Solihull Youth Council
Highways England M42/M40 Works
We have received notification from Highways England that they will be carrying out overnight survey works on the junction M42/M40 which will ultimately be a ‘Smart Motorway’ system. Below are basic details:What are we doing?We’ll be carrying out a number of different surveys including; checking drainage systems, existing buried services locations, drilling carriageway core samples and doing ecology inspections on both carriageways. We’ll also need to carry out vegetation clearance in some isolated areas to help us access safely while we carry out the surveys. We’ll work overnight when we know the road will be at its quietest, between 9 November 2020 and April 2021.https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/…Contact us For information about the surveys, please contact our customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000 or email: info@highwaysengland.co.uk.If you would like more information about the scheme including planned closure details, please visit our webpage:http://www.highwaysengland.co.uk/…/m40-m42-interchange…/
Solihull Local Plan Review Consultation now open – the Parish Council would like to hear Residents’ Views
Solihull’s Local Plan will guide development in the borough for the next decade, and beyond. It is the basis for future planning decisions as it creates a ‘blueprint’ for when and where major developments can take place, and where they shouldn’t take place.
Residents and businesses are being asked to make final representations about Solihull’s Draft Submission Plan during a formal six-week period, beginning on Friday 30 October, before it is submitted for independent examination.
The grounds for making a representation relate to the soundness and legal compliance of the Solihull Local Plan Draft Submission.
Interested parties should make their representations via the Local Plan Review page of the SMBC website. For this stage there is a formal way of sending in a representation, which is explained in a short video available on the same page, alongside guidance notes.
The representations received as part of this consultation will be included in the final Plan submitted for the ‘Examination in Public’ (EiP), which is the final scrutiny before a plan can be adopted. The EiP will be overseen by a nominated Inspector appointed on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Once the examination concludes, the Inspector will issue a report which will summarise the findings of their examination. If the Plan is found to be sound and legally compliant, the Council will then be allowed to adopt the Plan, or the Inspector may suggest that the Plan is modified.
The representation period will close on Monday 14 December.
A representative of SMBC stated that:
“The Plan has been five years in the making. We have had three consultations, listened to people, engaged with local communities and businesses and received over 3,000 representations, and because of that we have amended it. It is now vital that we move forward to get a Plan in place that will allow us to have control of deciding how development takes place in the future. If we don’t, we leave ourselves at risk of planning by appeal, where developers go over our heads to government or planning inspectors. We need to control our destiny.”
The six-week representation period opens on Friday 30 October 2020
The Solihull Local Plan – Draft Submission Plan and relevant guidance can be viewed at www.solihull.gov.uk/lpr from Friday 30 October.
Please forward your views to the Parish Council on dickensheathpc@hotmail.com, or via the Library letterbox.
Cancellation Of Solihull Round Table Annual Firework Display and Details of Solihull Council’s Quieter Fireworks Campaign
Solihull Round Table Annual Firework Display is cancelledSolihull Round Table is saddened to announce that this year’s Firework Display and Bonfire at Tudor Grange Park in 2020 will not be going ahead.Daniel Gibbin, the event organiser for 2020 said: “Despite detailed planning and constant communication with Solihull Council we have made the decision that this year’s event cannot go ahead because of Covid-19 and current guidelines. We know that tens of thousands of people every year enjoy the biggest display in the Borough at Tudor Grange Park and indeed as a small, local charity it is one of largest income streams but it cannot go ahead as planned this year.“Residents can still support us and purchase some of the Fireworks we use by visiting www.fireworkssolihull.co.uk using the discount code “RT10” at checkout. You will receive free delivery in Solihull postcodes B91/B92/B93 and B94 and for every purchase you make 10% will go to the Solihull Round Table to distribute to those who need it most. Pet friendly quieter fireworks are in the 8M and 15M packs. Other postcodes have a substantially reduced delivery charge of £15.“In conjunction with Solihull Council, we recognise the very real threat such a large event could pose to public health. We thank them for all of their support in the past and looking to the future, we will be back in 2021 showcasing the biggest event we have put on to raise thousands of pounds for local charities!”For more information about Solihull Council’s Quieter Fireworks campaign, please see – https://www.solihull.gov.uk/…/This-Bonfire-Night…
Remembrance Sunday
Unfortunately, due to social distancing guidelines, it will not be possible to hold the usual Remembrance Sunday Service in Dickens Heath. The Parish Council will be marking the event by observing the silence and laying wreaths.
It would be great to see residents putting poppies in their windows – either a poster or one to colour in. They can be downloaded from the Royal British Legion who would be grateful for any donations (but they can be downloaded without a donation).
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
Halloween
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 🙂
Further Building Plans for Dickens Heath Parish – Please Give Us Your Views
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.
Reopening of Dickens Heath Library
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.
Covid-19 Summary of Changes for Solihull as of Wednesday October 14th 2020
There are two important changes.
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.
221 Dickens Heath Rd
