Action group to fight permanent gypsy site plans for Hockley heath
25 November. Updated: 29 November 11:15
A NEW action group has been formed by Hockley Heath residents to fight proposals for a permanent traveller site in the village.
The group - yet to be named at it was only formed on Sunday - has been created by angry villagers who want to veto the proposal by Solihull Council that land on School Road should be considered as one of the possible permanent gypsy sites in the borough.
Spekaing to The Observer this week a spokesperson for the action group said the proposal was ridiculous given the many factors going against it.
These include:
* No doctors surgery in the village.
* Just one small shop.
* A fully subscribed school.
* No lighting or pathway to the proposed site and the fact it is on a narrow lane.
* The site is on Greenbelt land.
One of the key factors in the case bing put forward by the group is that an Exxon Mobil fuel pipe supplying fuel to Birmingham Airport runs directly underneath the proposed site.
"There are so many reasons why this site is not suitable for a traveller site and we will be highlighting and presenting all those reasons to Solihull Council in the coming weeks and months," said a spokesperson for the action group.
A spokesperson for Exxon Mobil confirmed that an Esso pipeline does run below the proposed site and that restrictive covenants apply to the land to ensure its safe usage - which must be adhered to.
"At present, a number of sites are under consideration. Should the site proposal become firmer, Esso will correspond with Solihull Council in the normal course of the planning process," they added.
* What do you think? E-mail the editor at the usual address.
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