BASE HEADER

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ID sylw: 90927

Derbyniwyd: 24/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Mrs sarah wood

I am writing to formally object to the proposed policy SG24 in the above named SWLP.
I live at the border of Lapworth and Hockley Heath and have been a resident in the area for almost 20 years. I object strongly to the proposed plans on the following grounds:
1. Green Belt area
a. The area I now live in, being Warwickshire, is on the border with the Solihull boundary. The area behind where I live represents a proportion of the green belt that is proposed to be built on. If that were to happen, there would be no distinction between the parishes of Lapworth and Solihull which goes against the purpose of the green belt itself. Not only would the green belt area diminish in size, taking with this a destruction of natural habitats, flora and fauna and general beautiful green flourishing land, it would represent an inappropriate development by bridging the urban sprawl between these communities. This is completely against the principle of green belt land.
b. My understanding is that green belt should only be chosen for development in exceptional circumstances. This is clearly not an exceptional circumstance as there are many, many proposed sites within the whole SWLP – what really is key here is to understand why there is such a push for housing in a county where there is no significant increase in population expected.
2. Environmental Impact
a. The impact of the proposed plans would be huge and catastrophic to the area, just at a helicopter view judging by the sheer size of the proposed development areas. The area is a haven for wildlife and animals; frequented by deer and muntjac, badgers and foxes as well as several smaller species of wildlife such as butterflies and bees. There are bats that are also a protected species that fly and roam the fields (within the green belt) during nighttime. These plans pose a significant impact on biodiversity.
b. This green belt land also provides a well being and social space for villagers and passers by – the busy nature of the Stratford Road is well balanced with the provision of the green belt to provide a safe space for mental and physical well being; removing this would have a detrimental impact on the health and emotional status of the villagers.
c. The increase in road congestion from the proposed development (as it is inevitable) will cause a significant increase in air pollution. The Stratford Road, when used as a M42 alleviation route, already causes foul air pollution from free standing traffic and lorries. The quality of life for the residents is already being compromised due. Any increase in traffic will be a complete disaster for the environment and for the community.
3. Infrastructure
a. The proposed plan engulfs a village already struggling with its infrastructure. The main Stratford Road is a disaster zone despite the 30mph, it is a busy, congested road that picks up the slack if there are issues with the M42. This is often the case, and residents cannot get to their own homes in such situations without significant delays and stress – it is becoming the norm to experience this. Therefore, introducing significantly more traffic into the village, more air pollution and more stress is not an acceptable consequence of introducing more houses to the border of the village. The current roads in and around the village are strained already – this will be exacerbated and there will be more issues with accidents and risks to life.
b. There is no meaningful bus network serving the village today and therefore this network could not serve an increased population. Even if a renewed network was put into place, I would seriously question whether the existing roads can actually cope with the size and nature of large buses.
c. The local primary school is small and serves the village and surrounding area as it is; it would not be able to cope with a number of new children from the proposed development sites – if that is indeed the school to which they would be referred as it would also make the catchment areas very unclear between Councils. The current school is also in a hazardous position on School Road where a child was run over recently owing to the sheer volume of cars to and fro’ing and the speeding nature of vehicles using the road as a cut through to Dickens Heath and beyond.
d. The village is by term a village and it never expected to become a built up area, being a few houses along the Stratford Road in years gone by. It has now developed into estates either side of the road and any additional development particularly at the border site with Warwickshire would completely alter the look and feel of the village.
e. The proposed development would dramatically alter the size of the village. Gradual increases of housing here and there has already put a huge strain on the infrastructure itself – there is no GP surgery and surgeries close by are already beyond capacity of patients in this area. Clearly what we see is an area at saturation level when it comes to the basic health infrastructure demands.
4. Specific issues
a. Flooding on Stratford Road from excess surface water is a big problem today plus various neighbouring roads are prone to flood in and around the village of Hockley Heath. Adding more houses into the mix, would inevitably increase the issues in drainage; this is not an acceptable position for residents.
b. Some of the proposed development on green belt is enclosed by existing houses and existing roads – I cannot see that there are any safe points for connecting a new development onto the existing road network.
c. Solihull MBC is also advising on development within their own boundaries and calling for sites. It is inconceivable that this area should be ear marked through two local planning arrangements, which could desecrate the village entirely.
In summary, I strongly object to the adoption of SG24 into the SWLP. There are a multitude of sound arguments I have outlined above that clearly explain why SG24 should be removed from the SWLP immediately and make no further appearances in any future planning processes and consultations between Stratford and Warwickshire.