The Lickey Hills Society

Our Proposals For The East Works Site

Members will be aware that the owners of much of the site have begun a consultative exercise aimed at finding out what the community would like to see on the East Works site (the site that lies beside and behind the Focus DIY store and runs along the rail way down to Cofton Church Lane) and the land the other side of the railway tracks. Having been to the consultation meetings and considered the documents available, we have written to all of the proposing bodies and planning departments outlining points we believe ought to be seriously considered by all concerned.

The points we have made are as follows.

1. Green Belt Land. Along with the Worcester Campaign to Protect Rural England, we believe that the 128 acres of the site in Green Belt farmland, which was at one time designated for potential use for car manufacturing, should, now that large-scale car production has ended, remain as farmland. Furthermore, other ‘green spaces’ – woodland, lakes, allotments and Cofton Park etc should be retained and upgraded if necessary. It is also worth making the point that the land taken from the Green Belt in the recent past and used for industrial development, e.g. the Cofton Centre should be restored.

2. Reinstatement of footpaths and the course of the River Arrow. Redevelopment of the site would provide an ideal opportunity to restore the footpath leading from Cofton Church Lane to Cofton Park currently blocked by the East Works. Also the River Arrow, which was diverted from its natural course years ago and now runs in brick culverts, should be restored to a natural state to enhance its amenity and wildlife value.

3. Housing development of the East Works Site We would like to know the number, density and type of housing proposed. We believe that there is a need for mixed housing on the site, including the provision of bungalows and small houses for the elderly and for single people.

   Also what are the plsans for the road structure in this area given that the housing development of the site could increase the population of the area by as many as 3,000 people with an inevitable increase in traffic? We foresee problems of access onto Groveley Lane which is likely to provide the main access to the site. The Society would like to see mini/small traffic islands at the entry points to the East Works site which would help to maintain the character of the area, minimise the possible loss of land in Cofton Park and help to slow down traffic on an already busy road.

4. Possible links between the East Works site and Cofton Church Lane The Society would oppose such a link as it could result in development within the Green Belt. Such development would impact on listed buildings in that area – namely St Michael’s Church and Cofton Hall. The Society believes that it is essential to conserve the historic and cultural heritage of the area. The link would raise concerns about access onto Kendal End Road – B4120, which already carries a large volume of traffic. The existing entry point is on a series of bends where visibility is poor and where the B4120 is on a steep slope. An increase in the volume of traffic using this road junction would increase the likelihood of accidents.

5. Services at the ‘village centre’. The development provides an opportunity to create a village centre at the Groveley Lane / Parsonage Drive junction. We believe a centre, possibly utilising the site currently occupied by Focus DIY which could be re-located elsewhere on the ‘Longbridge Site’, ought to provide facilities such as shops, health centre / clinic, library and a community hall.

6. Will a new school be needed in the area to cater for the extra children living on the developed site? Is there space in Worcestershire Schools as there is in some the Birmingham Schools? As the new development will be in Worcestershire, cross-boundary movement of children into Birmingham schools may not be possible nor might it be desirable as schools act as a focus for the community and it is a community that is being built not just a housing estate. Will bus links be provided to the schools to minimise traffic involved in the ‘school run’? Ideally pupils should walk to school.

7. Public Transport Provision of good public transport would help to lessen car movements and improve the quality of life. Therefore, bus links should be established to: Longbridge Station to link up with the Cross City Line to New Street Station and beyond; Birmingham via the Bristol Road A38 and Redditch Road A441; and to Bromsgrove and Redditch

8. Creating Employment Opportunities Rover's demise has made job creation a very important consideration for people living on the development and beyond. The LHS would like to see some development of light industries – e.g. on the corner of Groveley Lane and Lowhill Lane – this would avoid commercial traffic impacting on the housing area.

9. The ‘Link Road’ from the East Works site to the Redditch Road The Society is concerned about a possible ‘Link Road’ being built from the East Works site to the Redditch Road / M42. Such a road would have an awful impact on the Green Belt.

Future Society Events

Monday 16TH October – 7.30 Lickey Parish Hall, Rednal
The Re-Development Of The Rover East Works Site - Mike Murray of St Modwens

There has been a great deal of discussion about the overall Rover site and a period of consultation has begun. The Society has been successful in securing Mr Mike Murray who will give an evening talk to members of the Society. You will not want to miss the opportunity to hear and to question Mr Murray, a man who has been at the centre of the project for some time, as he works with St Modwens who are one of the joint owners of the site,. He will speak and answer our questions about the East Works site. Before you come be sure to read our submission to the consultation bodies, which is detailed below.
Lickey Parish Hall, Lickey, is at the top of Rose Hill on the Old Birmingham Road [B4096].

A Profile of Committee Member Diane Smith

I was born in Northfield and moved to Kings Norton when I got married. When I started my Family History I was told that my great Aunt lived by the amusement arcades in Rednal, I have since found out that they lived at Lickey Rock and then moved to Rednal village in the early 1900, my other ancestors were nail makers in Catshill, so we have never moved far from the district, I have managed to trace one side of the family back to 1793. I take a great interest in local history and would be interested in any photos or info relating to Rednal Hill Lane. I was persuaded to join the committee by the late John Ashman after complaining about the state of the pools and that something should be done about them (still working on that one). I spend a great deal of time walking the hills and golf course with my dogs but find it upsetting that people abuse this wonderful area that we live in.

Recent Events

Our thanks: to Trevor Workman and Peter Jordan, members of the Bournville Carillon Society, who in June welcomed Lickey Hills Society members on a visit to the impressive carillon. We had a very enjoyable and informative evening comprising a talk on the history and the workings of the carillon as well as a musical demonstration by Trevor, the carillonneur. We left full of admiration for George Cadbury who had the carillon erected on the top of the Bournville Junior School, which is celebrating its centenary this year. We were impressed by the dedication of Peter and Trevor who are seeking to set up a school of carillonering in this country to ensure that the skill does not die out.