Dickens Heath – July Update

Keith mentioned the situation regarding Main Street and that some 400+ are leaseholders essentially at risk for its upkeep since the failure of the management company some years ago.

Keith and Ken have met with the leaseholder representatives on the management company and have suggested ways forward. This may involve the land being taken over by the Crown Estates or Solihull MBC. There are intricate legal issues to resolve but as ward Cllrs we are very sympathetic and believe there are moral issues here. We have briefed Neil Shastri-Hurst our new MP and he has already arranged to speak to the leaseholder representatives very soon. We hope to report to leaseholders very soon.

Ken spoke about the Development issues where two planning applications have been submitted.

1.PL/2024/00728/PPFL which relates to 90 new homes the Field North of Tythe Barn Lane Shirley Solihull

2. PL/2023/02656/PPOL relates to up to 450 new homes on land off Tilehouse Lane.

Even though the statutory consultation period has ended people can still make their comments known. The applications are stalled at present because the developers can not satisfy the requirement to relocate the sports facilities they wish to build on. This will be an essential issue in the process.   Dickens Heath Parish Council has kindly established an efficient way for you to make comments by creating a Response Wizard For Planning Applications BL1 North and South – Dickens Heath Parish Council (dickensheathpc.org.uk) .

Please feel free to use this.   Ken and Keith are active on the local Facebook forums and Ken has his own website: www.cllrkenhawkins.co.uk which allow far more up to date information bout the ward and the council in general to be shared with residents.  

Please feel free to contact us about ongoing issues. Blythe ward Cllrs aim to provide an update to residents at least once a month.