBC), Rachael Batts (Spatial Development), Gary Palmer (Head of Planning) and Cllr Ian Courts (Cabinet Member for responsibility of Economic Development and Land). In addition to me were Cllr Richard Holt, … More LDP – SMBC Position statement
So the casual reader can get an idea about the issue I have created another video, this one when walking my dog (Millie) around the area concerned. I reiterate again, this is not about saying ‘No’ to any commercial development, it is about balance and location. Whatever happens when the planning application goes before the … More More on Hillfield Local Nature Reserve
As you will read from the previous posts (4th and 6th June) , the history of the site shows land was designated for commercial/business use from 1979. At yesterday evenings planning committee members deferred a decisions on the application for a change of use, from (essentially) warehouse and distribution, to allow industrial use. I have created … More Solihull Business Park, Monkspath Hall Rd/Highlands Rd
Thornton Road, Frankholmes Drive and part of Monkspath Hall Road were subject to a bit of patching of the road surface yesterday. This was undertaken by Ringway, the former highways maintenance partners of SMBC. They had resurfaced Frankholmes Drive and Thornton Road just over 18 months ago (on a wet and cold November day) and … More Monkspath Hall Rd at Thornton Road – Road resurfacing?
I was walking along the brook, running from the lake towards Highlands Road the other day. I had noticed a reduced flow of water and came across some sort of dam. I think this is ‘man made’ and not the result of otters, especially as some metal fencing (as used by the developers on the … More Hillfield Local Nature Reserve, Monkspath
Ken Hawkins 