Locals continue to press for changes at Chelmund's Cross

RESIDENTS fighting for changes to parking facilities at Chelmund’s Cross have warned Solihull Council they will not let the matter go.
Heather Turner-Croft, who has played a key part in the campaign to make changes at the village centre, recently expressed frustration that more hadn’t been done to deal with local people’s concerns.
At the council’s most recent transport and highways meeting she argued that too little progress had been made to improve the situation, despite a meeting between herself and an officer from the local authority back in April.
While double yellow lines were painted in to make the current parking restrictions more obvious, the options for creating more disabled bays or relaxing the rules are still being investigated. Any further changes are likely to take effect in the autumn.
“We have been ignored [and] walked all over,” said Ms Turner-Croft. “Be rest assured we will not let this go and will take it further should we need to.
“We need you, council, to hear us and [for] action to be taken, not monitoring.”
Coun Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) said that it had taken “far too long to get to where we are now”, but acknowledged that the council did intend to make changes.
It’s understood that plans are being drawn up to move the disabled parking closer to the chemists, as well as reviewing how long vehicles can remain in bays.
However, the suggestion green space near to the two high-rise flats could be converted into new spaces has been taken off the table, because the council does not believe this will make any real difference.
Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, said that he could not promise the issues would be dealt with “overnight”, but insisted his department was continuing to explore various avenues.
“We will continue to work ... to resolve what is a very difficult situation.”
Concerns about a lack of available parking flared up soon after the completion of the village centre development.
Solihull Council has maintained that it does not want the site to be dominated by cars, but residents fear that the lack of space is leading to many visitors being slapped with tickets.