MORE than 1,200 people have signed a petition organised by Solihull and Meriden Liberal Democrats objecting to proposals to move the Bickenhill HWRC, otherwise known as the ‘tip’, and Moat Lane Depot to Damson Parkway.
The petition, which calls for an immediate halt to the plans, has now been lodged with Solihull council.
The proposal was first discovered when the final draft of the Local Plan was published before public consultation and submission to the government inspector, without any prior notification to Ward Councillors or consultation with residents.
Councillor Laura McCarthy (Lib Dem, Elmdon) said her investigations had revealed the proposal may have been mooted by the controlling Conservative group as early as 2016, but that a document published on the Council website also gave a date of 2019, indicating that the plans were kept from Councillors and residents for at least a year.
“The plan to move the Bickenhill tip and Moat Lane depot is ridiculous and needs to be nipped in the bud before it progresses any further,” said Coun McCarthy.
Her colleague Coun Glenis Slater (Lib Dem, Elmdon) added: “Elmdon has been through enough, the landscape has been completely changed in recent years and Damson Parkway is fast becoming a no-go area.”
Elmdon campaigner Richard Long added: “Moving the tip here would cause an already known traffic black spot to worsen and combined with the Jaguar Land Rover LOC development would cause even further tail backs and add to air pollution.
“It would also lead to increased traffic on Rowood Drive and Valley Road as people use these routes to avoid the Coventry Road Wheatsheaf junction, and would lead to a rise in fly-tipping across Elmdon.
“This will impact on every resident in Elmdon whether they live next to the site or not and must be stopped.”
Local resident Brad Tucker said: “Thank you to over 1,200 people who have signed our petition and voiced their concerns. We will keep this petition open for signatures until this proposal is scrapped.
“We also urge all residents to respond to the local plan consultation, which is open until Monday December 14.”
People can sign the petition at www.solihull-libdems.org.uk/tip and respond to the local consultation at www.solihull.gov.uk/lpr
For a video of Coun McCarthy questioning local Conservatives on the tip proposal at October 2020 Full Council visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5cQUBXthaQ&feature=youtu.be
