Council planners accused of "ineptitude" over Marston Green scheme

A WOMAN whose home is a stone’s throw from Birmingham Business Park has criticised the decision to approve plans for two “gigantic” warehouses on a tract of green space.
Glenis Heappey, who has lived in Blackfirs Lane for the past 20 years, condemned Solihull Council’s handling of the controversial application.
Addressing a recent Full Council meeting, Ms Heappey noted that a decision had been deferred twice since outline planning permission was granted in October 2016.
Although concerns had been expressed by members at previous meetings of the planning committee, the application was ultimately rubber-stamped in October.
This was in spite of the fact that an investigation into the planning process, ordered in light of earlier criticism, was not available when councillors voted. Other Side of Solihull has since learned that frustrated residents are yet to learn the outcome of this probe - some eight weeks later.
Ms Heappey accused the planning department of “ineptitude” and said that residents felt “badly let down”, arguing there were many more appropriate sites for the development.
“[This has] condemned the residents of Blackfirs Lane to living as part of a massive industrial estate for years to come,” she said.
“We are seriously disappointed with the council’s planning department.
“We have never been against having suitable buildings erected on this site to create jobs for the area – far from it – but we are against huge structures opposite our home, which will dominate the landscape and create noise and toxic fumes around the clock, every day of the year.”
At the decision-making session a few days earlier, another resident, Alec Inshaw, said the consideration of the development had been “flawed from start to finish”.
And Richard Cobb, speaking on behalf of Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council, said that despite some improvements to the proposals, the principal concerns remained.
Councillor Jim Ryan (Con, Bickenhill) had questioned whether it was “right and proper” to take a decision before the investigation into alleged failings in the planning department was completed.
However, the planning committee’s chairman, Coun David Bell, had argued the application and the investigation were separate matters. This view was shared bythe council’s solicitor Sherrie Grant.
The plans were ultimately approved by a majority of the committee (with seven out of nine members  in favour).