Latest news with #MySolihull
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Urgent' legal advice sought by planners after green belt challenge
A legal challenge caused mass disruption at a crucial Solihull Council planning meeting as major decisions had to be put on hold. The authority is now seeking 'urgent' legal advice to clarify how applications on green belt land should be determined going forward. Applicants and objectors expecting to speak on their items got up and left the latest meeting of the authority's planning committee on Wednesday night, (April 2). READ MORE : Plan to turn 'eyesore' derelict pub into £9 million care home moves step closer For more stories from across Solihull including BHX, breaking news, politics and what's on, sign up to our MySolihull newsletter Within minutes of it starting Councillor Bob Grinsell, chairman of the committee, read out a statement which said: 'The council are in receipt of a letter from Shoosmiths solicitors dated today (April 2) on behalf of their clients who raise a number of legal concerns in relation to two specific applications. 'One of these relates to a decision taken by this committee on Stripes Hill. 'The other relates to the application on this evening's agenda for the site at Warwick Road, Knowle. 'The concerns raised draw particular attention to the way in which the council has undertaken the assessments of the site against the grey belt test within the new national framework and supporting practice guidance. 'Due to the nature and contents of this correspondence, and the potential risk of legal challenge, the decision has been taken to defer the item pending independent King's Counsel advice to review the approach taken by council. 'Furthermore, due to the consistency of the method used by officers to assess other applications namely at Pheasant Oak Farm and Lugtrout Lane, the decision has also been taken to defer both these applications.' The chairman apologised for the 'lateness' of the decision to those who attended but stressed it was 'understandable' given the context. A further statement from Councillor Andy Macvieticz, the cabinet portfolio holder for climate change and planning, was also read out saying the authority is currently developing a new local plan - a blueprint which once adopted becomes the main consideration in deciding planning applications - which will be "in line" with new national guidelines. 'The concept of the grey belt [lower quality green belt land which means the site would be able to be used for housing] has been introduced by the recent changes to the NPPF by the government," he said. 'At this stage any planning application determination should be in line with current green belt boundaries. 'The council will clarify the position in the coming months.' As the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported, a huge new retirement village providing 170 care units in Stripes Hill, Knowle, was given the green light in February. Officers had judged that land to be 'grey belt' - lower quality green belt land which means the site would be able to be used for housing. At their latest meeting committee members had been due to make a decision on 450 houses in the 'Arden Triangle' - green belt land surrounded by Warwick Road, Station Road and Grove Road. Solihull Council's officers had recommended approval saying the benefits of that scheme 'clearly outweigh the totality of the harm' (to the green belt) adding 'very special circumstances do exist'. Councillors were also due to consider 250 homes at Pheasant Oak Farm in Balsall Common and 50 homes in Lugtrout Lane, Catherine-de-Barnes. Both of those are on green belt land officers had judged to be the new 'grey belt' - a concept introduced by the Labour government to help tackle the housing shortage. It is unclear if the applications will now be considered at the next meeting of the committee which is scheduled to take place on April 30.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
25,000 illegal cigarettes found at 'shop of concern' in 'biggest-ever' seizure
Police have seized the "biggest" illegal haul of its kind from one shop in the West Midlands. Thousands of pounds-worth of illegal vapes, cigarettes and tobacco were impounded from a shop in Castle Bromwich, in what West Midlands Police described as "the biggest haul of its kind". Officers from the Smith's Wood and Castle Bromwich neighbourhood team joined Solihull Trading Standards to raid the shop on March 7. It was the "biggest single seizure of its type" in Solihull. READ MORE : Mum reveals son's school anguish as she details 'one of most horrendous experiences of my life' For more stories from across Solihull including BHX, breaking news, politics and what's on, sign up to our MySolihull newsletter West Midlands Police said officers found more than 25,000 illegal cigarettes and 1,200 vapes as well as 80 bags of tobacco. It said the shop had been an "ongoing matter of concern in the area." The vapes were recovered so for further examination by police. The force said the visit was part of ongoing work against illegal and counterfeit vapes and tobacco, which can contain dangerous quantities of harmful substances. Insp Andy Bridgewater said: "We are delighted with these results; we know this is an ongoing matter of concern in the area, so we hope this reassures people in the north of the borough of how seriously we and our colleagues from the local authority take it. "Operations like this require information from the public telling us of any suspicious activity they might have seen or heard about." Coun Wazma Qais, cabinet member for communities at Solihull Council, said: "The visit to this shop in Castle Bromwich has resulted in the seizure of thousands of suspected illegal vapes, cigarettes and packs of hand rolling tobacco. "This is the biggest single seizure of its type that Solihull Trading Standards has ever been involved in, and is a great example of what can be achieved when our officers and West Midlands Police work in partnership." Anyone who has concerns about shops selling illegal or counterfeit items can report it via 101 or Live Chat. Residents who are concerned about a business selling illegal and dangerous products can contact Solihull Council's Trading Standards team by calling Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Solihull's new political map confirmed ahead of major 2026 elections
The final recommendations for how Solihull's political map will be carved up have been published. And the Local Government Boundary Commission has resolved an issue which caused friction between councillors last year. The Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) has published its final proposed electoral map for the borough which includes new wards and boundaries and would see the biggest change for two decades. READ MORE: Extension opposed by neighbours set for approval despite home 'not conforming' For more stories from across Solihull including BHX, breaking news, politics and what's on, sign up to our MySolihull newsletter Under the changes there would continue to be 17 three-councillor wards but with some having different names. The LGBC's proposed ward names would be: Arden Balsall and Berkswell Blythe Castle Bromwich Chelmsley Wood Dorridge and Hockley Heath Elmdon Kingshurst and Fordbridge Knowle Lyndon Olton Sharmans Cross Shirley South Shirley West Silhill Smith's Wood St Alphege and Monkspat Residents are to be represented by 51 councillors, the same as the current set-up. The LGBC is tasked with updating the map to ensure electoral equality for voters and 16 ward boundaries have been changed. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service one of the most contentious debates had been over where the boundary should fall between the Castle Bromwich and Smith's Wood wards. The commission originally recommended the 'Cars' estate - the area between Lanchester Way and Auckland Drive - be moved from the current Smith's Wood ward to the Castle Bromwich ward. The Conservative group on Solihull Council opposed that, arguing residents in that area saw themselves as part of Smith's Wood. The commission is now proposing including Buckingham Road in the Castle Bromwich ward, instead of the Cars Area, after hearing the feedback. In another change the Commission said: 'We propose retaining the existing boundary between Lyndon and Olton wards, following significant local responses which indicated our draft recommendations did not reflect local links.' Prof Colin Mellors, chairman of the Commission, said: 'We are very grateful to people in Solihull. 'We looked at all the views they gave us - they helped us improve our earlier proposals. 'We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.' Changes will become law once approved by Parliament and this is set to happen before next year's local elections, when all councillors will be standing.
