Meriden Parish Council
Council Update/News
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MESSAGE FROM CENTRO - BUS SERVICES
Centro have arranged for a new contracted direct bus service to bring home schoolchildren from Solihull to Balsall Common via Catherine de Barnes, Hampton-in-Arden, Meriden, Berkswell village, and Balsall Common.
LAUNCH OF EXCEPTIONAL HARDSHIP SCHEME
Following are details of the High Speed Two Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS) provided by Miranda Carter, Head of Environment & Planning, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited.
I am pleased to confirm that the High Speed Two Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS) started operation today, 20 August. The scheme is designed to provide assistance for those property owners who are most severely and immediately affected by the preferred route option – published in March this year - for a new high speed rail line between London and Birmingham and who need to sell their property.
The Government has produced a guidance document on the EHS, which explains:
- what property owners need to do in order to apply for the Government to buy their property;
- under what circumstances could a property qualify for the scheme; and
- the process for dealing with applications
You can download the guidance, and an application form, at http://www.hs2.org.uk/exceptional-hardship-scheme. Alternatively, you can get a free copy of the guidance and application form by contacting the HS2 enquiry line on 020 7944 4908. Copies are also being sent to central libraries along the line of the route.
Ministers have asked us to prepare for a full public consultation on the high speed rail link in early 2011. Following the consultation, an announcement will be made on whether the new line is to go ahead and, if so, what its final route would be. This is likely to be by late 2011. At that point we expect that the EHS will be replaced by:
- a statutory blight scheme covering properties which the Government would need to buy in order to build or operate rail services on any new line, and
- further support arrangements for those property owners who would be most seriously affected by a new line but were not covered by the statutory scheme. Ministers will announce, ahead of the public consultation early next year, what support arrangements they propose putting in place
A set of frequently asked questions with more information on the EHS can also be found at http://www.hs2.org.uk/exceptional-hardship-scheme.
Yours sincerely
MIRANDA CARTER
Head of Environment & Planning
Essential repairs to Showell Lane Bridge - Revised dates and diversion routes
To read the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order click here. To view the map click here.
900 and 82 bus issues
To read the responses from National Express and Centro to your questions and issues raised at the Parish Council Meeting on 28 June 2010, click here.
Meriden Library – revised opening date
Meriden Library will re-open on 15th July 2010. Books due back on 1st July 2010 will not incur any fines and can be returned on 15th July 2010. During this time a reduced service will be provided by the mobile library. Or items can be renewed on line at www.solihull.gov.uk/libraries. For more information contact Knowle Library on 01564 775840.
PRESS STATEMENT 4 MAY 2010
TRAVELLERS' SITE - EAVES GREEN LANE, MERIDEN
Meriden Parish Council informed Solihull Council on 9 December 2009 that residents reported concerns that there were developments happening on a piece of land on Eaves Green Lane. Following a site visit by Solihull Council on 11 December 2009, the parish council was informed that there was no breach of planning control.
On 30 April 2010 early evening, Meriden Parish Council informed Solihull Council and West Midlands Police as soon as they were alerted by residents that travellers were moving onto the land at Eaves Green Lane.
On 1 May 2010, Meriden Parish Council requested factual information from a range of services so residents could be kept informed. As of this morning of 4 May no factual information has been received by the parish council from these services.
The parish council is a statutory consultee on all planning applications within the parish. The parish council can comment on applications and those comments are considered by Solihull Council's Planning Committee. It is Solihull Council who makes final decisions in relation to planning. The parish council therefore has NO POWER in planning applications.
Meriden Parish Council's role is to liaise with Solihull Council to obtain factual information to pass on to the local residents. The parish council will also comment on the planning application within the planning process taking into account residents' views.
Parish Council Annual Report
Click here to read the 2008/2009 Parish Council Annual Report.
Our Mission
We aim to be a good council and play a vital part in representing the interests of the community we serve. We aim to improve the quality of life of local people and the local environment, influence other decision makers and work with groups in the community to develop the community. We can do this by working towards developing a Parish Plan and becoming a Quality Parish. This is a Charter Mark indicating a good council. Having this means we will have more local powers to deliver local services.
