Stay of execution for North Solihull green spaces

PLANS to dispose of precious green spaces have been put on hold, amid concerns that residents could lose land they have enjoyed for generations.
Councillors last week agreed to defer a decision on the three plots: Auckland Drive and Anglesey Avenue, in Smith's Wood, and Clopton Crescent, in neighbouring Chelmsley.
There had been a raft of complaints about the proposals, which could pave the way for houses being built on the public open spaces.
In the face of fierce opposition and a number of unanswered questions, cabinet members agreed last Thursday that they didn't have enough details to proceed.
Graham Craig, a local resident and former councillor himself, had urged the council to reconsider the plans for Auckland Drive (pictured above) and Anglesey Avenue.
He pointed out that those in nearby flats didn't have gardens and that it would be "an outrage" to replace trees with yet more concrete.
"Smith's Wood is the most densely populated ward in the whole of the borough," he said.
"When Smith's Wood was built, many, many years ago, these two plots of land which I'm talking about now were deliberately left...
"Auckland Drive was left for recreational purposes and secondly the land at the bottom of Anglesey Avenue was left as a green oasis basically.
"The land is held very seriously by the residents as much-needed."
Days before the crucial meeting, a petition signed by more than 200 Smith's Wood residents had been submitted to Full Council - stating that one wooded area at risk was believed to be a remnant of the ancient Forest of Arden.
Councillor James Burn, leader of Solihull's Green group, said: "This is building on green space that has long been green space, this wasn't previously a school...
"And they are small sites, at least two of these sites you can't really retain much [if you build there] because actually they're very small to start."
He had slated two consultation exercises, which he suggested had damaged public trust.
A key criticism was that councillors had been advised over the summer that there was little opposition to the plans, which Coun Burn said had been directly contradicted by responses he had since obtained.
Concerns were also raised that a email address for residents to send comments hadn't been working and that the Clopton Crescent site had been wrongly described as being in Smith's Wood.
During a debate, members agreed to defer the decision, with further work to be carried out on looking at alternative options and minimising the impact on the community.
Coun Joe Tildesley, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and sport, said: "Something like this comes in front of us and you read all the objections - and I see the Mayor had put an objection in - and a number of other notable people who some of us know well. And for me it is a worry."
Solihull Council's deputy leader, Coun Ian Courts, who chaired last week's decision session, said there was an urgent need for more homes but agreed the matter should be deferred "for further consideration".
"I'm not going to get into a discussion on consultation, that's for others to check and advise ... we have to do it properly, and we will do it properly.
"I think more work [needs] to be done on this."