Thursday’s rejection by Birmingham City Council of Sainsburys’ plan to build a new store on the car park of the Navigation Inn in Kings Norton is a tribute to the efforts of local people and businesses. A plan by the Co-op to build a supermarket facing The Green has also been knocked back. Reports in the press suggest that the Co-op may come forward with a re-designed scheme.
Labour’s local team had backed local residents and businesses who had warned about traffic congestion, parking problems and hazards for local parents dropping off or picking up their children from the nearby King’s Norton Primary School. There were also warnings about the impact on Kings Norton Green as a local centre and on its popular monthly Farmers’ Market.
One of Kings Norton’s Labour team, Councillor Peter Griffiths, is a member of the Planning Committee which rejected the applications. Speaking after the meeting he said “We heard from hundreds of local residents that these applications would have caused serious difficulties for local people. I’m delighted to have been able to help to get local people’s voices heard.”
Kings Norton’s other Labour Councillor is Val Seabright. She added “This is already a very busy area for traffic and parking is already a problem. Staff and parents at Kings Norton Primary School were clear that children’s safety must not be compromised.”
I personally submitted evidence to the Planning Committee raising many of the concerns which local residents and businesses had put to me. Thursday’s Planning Committee decisions show what can be done when local people work together and I am pleased Labour’s local team has helped get the right result.
If the Co-op do indeed come back with a redesigned scheme for a store facing the Green, it is vital that local people have the opportunity to scrutinise that just as closely as the last one. Labour will continue to stand with local people to make sure that happens.
King’s Norton Green is a special place and the work goes on to secure the sustainable future it deserves.
