Serving the Local Community
We have received reports of a car fire at the recreation ground today. Someone test driving the car saw smoke and pulled off the road into the car park. Once the driver had left the vehicle, the car burst into flames. The fire crew attended and put out the fire and the car company have been notified and will remove the vehicle when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, please take care and keep away from the car.
Thank you
Local residents and businesses will be asked to comment on the Draft Local Plan after Solihull’s Cabinet approved an eight week consultation, from 5 December 2016 to 30 January 2017.
In July 2015 the Council decided that instead of pursuing a Local Area Plan (LAP) for potential development around the HS2 Interchange, it should review the Solihull Local Plan (SLP) which had previously been adopted in December 2013.
The other reasons for the review of the plan include the legal challenge to the housing requirement in the previous SLP and the apparent housing shortfall in the wider housing market area.
The outline programme for the review is below:
Councillor Ian Courts, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Managed Growth, welcomed the new Draft Local Plan:
“The proposed consultation is not a statutory requirement. However, we want local people and businesses to get involved in preparing a robust Draft Local Plan. We can then produce a Submission Draft before finally entering into the official consultation that comes before the Examination in Public. This is why the proposals at this stage are not fixed and why we are so keen for people’s views.
“I know it is vital for the future development of Solihull that the borough has a plan in place that can support the creation of homes and jobs in a planned and sustainable manner, while retaining the essential ‘Urbs in Rure’ character of the area.
“The final plan will have to juggle many competing forces, but to be effective, it really should have the involvement of residents, businesses, developers and the many other stakeholders that are affected. The question I would pose to everyone as they read through the plan and look at various sites is, ‘if not here, then where?’
“Cabinet has approved an eight week consultation period, to run from 5 December 2016 to 30 January 2017. It’s important for local people to take the time to read the Draft Local Plan and see how it will affect themselves, their local area and the borough as a whole.”
The consultation will open at 9am on 5 December 2016. An engagement plan is currently being finalised to offer opportunities for people to discuss the plan in person with Council officers working on the review.
To ensure a consistent approach to capturing comments, so that all views can be given due consideration, those commenting will be encouraged to use an online portal to register their views.
This will allow a more robust link between comments and particular policies or proposals within the plan and make sure respondents can see their comments were considered.
View the Cabinet papers: http://eservices.solihull.gov.uk/mgInternet/documents/s42166/Local%20Plan%20Review%20-%20Draft%20Local%20Plan.pdf
The previous Solihull Local Plan, adopted in 2013, can be viewed here
On Wednesday 9 November, volunteers came out in Hockley Heath to clean up and promote the local area as part of the Love Solihull campaign organised by Solihull Council and Hockley Heath Parish Council.
The day involved litter picking around the village, trimming back overgrown vegetation surrounding the war memorial and bus stops, bulb planting, cleaning signage and planting up new low level planters in an attempt to stop parking on pavements.
Love Solihull is an initiative that works alongside local residents to improve areas of the borough and to make greener, cleaner and more sustainable environments.
While many Hockley Heath residents do regularly carry out environmental work in their local neighbourhood, it is the first time they were joined and supported by Love Solihull.
Bulb planting was undertaken by pupils from Hockley Heath Primary Academy. Local businesses also mucked in to show their support, with the Wharf Tavern and Miller & Carter providing refreshments and somewhere to go to warm up. Employees from Tesco Extra in Solihull also came along to lend a helping hand.
Councillor Ken Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment Housing and Regeneration said: “The day was a positive success and it’s fantastic to be able to partner up with the Parish Council to enable local, good-hearted volunteers to do great work in the area.
“Not only is it good for the environment but the work done also has other benefits including increasing visibility of signage for visitors, reducing anti-social parking on pavements and engaging with young people.”
Councillor Assunta Maria Vernon of Hockley Heath Parish Council said: “On behalf of the Hockley Heath Parish Council I would like to thank the many volunteers and the Tesco Community Campaign team who turned out on such a miserable day.
“To Miller and Carter and the Wharf who provided much needed sustenance and hot drinks and lastly to the young members of our community from Hockley Heath Academy who planted bulbs in the recreation ground. Their work will be visible in the spring for us all to enjoy. I would describe the day as a great success; our first joint venture with the Love Solihull initiative.”
If residents would like to organise or get involved with any Love Solihull clear up events call 0121 704 6673 or email lovesolihull@solihull.gov.uk. For more information about Love Solihull visit www.solihull.gov.uk/lovesolihull.
You may have seen in the recent newsletter, that a Neighbourhood Plan meeting is to be held at 7pm on Thursday 24th November 2016 in the Pavilion, Hockley Heath Recreation Ground. If you have experience or expertise in this field, please come along and see how you can be involved in the future of your community. For more information go to the Neighbourhood Plan tab at the top of the page.
M42 – Junction 3a Link to M40 to M42, West Midlands. Off Network Works
The Northbound carriageway will be closed overnight for one night from 9pm 10th November until 6am the following morning (11th November). A diversion route will be clearly signposted
Many thanks to James and the team at Miller and Carter for offering to serve complimentary tea and coffee between 11am and 2pm for those volunteering in the community clean up day. For all those wanting to volunteer even just half an hour of their time, please come along to the Pavilion in the Recreation Ground at 10am or email the Clerk: hhpc2009@hotmail.com to say what time you can come and what you would be happy to help with.
See you there!
The Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire (CSW) Broadband team is looking to extend superfast broadband coverage even further across the area during the Contract 3 phase of the Project.
To achieve this, Warwickshire County Council (as lead authority for the Project) intends to procure further coverage of NGA broadband infrastructure (capable of delivering download speeds of at least 30 Mbps) to areas in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire where such broadband is currently unavailable, by the end of 2017.
We have already asked suppliers where they plan to roll out their superfast broadband networks over the next 3 years and we have now opened the public consultation, which gives suppliers and residents an opportunity to comment on the areas that, it is claimed, will be covered during this time.
For more information and for your chance to have your say simply visit our public consultation webpage.
The consultation runs from 31st October to 30th November 2016.
NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTIVITY PROGRAMME – 9th NOVEMBER, 10am – 3pm
We are delighted to confirm that the school have joined in this activity and a group of children will be going to the park to plant bulbs.
There will be a litter pick on the day and hope parents will us join in this activity. In fact I am relying on the children to come up with a catch phrase that will identify Hockley Heath as aiming to be a litter free village
There will be a book voucher for the winning phrase
‘Come on children thinking hats on’
We will use this to create a litter picking initiative where residents can adopt a Road, Avenue, Grove or Street, in fact anywhere that litter collates
PLEASE BRING YOUR SUGGESTED CATCH PHRASE INTO SCHOOL – do not attend Hockley Heath Academy? No problem send your idea to hhpc2009@hotmail.com
Please give your name address and school you attend
GOOD LUCK
Thank you on behalf of Hockley Heath Parish Council and SMBC
On Tuesday 18 October the borough’s unsung heroes were recognised at the annual Solihull Civic Honours awards ceremony.
The event, which is in its sixth year, took place in the Council Chamber of Solihull Council’s Civic Suite. The winners were invited to receive their awards from the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Mike Robinson, and to meet representatives from local businesses and organisations. The ceremony also featured a performance by students from Stagecoach, Solihull.
Over recent months Solihull residents were invited to nominate people who have helped to make the community a better place. The judging panel of councillors, officers, representation from community groups and the main sponsor were then left with the tough task of reviewing the long list of nominees and selecting this year’s winners.
The Mayor said: “It was a lovely evening and one of the highlights of my mayoral year. I was delighted to have been able to meet these marvellous people and to thank to them for their dedication, hard work and enthusiasm in helping to make Solihull such a wonderful place to live. I am truly honoured to represent Solihull knowing we have so many inspiring citizens who willingly contribute to make this such a strong and caring community.”
This year’s winners are:
THE MAYOR’S AWARD (sponsored by Touchwood): Tracie Pal
Tracie has devoted nearly 40 years to improving her village in Hockley Heath. From the age of 10 she has arranged and run numerous fundraising events for charities, local groups and local churches. She also ran the Hockley Heath Fete for five years donating funds to the Parish Council to turn an over grown wooded area into an open play area for young children to ride their bikes and explore nature. Funds were also raised to install a defibrillator in Hockley Heath making it accessible to the whole village. Tracie then arranged training sessions on the defibrillator for people in the village, which now has over 30 people trained in resuscitation. Her latest community involvement was to set up a Village Watch Group developing links with the local police and encouraging and helping other areas to do the same.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Sponsored by Xoserve): Olton Station Gardening Team
Set up by two commuters who dreamt of creating station gardens like the old days, this group has been working voluntarily for over 26 years. There are now 14 volunteers who all tend the floral displays at Olton Station funding most of the materials – plants, bulbs, compost, decorations etc. – from their own pockets. They work all year round – planting summer hanging baskets, tending spring planters with colourful bulbs and putting up Christmas decorations in the waiting room. The volunteers also pick up litter and keep an eye on vandalism.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Sponsored by Birmingham Airport): Syd Ashby
Syd has worked tirelessly for many years as Chairman of the Solihull Pensioners Conference, a group which aims to help improve the quality of life for people during their retirement. He has been a great role model and community champion, regularly keeping pensioners informed of matters in their interests. Syd organises monthly meetings at Solihull Methodist Church Hall, arranges visits from guest speakers and organises various social activities for members.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Sponsored by The St Johns Hotel): Felix Kupay
Felix has supported hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers of all ages in Solihull. A review he carried out found that they were struggling with essential things like housing, employment, registering with doctors and registering children in local schools. With great commitment and determination he decided to form Entraide in 2010, Solihull`s first and only refugee support charity. Facing many obstacles and with limited funding to get Entraide off the ground, Felix worked tirelessly part-time with no salary for around two years. The organisation is now self-sufficient and employs two full-time members of staff.
CREATIVE ARTS (Sponsored by Genting Arena): Greg Whitton
Greg is a local photographer whose work has seen him win the ‘Light on the Land’ category of Outdoor Photographer of the Year, a competition which attracts more than 10,000 images from professional and amateur photographers across the globe. His winning photograph was taken on a trip to Iceland when a fleeting moment of stunning lights illuminated the Icelandic peaks. Greg also went on to be crowned Overall Winner at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show in 2015. This year he won the ‘Live the Adventure’ category of the same competition. He offers a number of workshops and photo walks in the UK throughout the year and has released his first quality photo book entitled Mountainscape.
SPORT (Sponsored by Business Over Breakfast Club): Peter Jones
Peter is the founder member of Solihull Canoe Club which he started 28 years ago. The club has since grown to a current membership of more than 100 paddlers. Peter spends two nights a week during the summer, every Saturday and several Sundays a year training, organising or helping to run kayak events across the country. He trains people from the age of 8 upwards with the eldest being in their late 50s and another representing GB at World Championship level.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (Sponsored by NEC Group): Sylvia Blaine
Sylvia has volunteered at Blossomfield Infant School four days a week for over 15 years. She listens to the children read, giving them time and space and building their confidence as early readers. Sylvia knows each child by name and they look forward to the time they share with her. She frequently goes above and beyond, and her commitment and devotion to the school community has enabled pupils to achieve a lifelong love of reading.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (Sponsored by the Worldwide Magazine Distribution Ltd): Sarah Marks
Sarah has devoted the last 20 years voluntarily as the Girls Brigade Captain at 2nd Solihull Girls Brigade at Lyndon Methodist Church. Her role involves leading a 40 strong membership group of girls aged from 4-18 years. She manages the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme and produces seasonal projects and materials for occasions such as Christmas Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Sarah is also involved in organising camping weekends, entertainment outings and countryside visits for all different age groupings of her troop.
INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG PERSON (Sponsored by DM & Co.): Tom Lusty
Tom was awarded the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineering (CIBSE) Education Award not only because of his academic achievements but also in recognition for his volunteering. He has been exceptional in his support for Solihull College and in sharing his enthusiasm for engineering and apprenticeships with young students across the West Midlands. He is now studying towards his degree at Coventry University and in his spare time fulfilling his other passion of canoeing. He has represented Great Britain in the International Canoe Federation Spring World Cup and competes regularly with his sights set on Tokyo 2020.
Solihull Council is working with local organisations in a bid to lower anti-social behaviour and illegal sales of fireworks in the borough over the coming month.
The campaign, starting on Monday 17 October, will see the Council’s Trading Standards team co-operating with West Midlands Police and Fire Service officers to target illegal firework sales.
Test purchases will be carried out at local outlets while neighbourhood teams will make regular visits to retailers to remind them of current legislation.
The Council will be aiming to raise awareness of the danger of fireworks, the sale of illegal fireworks and unauthorised bonfires. It will also be encouraging residents to assist local authorities in tackling crime over the course of the campaign.
Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be communicating with local shops, asking them to limit the amount of eggs, flour and toilet roll sold to young people in a bid to combat anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Dicicco, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Partnerships, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour over this period is really important. If we can limit this behaviour within the borough we can ensure that residents have a safe, exciting and enjoyable Halloween and Bonfire experience.
“Cracking down on the illegal sales of fireworks will improve levels of anti – social behaviour while keeping our events safe from poor and potentially dangerous products.”
Complaints about firework misuse in public places should be reported to the police on 0845 113 5000.