We know that many of our residents love Halloween and will be disappointed that things will be a bit different this year. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council have asked that, due to the risk of spreading Covid-19 and in line with the government guidelines that residents:
avoid knocking on doors/traditional ‘Trick or Treating’ activities and attending parties.
They have given some suggested alternative activities:
· Carve or decorate pumpkins and display in your household · Organise a Halloween treasure hunt at home · Host a virtual party with themed games and music · Watch a scary movie with the family including spooky treats · Have a virtual Halloween costume contest
We hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe Halloween 🙂
Update on Solihull MBC’s Final Draft Local Plan Proposals for Dickens Heath
The latest information on the Solihull Local Plan Review can be seen at https://www.solihull.gov.uk/lpr and we expect the Consultation will be open to early December 2020. The Parish Council would like to take residents’ views into account in their response. Please forward your comments to the Parish Council, preferably by October 31st 2020 and by Sunday November 8th 2020 at the very latest – either by email to dickensheathpc@hotmail.com or through the letterbox at the Library.
After five years in the making Solihull Council have finalised their Local Plan Proposals for a Final Public Consultation. This will be for a six week period starting shortly and expected to run into early December 2020. The proposed concept plans have been available on the SMBC website since 20th September and run to a huge bundle of pages which are summarised below as they impact on Dickens Heath.
· The consultation has been approved by Solihull Council and takes account of all representations previously submitted, which have resulted in a number of significant changes – reducing the housing numbers in the Dickens Heath Parish by 50% from 1300 homes to 650 homes on two designated sites.
· The Plan Period runs to 2036 and housing numbers are now fixed, including the additional homes Solihull must provide to meet the shortfall in the wider Housing Management Area (Birmingham)
· The consultation is restricted to more technical issues of the concept plan’s soundness or legality and will not reconsider objections previously submitted as they have already been reviewed – any minor or technical oversights arising from the consultation will be amended before the plans are submitted to the Secretary of State.
· Any proposed significant changes, such as the withdrawal of a Plan Site, the Council argue would result in a further redraft and new consultation process – causing delays that would put Solihull at risk of more onerous housing numbers and losing control of the planning process – as it would not have an approved local plan or the required five year supply of housing land that allows it to control planning applications.
· Solihull does not have brownfield sites to meet numbers required and has to release Green Belt which it has selected after identifying previously developed sites and lower grade less harmful land.
Local Changes made through the earlier consultation process:
· Land west of Dickens Heath Village – was site 4 now BL1, is the most contentious area covering the sports grounds off Tythe Barn Lane and land across to the canal, reduced from 700 to 350 homes.
· Edge of Parish – site 13 south of Shirley for 600 homes has been withdrawn and replaced by a proposed planted woodland public amenity area on three fields owned by SMBC. This is important as the proposed access was onto the B3102 junction at Millar & Carter’s traffic island. The lost housing has been replaced by new site 26 now BL2 for 300 homes at Whitlocks End Farm (Xmas Tree Farm) as part replacing site 13 with access now onto Bills Lane.
Previous Main Objections to 2019 Consultation included:
· Site 4 now BL1 – retention of existing woodlands and hedgerows and the permanent provision of replacement sports ground facilities within the site 4 area for Highgate United FC, Leafield FC and Old Yardlians Rugby Football Club.
· Site 26 now BL3 – no objections but recommended reduction from 300 homes to 250.
Other observations:
· Parking Improvements in Dickens Heath Village Centre – there is a reference to a provision of appropriate off-street parking to be considered in Dickens Heath which will be followed up in the response.
· This consultation relates to the selected housing site locations – further detailed information on the infrastructure provision including studies covering traffic etc. will be published shortly. Details on related aspects on school places have been addressed and the NHS provision for healthcare is still ongoing with the Birmingham & Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group.
Dickens Heath Library will be open every Thursday from 10am to 1pm starting from Thursday 22 October for a ‘Grab and Go’ service. This means that customers can browse stock for up to 30 minutes but as there is limited space for social distancing there aren’t any areas for reading. Customers can also use the PCs for up to 45 minutes but booking in advance is advisable by calling on 0121 744 6078.
We can no longer meet anywhere indoors to socialise with people who are not members of our own household/support bubble. We can no longer meet people in pubs, restaurants or other social settings as well as not meeting in homes. It is lawful to look after children to enable parents to work and to perform unpaid essential tasks for a vulnerable person.
However, we can meet people from other households outside as long as we maintain a 2-metre distance and follow the rule of 6. We can therefore meet friends in our gardens as well as parks and indeed in pub/restaurant gardens. That is because the virus dissipates quickly outside. If we strictly follow these rules, we will prevent deaths and not have to shut down local business as is happening elsewhere.
Some answers to common questions:
If your child is sent home from school because another child has suspected Covid – you do not need to self-isolate. Your other children can continue at school unless told not to.
You can travel outside the Borough but you must follow the same rules as if you were in the Borough i.e. no socialising indoors, either in homes or pubs/restaurants etc.
You can have a tradesperson or cleaner come into your home to do work as long as you are symptom free. Keep well away from them, open windows to clear the air and if practical leave the room they have been in empty for several hours. The visitor should wear a mask and have cleaned their hands before entry.
The PC are working on a new accessible website, and we really need some new good quality photos of the village for the home page. If you would like to see your photo on our website – please forward them to dickensheathpc@hotmail.com
Solihull Council is launching a special initiative called ‘Solihull says thank you’, in place of The Civic Honours Awards which are postponed until 2021.
‘Solihull says thank you’ has been set up to acknowledge the support that people and communities have given each other over the last six months.
This is an opportunity for Solihull residents to say thank you to an individual (of any age) or organisation who has done something kind or helpful during this difficult time. Examples of actions that people may want to recognise are a neighbour who has done their shopping, someone who has been a supportive friend or someone who has been brave during the crisis.
The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Stuart Davis, said: “Due to the current circumstances we have decided to push back the Civic Honours awards, and instead do something to recognise the actions of those unsung heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have witnessed much kindness and generosity these last months, and the sense of community generated by it is moving. I would like to say thank you to all of those who have gone out of their way to help someone in need.
“I’m delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Solihull says thank you’ initiative and I would encourage you to submit your nominations to show your thanks.”
Nominations are now open and will close on Sunday 6 September. Everyone nominated will receive a special thank you card from the Mayor.
There will also be an opportunity for the nominees to submit a photo which will be part of a ‘Solihull says thank you’ display in Touchwood and Chelmsley Wood Town Centre.
Solihull Council has announced plans for an online booking system for trips to Bickenhill Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) which will go live next month.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said: “We recognise that social distancing will be with us for a long time to come and that implementing this at our tip has contributed to quite lengthy queues for some time now.
“While we would still encourage residents to explore all other options – such as donations of useable items to charity shops or booking a hassle free bulky waste collection – we are working towards an online booking system for Solihull residents which should help considerably.
“We will have the new system in place in September and will give residents more information about how to book online once we have completed the necessary testing.”
Thank you to Parish Councillors Alan Scholes, Doreen Wright and Maureen Holloway for planting up the flower boxes on the island at Waterside. And thank you to the Waterside residents who have offered to water them.
Solihull residents and local groups are invited to apply for free trees as part of a scheme to promote the planting of traditional native trees in the borough.
The Arden Free Tree scheme is run by Solihull Council in partnership with Birmingham Airport and is open to individuals or groups who would like to create hedgerows or small woodlands on their own land within Solihull. The deadline for applications is the end of August and successful applicants will receive their free trees in time for the planting season (December – February).
Liz, who lives in Knowle, first applied for the scheme in 2017 and again in 2019. She has received around 250 trees in total, creating hedgerows and a small copse. She said: “When I heard about the scheme I knew it was a great opportunity I couldn’t pass up on. The first thing I recognised were the potential benefits it has for the local ecosystem in the area.
“The application process was really straightforward and I was told in the autumn that I’d been successful. It wasn’t long before all the trees, planting stakes and tree guards were delivered. Adam from the Ecology team at the Council came to assess the site beforehand and offer advice on planting. We now have the makings of a beautiful hedgerow, including my favourite species the alder blackthorn which attracted lots of wildlife since it was planted. “
The aim of the popular scheme is to protect and enhance the rural character of Solihull, restoring features typical of the wider local landscape while also reducing carbon in the atmosphere. Last year 4528 native trees across 15 projects were planted through the scheme.
Landowners in the borough who wish to plant new hedgerows and trees can apply by sending in a location map, sketched plan and list of species. A Solihull Council ecologist will then visit the site to discuss the plan in person. The scheme can cater for small scale planting right the way up to 1,000 trees.
For further details and to discuss the scheme please contact the Landscape Architecture, Ecology and Urban Design Team landscape@solihull.gov.uk or visit www.solihull.gov.uk
