Latest news and updates

How do I view an application

You may view the forms, plans and other documents at www.northwarks.gov.uk/planningappsearch . Search by entering the PAP reference number.  You may comment on the proposal at www.northwarks.gov.uk/planningappsearch, by email to planningcontrol@northwarks.gov.uk or you may write to Jeff Brown BA Dip TP MRTPI, Head of Development Control Service, The Council House, South Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 1DE

Current Planning Applications

PAP/2024/0544 - Homesdale Farm, Station Road, Nether Whitacre, Coleshill, B46 2BY - Demolition of exisitng stable building and ancillary structures and redevelopment of site to provide 4 x 2 bedroom dwellings with landscaping. Comments by 10^th December has been extended, however comments are invited ASAP

PAP/2024/0557 - Land between 10 and 32, Birmingham Road, Whitacre Heath - Permission in principle for proposed infill residential development, comments invited by 26/1

UPDATE:  Following our Parish Council Meeting 20th January 2025 - PC Thompson confirmed they are going to look into this further over the next few days and try to put measures in place which he hopes will ultimately resolve the issue and put the residents mind at ease. He plans to email the clerk once they have done a visit and explored the further orders they can put into place.  An order has been placed for a pedestrian gate and additional fencing either side of the gate to Cottage Lane to make the area more secure.

Dogs escaped through damaged fencing and attacked another dog while being walked by his owner in Cottage Lane.  The Police have been informed and have spoken to their Dog Liaison officers who are taking the matter forward.  It is not something our local officer would normally deal with so needs to await their response. Our local officers have spoken to the dogs owner and given words of advice. Their fence was being repaired when the police visited, they have been advised not to let their dogs out unsupervised in the area where the fence is broken. The fence has since been repaired and the dogs are now secure.  Patrols have been conducted in the Cottage Lane area and will continue to give some reassurance while waiting for the dog unit to advise what action needs to be taken. The one thing that is within Parish Council powers is to ensure that access to the Play Area is secure to protect children in the play area if the dogs are loose again. Quotes for some additional fencing and a pedestrian gate on the Cottage Lane access are being sought along with some hedge whips for gaps in the hedge. Legal Department at the Borough Council confirm involving the police and looking at securing the boundary of the playground is the extent of our powers in the current situation. 

We contacted the chair of North Warwickshire Area committee for an update on the proposed increase in night flights from Birmingham Airport

Regarding BHX and ‘Night Flying’………there is no short answer.

Wednesday, January 8^th 2025 is D-Day for BHX.

This Wednesday Solihull MBC will decide, having postponed from 04/12/24, BHX’s application to vary the terms of the Section 106 Agreement granted to the Airport in 2009 to allow it to be an airport ie receive arriving aircraft and thereafter allow aircraft to depart.

This Agreement specifies 4 yearly reviews.

In the Agreement is a commitment to work towards a 4% limit  of all air traffic movements between 23.30 and 06.00 hours, the night time flying period.

This is not the case for this latest request. So there has been a full planning application to meet the t&c of the original S106.

BHX want more flexibility not less to meet Airline demand for their aircraft to do more flying (though thankfully not with the same crew)

With others I have been on this issue for most of 2024 and have attended hours of meetings making the case for NWarks towns and parishes, particularly those living under the flight paths such as Curdworth, Wishaw, the Whitacres, the Marstons, Water Orton, & Coleshill.

As NWAC Chair I have made the case and as a concession have got the Airport to look at Noise as a stand alone topic.

Against the proposal, I have brought in Rachel Taylor, our MP.

But we must all understand that this is a Solihull issue and we can only object / disagree etc.

I have a meeting at the Airport on 16/01/25 ………this will be the first ‘Noise Sub Group’ meeting.

Aircraft are getting quieter and in support of this statement BHX have employed a plethora of consultants to knock back perceptions.

My optimism is high that BHX does not get what it is asking SMBC to grant.

I have been in contact with Solihull MBC councillors. They know they hold the health and wellbeing of around 4 million people living under the flight paths in their hands.

I will settle for a compromise interim solution for now to allow BHX to continue to operate

I’ve been throwing everything at this.

Our local police have asked that we please stress to residents how important it is to call any suspicious activity into them so they can monitor and organise dedicated operations to tackle any criminality.  Our local team cover Kingsbury, Cliff, Hurley, Wood End, Piccadilly, Middleton, Wishaw, Curdworth, Water Orton, Nether Whitacre, Whitacre Heath, Lea Marston, Hams Hall, Hoggrills End and Bassetts pole. Please report concerns by calling 101 or report online on www.warwickshire.police.uk.

The police also invite residents to submit their traffic concerns on the partnership website. The reporting system can be accessed via Warwickshire Road Safety – Warwickshire Road Safety Speed Concern site (warksspeedconcerns.org).  If you have dash cam footage it’s operation snap Warwickshire Police. 

Atherstone and Coleshill SNT have been promoting Warwickshire Connected. Get connected with what is happening in your local area, keep up to date and get involved in shaping what goes on where you live or work. Warwickshire Connected is a free messaging service brought to you by Warwickshire Police where you decide when and how you hear about the issues that matter most to you, whether that be getting regular crime updates, the latest information on ongoing incidents and emergencies or learning more about what your local police are doing. This is also the place where you can get involved in helping to make your local area a safer place, tell them what police should be doing in your area, shape the initiatives that help to keep people and property safe and tell them what matters are causing our communities harm. Sign up today: www.warwickshireconnected.com.

Our MP Rachel Taylor has thanked the Parish Council for providing a comprehensive briefing on the issues and for raising resident’s concerns. She has confirmed being happy to take this issue up with Warwickshire County Council and to meet with us to try and draw up a plan to bring these matters forward, and to identify interim measures that can be put in place to mitigate the impact on residents, one of her team will be in touch to arrange a date.  Funding of a new bridge is a huge issue, WCC are in the process of applying for grants, we have recently been informed that the funding proposals were revised in the Government’s recent budget, and WCC are still waiting for confirmation of Warwickshire’s share of the additional funds and the types of schemes the DfT expect the funding will be prioritised towards. They will share further details when known.

Please continue to send any footage of large vehicles struggling along our roads and lanes to  rachel.taylor.mp@parliament.uk, Tracey.nicholson@otc.gov.uk, www.warwickshire.police.uk/operationsnap we can also add our County Councillor andyjenns@warwickshire.gov.uk and our Borough Councillor Martinwatson@northwarks.gov.uk .