Just a brief meeting last night and only a few members of the public present. Planning proved interesting, with much discussion of the Asda proposal for the Eaton site at the top of the ward - there will be a substantial objection as this will break up a large chunk of industrial land and the transport connections are grossly inadequate for a development of that size in that location. It was also suggested that Asda be extended the courtesy of an invitation to the next Ward Committee on the 7 March at Oaklands School to present on their proposals, assuming that it hasn't come to Planning Committee before then.
A couple of other applications were discussed in some detail - the proposal for the car sales lot on the Warwick Road on the pub site and a change of use for a shop on Yardley Road beside the Baptist Church. These were chiefly on design issues, not wholehearted opposition. Cllr Stacey suggested that the shop change of use might be an ideal time to have the frontage restored to fit in with the proposed conservation area and also to request that the car lot is landscaped and has removed trees restored.
Other than that, positions on the Business Improvement District board, the board of a local housing trust and the community funding board were allocated to the councillors, with the Liberal Democrat majority ensuring that they hold the important BID seat.
