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Latest comments received...

'Nice store but wrong place
Michael Rowley 15th May 2011

'Forest Court needs sorting out and the Sainsbury's current proposal is too imposing for this situation. The DROVs proposal is along the right lines but Sainsbury's architects should easily come up with something more vernacular in scale befitting a local setting such as this.'
Bob Holtham 12th May 2011

'I totally support DROVS in it's campaign.
Ray Bates 10thMay 2011

'A lot of people do not seem to realize the traffic chaos that will follow from a store this size. It will be too late after it is built .'
Donald Powis 9th May 2011

Totally support the push for a Much smaller development in keeping with the area.
I. Shefik 8th May 2011

'No more large stores please!Enough is enough.'
Kemal Shefik 8th May 2011

The Drovs stance is absolutely right and it is becoming apparent that there are many communities around the country that share our view.judging by comment and articles in the responsible press.'
Patrick Wells 7th May 2011

'We live in Station Rd. Amazed that when our house was part of a redevelopment the council rejected it because 'it would introduce too much traffic to Station Road' Now years on, a road that is already a fast and very busy will become unbearable. Something smaller please Sainsbury's, we're the ones who have to live here.
Phil Brice 7th May 2011

The proposed supermarket is to large for the village, the extra traffic will be awful .It will not be a supermarket for the village as shoppers will come from miles around,Sainsbury understand this fact that is why they are trying to build a supermarket of 1800 sq. metres in Dorridge .'
Sue and Gerry Thomas 5th May 2011

'I am aware that Forest Court now urgently requires developing but we are totally against the large Sainsbury's supermarket proposed in this latest submission. I would also like to ensure that the trees and the central reservation are kept on Station Road. I think this provides a important safety gap when crossing Station Road.
Cheryl Ellison 5th May 2011

'Is building a supermarket the only way to regenerate an area? Dorridge doesnt need a supermarket that will serve the surrounding area too. It needs something for our community. what about a community centre, a new pub, or some other social place?'
Karin Elmhirst 5th May 2011

'The effect of adding a superstore of this scale to Dorridge will be to gridlock the roads in the whole area.
Roger Cliffe 5th May 2011

I consider the proposal to be totally unnecessary and inappropriate for the size of the village. The parking facilities will not be sufficient and car drivers will cause annoyance to residents and other businesses as they seek to find a parking space. By restricting the size of the supermarket, there will be no need for people to come here from other villages / towns who have similar shops of their own. The local people need Forest Court rejuvenating but only in proportion with the size of the village.'
Jonathan Knibb 4th May 2011

'Although Dorridge center needs revitalising and it is likely that only a supermarket chain can do that, this design takes no account of the traffic that will be generated on roads that are not capable of taking it.We also need to be aware that the Doctors have other ways of finding funding for improvements to their surgery. Whilst they give excellent health care they are a business partnership. The value of their asset will go up, so whilst the development will improve the facilities, it will also increase the partners business property value. I hope this is clear on the petition they are running through their patients participation group.'
Jon Briggs 4th May 2011

'I oppose the building of a Sainsbury store of any size as Dorridge does not need more shops when it is close to Solihull, the Stratford Road and Knowle. If Dorridge is now forced to allow the development to take place then it should be dramatically reduced in siz.'
Geoff Holloway 4th May 2011

'I think the proposed store is still too big for the Dorridge. We do not need a store of this size'
Barbara Kelly 2nd May 2011

'The revised Sainsbury store is still too large for the village. A store of this size is not required. It will bring with it too much traffic for the local road system.
Robert Kelly 2nd May 2011

'Concerned about extra traffic, both commercial & private, through Knowle and along Station Road'
Gerald Blackburn 28th April 2011

'I approve of updating the precinct area, but think that the size of the proposal is outlandish, with the cons far outweighing the benefits.
Eleanor Brawn 26th April 2011

'I can already see structrual damage being done on islands on Station Road which I can only assume is being done by lorries too large to make it round these small islands. And you say the Sainsburys lorries will be bigger than the current Tesco lorries . . . .'
Jan Brawn 26th April 2011

'Dorridge does need another supermarket'
Mark Eden 22nd April 2011

'I finally realised we should oppose this more vocally when I read a letter in the local rag from the Dorridge pharmacist who said the GPs do such a wonderful job they 'deserve' better premises. Perhaps they do indeed provide a good service locally, but how does that equate to allowing a major supermarket chain to destroy the village by drawing in shoppers from outlying areas to congest the already crowded roads? If GPs need a bigger surgery then build one, but not via a back-door route in return for something so fundamentally wrong as the proposed Sainsbury's store. People really need to wake up to the irreversible impact this would all cause to everyone's quality of life.'

Barry Orr 24th April 2011

I am concerned that Solihull Councill are happy that the dual carriageway will be scrapped. The traffic officer told me that this dual carriageway is unecessary and a single road system would reduce the speed of traffic. He is not concerned with traffic entering or leaving Poplar Road and how many of us use the gap at present. The proposed store is far too large and there are not enough parking spaces.
Sue Nicol 23rd Apriil 2011

'Dorridge does not need a Sainsbury's store'
Dawn Eden 22nd April 2011

'I am an elderly lady living in Polar Road. I won't be using this store, I have my shopping delivered to me after ordering it on the internet. All this store will do is bring more traffic on the roads and destroy the peace of the village. Eshopping is a cheaper and more ecological alternative. This store is completely unnecessary, other than a means of fufilling Sainsburys corporate ambitions.'
'Mrs. Millicent Scanes' 22nd April 2011

'I have lived in Dorridge for nearly 45 years. This Sainsburys is not an amenity, it is the ruination of the village. Not regeneration but degeneration. '
Mrs Joan W Bruce 22nd April 2011

traffic proposals are going to bring far more traffic onto the roads. Not only will the peace of our environment will be destroyed, it will increase the danger to our children walking down Stration Road every day to Arden School. This is a dreadful proposal.'
Jenny Bruce 22nd April 2011

'E-shopping is the future of the grocery business. It is far greener a method of commerce. Not only will this store will be a dinosaur within 10 years the abandoned edifice will be far worse than Forest Court as it now is and no one will thank us for it.'
John Bruce 22nd April 2011

'Reading your history page - its absolutely incorrect - Forest Court was built in 1965, it was a thriving shopping area until Blue Boar put the rents up too much - in about 1995 or so. Most of you DROVS have only been here for a couple of years & possibly never supported the shops of Dorridge using Tesco at Monkspath or other Superstores in the area for your shopping - if you had supported the shops we would have never have got to this. I think the only way forward is to accept Sainsbury's offer otherwise Dorridge will be finished. '
Chris Adams 21st April 2011

'Great work guys, keep it up. Here's to a sensible store size that doesn't wreck the village feel.
Gus Lunt 21st April 2011

'The proposed plans are far to big and will turn Dorridge in to an out of town retail park. Keep up the good work.'
Kerry Lunt 21st April 2011

'Oversized and totally unnecessary for the size of community which already gets by with 2 Tesco venues. Road infrastructure and parking facilities already stretched and this proposal simply adds to the current problem.No problem with re-designing the centre but this is not the answer. Try something smaller!'
Paul Groves 19th April 2011

'The council planning office is not transparent in its work and communications re Dorridge. Sainsubury's will be the cause of noise and traffic through Dorridge late at night and early mornings. This will also impact all school children saftey.'
Gary Gardner 19th April 2011

'All I ask for is a Sainsbury's supermarket in keeping and commensurate with the proposed location
Richard Bowser 19th April 2011

I don't believe Dorridge needs a supermarket on the scale of the Sainsbury proposal. Something similar in size to the Tesco Metro in Knowle would be perfectly acceptable.'
Neil Giles 17th April 2011

'The proposed store is still too large - it should be about the size of Tesco Knowle
Patricia Scanlan 17th April 2011

'Too many have forgotten that Dorridge was once a busy, vibrant place to shop with lots of cars descending on the car park and lorries delivering goods. We can't turn the clock back to the days of small local shops. Why else did they all close in Dorridge? Lack of support from locals as well as ever-increasing rents. This propsal is fine: there is an increase in the number of parking spaces over the number available now. Re-development of the surgery is an added bonus and I wouuld have been in favour anyway. I like the size of the proposed store - we should be able to do a "proper shop" here and not have to trail elsewhere for our requirements.'
G.Pye 15th April 2011

Totally agree that the size of the store should be about the same size as Tesco's in Knowle.I do my weekly shop there for a family of 5. In my experience the larger the supermarket the more non food items there are to tempt you! Sainsbury's want to maximise their investment by buiding as big a store as they can get away with. We must continue to oppose the size of the store but not the redevelopment of the site. I support your alternative plans.'
Heleama Whittaker 14th April 2011

'A supermarket for the village not the village becoming a supermarket'
Iain Shipley 14th April 2011

'The proposed store is too big for Dorridge.
Carol Wood 14th April 2011

'with yet another proposed outlet on the plans for Knowle we do not need another large outlet. What we need is local small outlets serving the needs of local people. '
David Heap 14th April 2011

'Go for DROVS proposal - more parking, smaller store, manageable traffic volumes.'
James Turner 14th April 2011

The current design is too large for our village centre as if offers insufficient car parkings, so the already over stretched road will not safely accommodate the vehicles within the village. Our children walk past the site and along Station Road to school, we are concerned about their safety with the increased traffic and large number of HGVs running through Dorridge. A smaller store, similar to the size of Knowle's Tesco, will adequately support Dorridge's requirements, whilst enabling Sainsburys to build a relationship with the locals and commercially make a handsome profit. '
David & Shelley Grant 14th April 2011

'I believe, like so many others, the size of the proposed supermarket is out of relation to the size of the village, too big. The impact on the Dorridge infrastructure will be immense, with additional traffic due to visitors to the store from outside the borough and deliveries. The provision for additional parking appears to be inadequate bearing in mind the amount of visitors to all the amenities already there, which is at times already restricted, together with the additional outlets this will add congestion to nearby roads.'
Julie Reuben 13th April 2011

'The development is too large for a small residential village like Dorridge. Forest Court has become run down but that should not lead us into accepting a development which would be out of character with the village. There must be other alternatives which would serve the community well without relying on attracting shoppers from a wider area.'
Brian Parkin 13th April 2011

Sainsburys in Dorridge is unnecessary, I don't see the justification for a supermarket of this size in a village so small. The noise pollution caused would be ridiculous, not to mention the fact that the company would be expecting large 18-wheel lorries to deliver products on streets which were not built for anything much bigger than a van. The congestion in Dorridge in the morning is bad enough do to the abundance of schools we have in the area, the last thing station road needs is a lorry in the middle of it trying to turn into the back of Sainsburys for the purpose of making a delivery.'
James Kavanagh 13th April 2011

You can see what Sainsbury's tactics are, they will go as far as they can and when they don't get what they want they will appeal. At this point Solihull will throw in the towel, claiming that they cannot afford the cost of fighting the appeal and Sainsbury's will get what they want.'
David Pearce 13th April 2011

'I support a smaller supermarket
Ann Harper 13th April 2011

Like others, I moved to Dorridge for its village atmosphere which will be totally obliterated if the proposed size is not reduced. I don't want Sainsbury to bring the Stratford Road to Dorridge?'
Fay Munn 12th April 2011

'Further downsizing of Sainsburys proposal is still required as the impact of traffic will have a massive impact on Dorridge centre and the feeder roads such as Manor Road.'
Andrew Coel 12th April 2011

'Remember we are only custodians of Dorridge Village. Any decision taken now will have lasting effects for future generations of our community.Sainburys are only chasing the next "retail opportunity" '
Mark Doyle 12th April 2011

The number,size and frequency of delivery vans will completely swamp the area.2.The proposed number of parking places (173) will be totally inadequate for the size of the proposed site.The only solution possible is to reduce the area of the proposed store still further.'
Norman and Doreen G Moores 11th April 2011

A store the same size as Tesco in Knowle would be suitable for Dorridge
Berni Driscoll 11th April 2011

'I suggest that you back off before you drive Sainsbury away for good.Get a life and lets get Dorridge back into the 21st. century.Bullyboy tactics are NOT clever so be pleased that someone like Sainsbury are coming to Forest Courts rescue.'
Cliff Hatton 1th April 2011

We need a much smaller store and revive Dorridgein keeping with a village'
Wendy Raby 11th April 2011

'The new store should be no bigger than the Knowle Tesco
Paul Atkinson 11th April 2011

'Your absolutely right, this development is not right for Dorridge, it should not be allowed to go ahead a far more village oriented scheme should be put forward
Steve Scaysbrook 11th April 2011

'I feel that the size of store Sainsburys want would have a devastating impact on the area of which it would never recover from, alos the high volume of artitulated trucks concerns me very much. I agree the area needs somthing but not on the scale that is being put forward.'
Gary Feeney 11th April 2011

'Dorridge will lose its local community and stop feeling like a village people are looking to live in. georgina pugh'
Georgina Pugh 11th April 2011

'I think a smaller store would be better!
Richard and Lisa Smith 9th April 2011

'Whilst I can understand the purely economic reasons for a store of this size, the proposed size is simply too big for a village of this size and in my opinion would be detrimental to the vitality and vibrancy of the village.
Jonathan Cottrell 9th April 2011

Well done with your efficient campaign to maintain the Doridge 'village' status.'
Jan Johnson 9th April 2011

'This projected supermarket is far too big for a village in the suburbs with a car park that is way too small for even a shop half the size. It must not happen'
Lynn Dovey 8th April 2011

'There has got to be a moment when a line is drawn in the sand to stop the "Big 4" supermarkets from invading our towns and villages. Dorridge cannot sustain such a development and it must not be allowed to pass planning'
Mike Dovey 8th April 2011

'Dear DrovsLet me start by saying I support the proposal. I have followed the matter and have heard the pros and cons, whether by reading letters in the local press, reading the DROVS web site or by chatting to people who live in the town. Some of your concerns need to be addressed and they are my concerns as well.What I would like the development to be in a perfect world, with no financial crisis overhanging the project. It would involve a small supermarket, like Knowle’s Tesco and artisan shops, built in a style to reflect the Victorian architecture of Station Approach. There would be more car parking and the dual carriageway would be retained. But that is in cloud cuckoo land. The supermarket has to be of a critical size for Sainsburys to profit from its building and usage. Who will pay the rents for the artisan shops? Will you pay 50% more for your cheese from a good deli, or meat from a small butcher?. This is not Borough Market.Concerns about the traffic must be voiced, but unless we uninvent the car, we lost that battle years ago. When my children were at Dorridge school and Arden , the bulk of pupils walked to school. Mrs Mahler at the crossing did not have to put up with cars parked half on the pavement along Station Road and Widney Road.Those of you with long memories, will remember the congestion caused by deliveries to Tnternational Stores, ( Saleem Bagh) or Bishops Supermarket. ( Budgens, then Spar). With the demise of the precinct we have become used to lack of deliveries, except for Tescos. There will be an increase in goods vehicle traffic, whatever happens to the precinct. At least Sainsburys have an in and out delivery system.On a final note, 200 new jobs will be created, not all of Knowle and Dorridge families are wealthy and this will be a welcome boost to the local jobs market.The Forest Court precinct is a disgrace and has to be replaced,Sainsburys may not be perfect, , but life is one long compromise.
John Taverner 8th April 2011

'The planned store is too big. I am concerned about the unsightly appearance of the car park. I don't want to lose the "dual carriageway" through Dorridge. The traffic along Station Road is going to be nightmarish.'
Stewart Dickey 8th April 2011

'I would like to improve the Forest Court area however I already find the traffic builds up in the village at school opening and closing times. I would like the store to be smaller and consist of smaller retailers to offer choice.'
Mrs Rose 7th April 2011

'The catchment area to support a store of this size will inevitably bring in further traffic from outside of the dorridge/knowle area. At this size it is not a store for the benefit of the local people and will lead to further conjestion and noise pollution in the area. It therefore remains the case the the scale of this store must be reduced before it can be considered. '
Peter Mumford 7th April 2011

'the planned store needs to be much smaller'
Carina Smith 7th April 2011

'The proposed store will cause horrendous traffic congestion with cars entering and leaving the store on to the main road which already is a busy connection to Knowle and Warwick.' - Norman Prue 6th April 2011

'Why are we being blackmailed? Yes Forest Court is an eyesore but a big supermarket in its place? Is this really what people want in Dorridge? It seems people are happy to accept a big supermarket to get a better Doctors surgery, which they won't be able to get near to as parking is ridiculous now, without attracting more people in. We have cars parked down our road all day for the station now, and that's with some parking still at Forest Court, where is everyone going to park? Where will the Sainsbury's staff park as they cannot park on site?Look at the bigger picture here. Well done DROVS, you may just save our village.'
Alix Cannell 6th April 2011

'please dont spoil our village. Susan Ellis 6th April 2011

'We dont want any more traffic in the area  James Ellis 6th April 2011

'Well done . The comments make good common sense' Alan A Hobday 6th April 2011

'This is the best suggestion so far' Elaine Hobday 6th April 2011

'This proposal is still much too big.'   Jeremy Taylor 6th April 2011

'The proposed Sainsbury's development will destroy the character of Dorridge. Added to this the village does not have the infrastructure necessary to support such a large store. Is this yet another case of a large corporation ignoring the wishes of the local community? I hope not.'
Philip McCosker 6th April 2011

'I support sainsburys in forest court but would prefer it to be smaller. Niki Haines 6th april 2011

'We are in complete agreement with the comments in your March 2011 leaflet. Yes Forest COurt does need change but not on the huge scale and with the impact on traffic of the revised Sainburys supermarket proposal.'
Chris & Helen Fent 5th April 2011

Current plan too big. I would like to see a store of similar size to Tesco Knowle.Traffic and parking will be a huge problem and will also increase the risk to children walking to and from school along narrow Station Road.
Fran Briggs 5th April 2011

I live in Avenue Road and feel that a supermarket the size Sainsbury's are planning will affect all our village roads that were not built for the amount of traffic it will attract, and the village will become gridlocked!'
Helen Gotch 4th April 2011

'to large for a village store. How has Sainsburys got this far when Waitrose was turned down?'
Samantha Neaves 4th April 2011

'The approach from Sainsburys in my view is all wrong. To keep a village you need a village type of store, the tesco that is already in Dorridge is excellent but competition and brand allegiance can also be considered so having another store is not an issue but why can it not be the same size as the tesco if not just a little bit bigger? If I could I would vote against a store.'
Paul Black 4th April 2011

'I fear that DROVS suggested alternative is sub viable and will not generate the turnover needed to fund the improvements expected such as the Surgery refit.I thought that the whole point was to draw more people in to Dorridge before it dies completely.We have seen Dorridge lose its post office, the Spar, newspaper shop, music centres, cycle shop and almost lost its off licence.Sainsbury are probably the last chance that Dorridge has.'
C Plain-Jones 4th April 2011

'It's far too big and we do not need it in Dorridge.'
Paul Blatchford 4th April 2011

We need a supermarket about the size of Tesco in Knowle, not what Sainsburys are currently planning for Dorridge.
Jean Boulton 4th April 2011

I agree that the current planned supermarket is far too big for Dorridge and the parking spaces are too few.
Stephen Boulton 4th April 2011

We live in Dorridge and still object to the current proposed rescaled footprint for the Sainsburys development,but would welcome a much smaller Sainsburys store on the site.
'Malcolm Goldsby and Patricia Goldsby 4th April 2011

'The proposed Sainbury's store is far to large for Dorridge - it needs to be no larger than Tesco's in Knowle'
Sandra Daly 4th April 2011

'This is far too big a store for Dorridge. The traffic will be horrendous and the pollution, noise that goes with it. We want a much smaller store. '
Ann Peachey 4th April 2011

'I don't want such a big store in the village. The traffic will be a real problem when crossing Station Road to get to Dorridge Junior School. '
Will Peachey 4th April 2011

This revised plan is still far too large and not in keeping with a village the size of Dorridge.Sainsbury's must not be allowed to railroad this revised plan through and the Planners must listen to the villagers who do NOT want the excess traffic, pollution and parking problems this size of store will inevitably cause. To add another ten delivery trucks a day to what is already a heavily congested area is sheer lunacy !! For heavens sake planners listen to the local community let's have a smaller store which will not overwhelm the area
Angela Thomson 3rd April 2011

'This store will create chaos
Ali Blackburn 31st March 2011

'This store is still too big!!
Harry Blackburn 31st March 2011

'Way to big for Dorridge and totally out of keeping. Not enough car parking
Russell Jones 31st March 2011

The store is too big for the local road and parking infrastructure to support.
Alan Chandler 31st March 2011

Keep up the good work, we need DROVS'
Jean & Neville Roe 31st March 2011

'Do we need another facelesssupermarket on our doorstep.'
Robert Vegnuti 31st March 2011

We think it is still too large for Dorridge and needs scaling down!
Mr and Mrs G Mather 31st March 2011

'You have my whole hearted support. Sainsbury's revised plans merely pay lip service to residents' request for a smaller store, they are not really interested in "the needs of the village". The statement regarding parking spaces is misleading: they say that the ratio of car parking spaces to store size has increased-but this is by 0.33%! The actual number of spaces has decreased by 67. Should we trust anything they say when they can put such a glossy spin on this reduction and completely ignore the traffic problems.
Lynda Goodhall 31st March 2011

'I support all your endeavours and think that is necessary to further emphasise to all those who are critics of our campaign, that we are not against Sainsbury's per se but merely want the best outcome for the village
Ivor Goodhall 31st March 2011

'Store still too large'
Ann-Marie Pryce 31st March 2011

'The proposed development for sainsburys store is too big and the increased traffic will cause unwanted congestion throughout the area. Dorridge needs an improved retail centre, but one focused on the needs of the local community and suited to the local roads. Sainsburys proposals are not appropriate on either count. What's wrong with an improved retail centre for local businesses to operate within? Tescos in Knowle is perfect already, and for those who need more , the superstores in Shirley are just a few miles away. Please dont let sainsbury take the village out of dorridge.
Jason Jennings 31st March 2011

Far Far too big for our village.
Ellie Burchell 31st March 2011

The size of the proposed supermarket and the lack of parking is very worrying for every member of our village.comment here'
Tim Burchell 31st March 2011

'Lets not waste our opportunity to influence the future of our village
Vikki Walton 30th March 2011

'This is a decision that will influence our lives for years to come. Lets make sure we do all we can to influence this to ensure its the right one
Anthony Walton 30th March 2011

Redevelopment necessary but with a store still smaller than the revised proposal
Liz Freeman 1st April 2011

'Dorridge does not need a store of the size that is planned and all of the problems that will come with it.
Louise Hirons 1st April 2011

'Your latest leaflet showing the size comparisons of the different stores is precisely what most of us needed to know, and demonstrates just how big(too big) it is going to be for Dorridge. I am not against progress and would like the existing site to be improved and allow the surgery to be extended, but I am not prepared to exchange it for another euesore.
Mary Hawe 1st April 2011

The store is too large for our little village.
Kate Holtermann 1st April 2011

I live off of Knowle High Street and am concerned about the extra traffic that is likely to result. I suppose the larger the store, the larger and more frequent the lorries will need to be? I am in favour of the redevelopment of Dorridge centre, but agree very much with the view that it needs to be in keeping with a 'village' atmosphere. The extra litter that is inevitable is also a concern for me. Will Sainsbury's be required to do regular litter picks?'
Malaina Cox 1st april 2011

'This is a village not a town'
Amanda Balfour 1st April 2011

'PLease can it be much smaller'
Rod Anthony 1st April2011

'I get the bus to school everyday up at that bus stop. Ill be scared to do that if there big lorries everywhere'
Jenna Balfour 1st April 2011

'I agree we need to redevelopWE the area but the new proposal is still to big.Also the dual carriageway should be kept.
Clive & Julia Truscott 1st April 2011

'Dorridge does not need a supermarket of this scale; Knowle and Dorridge do not need juggernauts down its narrow roads. Yes to development but, please, on a smaller scale
Lucinda Hofton 1st April 2011

'I agree that the Forest Court needs development, but it is clear that the new store must be the minimum size (a Sainsbury Local) only or it will ruin the local roads & village atmosphere - it is already near its limit for parking & traffic with local schools & the train station.
Bernard Faulkner 1st April 2011

'The new plans still aren't even close to being suitable for the small village that is Dorridge. In fact if these plans go ahead I don't see how Dorridge can even be considered a village anymore. It would completely overwhelm Dorridge, devalue property, add to the traffic which is already bad with the school rush and level crosing, and undoubtedly ruin our peaceful community.'
Gemma Faulkner 1st April 2011

'Yes, still far too big. The traffic will be a nightmare. There are plenty of huge supermarkets in the vicinity, we DON'T need another.
Anne Dyas 1st April 2011

'Please make the size of the supermarket appropriate for the size of our village. The size proposed in the revised plans is still far too large.
June Seaton 2nd April 2011

Yes to redevelopment no to size of proposed store
Sue Cowles 2nd April 2011

I would rather have forest court redeveloped for housing than allow this totally unrealistic sainsbury's development. Why does dorridge need another supermarket? I am at a loss to understand the rationale behind this plan'
David Wellings 2nd April 2011

With two large stores on the bus route from Dorridge, and a huge Tesco only a short car ride away, we do not need such a large store in Dorridge, bringing with it so much extra traffic.'
Margaret Wright 2nd April 2011

'We feel that not only is the supermarket too big and unsuitable for a village centre but that Station Road is not suitable for the large number of great big delivery vechicles every day of the week.
Mike and Isobel Robertson 2nd April 2011

'Why does "bigger" always have to be "better?
Roger Grainger 2nd April 2011

Re-development of Forest Court in Dorridge is very necessary but Sainsbury's proposals are still for far too large a store. The DROVS' alternative plan, as shown in this week's "Observer" local newspaper, looks a good idea. I am not a NIMBY either just a Knowle resident wanting the best for both Knowle and Dorridge VILLAGES. We are not towns - why can't people understand that?'
Caroline Munro 2nd April 2011

the problem is that insufficient thought has been given to parking.As a commercial organisation Solihull knows what it expects to taker per sq foot of trading space. It knows the footfall necessary., ipso facto it knows that the parking is totally inadequate and residents will be the ones to suffer. Our planning department ought also to be able to access info from other local authorities as to best practice ...but will they?'
Mike Hawe 2nd April 2011

'Dorridge goes to sleep now at a normal village time and all is quiet. When Sainsbury's move in with the size of store they are proposing, our nights will always be disturbed by, Light pollution, vehicle movements, air conditioning plants and endless other irrations that we haven't even dreamt about yet. I like living here cause its semi rural and its quiet at night!
Peter Kavanagh 2nd April 2011

I wanted a superstore I would have moved to Shirley or Solihull. I feel that we are being blackmailed by Sainsburys now that they have closed down most of the shops, but I think we have to stand and fight, as we'll be left with this in years to come, and it can only be detrimental to property prices.'
Michelle Dovey 3rd April 2011

'The store is too big and will have a detrimental impact on the quality of life in the village.
Greg Fuller 3rd April 2011

'Whilst I am in favour of Dorridge receiving a new lease of life and look forward to being able to do my weekly shop here I am concerned that the current plans will result in a congested and busy village. I would prefer a smaller store with more individual retail outlets.
Jo Morris 3rd April 2011

'Given the obvious shift towards online shopping, home deliveries and reduction in bulky packaging, which is not only expected to increase, but supermarkets are committed to increasing, surely we should see reductions in the need for large stores. Wouldn't it also make sense for delivery vehicles to be required to approach from J 4 of the M42 instead of J5? thus would avoid disruption to the whole of Knowle and residents of Station Road, but also effectively limit the delivery vehicles to a reasonable size!'
Adrian Gill 3rd April 2011

Apart from the obvious size of the Store I am very concerned about the limited parking spaces in and around our area. Where will the staff for this Store park their vehicles as I have been informed that staff will not be allowed to park in the store car park.
Vince Murphy 3rd April 2011
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'Dorridge does not need a large supermarket. It will change the atmosphere of a local village into a busy bustling town. I moved to Dorridge 17 years ago and have seen many changes, this is a step too far. I did not move here to live next to a supermarket of this size. It will dominate Dorridge and will bring many traffic problems with it. Station Road is dangerous enough for children coming home from Arden School, this level of traffic will just increase that danger to our children.'
Adalgisa Kavanagh 3rd April 2011

'There are a lot of students using that road as a route to school and this development will bring in more traffic, affecting their safety.
Bryony Harrison 29th March 2011

'I am concerned about traffic and moderations to the Station Road/Poplar Road junction.
Mark Harrison 30th March 2011

 'the latest plan is still too big for Dorridge!
Rob Harrison 30th March 2011

'I fully support the concept that the proposed Sainsbury's store is too large for Dorridge and has inadequate parking for its proposed size.
M.Welch 29th March 2011

Clearly, Sainsburys are driven by the profit motive and have no interest whatsoever as to what local residents think of their proposition. Sainsbury's opening gambit - of tabling a plan for a bigger store than they wanted to build so that they could then take the moral high ground by saying "see, we have listened to your concerns" by reducing the size of the store to what they intended to build in the first place - was cynical in the extreme. In its current format, the proposed store will be neither use nor ornament - it will be too small for our normal weekly shopping but too big for its location. For Sainsbury's to suggest that it will not cause congestion and noise is absurd - I am only grateful that I do not live in Station Road/the immediate vicinity. A truely dreadful proposition
Adrian Moulder 29th March 2011

'I am from Matlock in Derbyshire and Sainsburys has ruined the town and the shops. It had a devastating impact there and still does. Contact the residents there for more info on the plight of the town.
Magenta Corrigan 29th March 2011

'Of cause any development has to be realistic for Sainsbury's but even their revised plans and lack of parking will have massive effects on the centre of the village. A store twice the size of Knowle Tesco would seem much more appropriate'
James Pryce 29th March 2011

'We need a store to serve the area and not change the area to suit the store
John Bryan 29th March 2011

'This development is too big for Dorridge. It will bring too much traffic into the area and make it a much less safe place, particularly for children walking to school. We definitely need the site developing, but not with such a large supermarket. I am also opposed to the central crossing area being taken away on Station Road where Poplar Road meets it. This will make it very difficult for vehicles to turn right, in and out of Station Road/Poplar Road.
Fran Harrison 29th March 2011

'My main concern is the increased volume of traffic, including very large lorries, on an already busy road. In particular, the safety of children walking along the road.'
Leah Prince 29th March 2011

'The supermarket is too big and there is not enough parking.'
Carol Jones 30th March 2011

'We don't need this supermarket in Dorridge, there are already lots of supermarkets around the area and the negative impact to the little village will be huge.
Aimee Jones 30th March 2011

'Excellent posters - capturing some of the main issues. My own perspective on this is that we should expect Sainsburys and other major retailers to be offering more innovative and sustainable retail solutions for our community, with zero environmental impact as a baseline for their design. This, and every other major development should be an exemplar of sustainable design and socially respnsible business culture.
Chris Baker 30th March 2011

'Please dont destroy Dorridge village for us & future generations.Station Road has changed almost unrecognisibly in the comparitively short time we moved here for the quiet village style of living. Thank you DROVS for bringing to our attention just how big this supermarket is proposed to be & the massive impact it is going to have on the much loved village and surrounding areas. We are all for progress but not to the detriment to the health of the village & those around it.
Shirley Haden- Grant

'dorridge is a small village which requires sympathetic redevelopment of its village centre and not the monstorous development that sainsburys insist on erecting. if they are coming to our village then i believe they should more considerate when listening to the local communitys imput. what ever they build will be here for ever so lets make sure its what the residents want before its to late.'
Jay Watson 30th March 2011

'Your alternative plan is interesting but I would disagree, fundamentally, with your proposals to retain the car-park entrance on Avenue Road. This makes no sense to me - it unnecessarily directs traffic along residential roads and forces it to negotiate five problematic junctions. There is little flexibility to correct matters if there is congestion except to remove existing on-street parking. Much better would be to relocate the car park entrance to the front of the store, where there is space for a flexible traffic management scheme, improving the environment for pedestrians and residents at the side and rear and retaining on-street parking at the Doctors and for others who prefer it. That is my strong opinion'
Chris Baker 30th March 2011

'The size of this proposed store is too big for Dorridge. People pay a premium to live in Dorridge for a 'quieter life'. Putting a superstore of this size abliterates that.
Louise Gordon 30th March 2011

'I personally welcome Sainsburys as not only will it give local young people more opportunities to work in the area ( At Sainsburys ) it will also improve that terrible looking Forest Court. Whenever i go past that court there is never anyone in there , the 'flower beds' are dust and on an evening its full of aggressive young kids'
Kieran 30th March 2011

'The traffic on Station Road at peak times is already horrendous, and it is already very difficult for those living in the vicinity even to get out of their homes. Over-development of homes was bad enought, but the whole character of the village is in danger
Peter Staite 30th March 2011

'I would be happy to see Sainsbury's in Dorridge, but not at this size, due to the impact of increased traffic, delivery lorries, parking, noise, Sunday and bank holiday trading disturbance. I also have concerns about reducing the centre of Dorridge to a single carriageway and Sainsbury's 'taking over' this part of the pavement.'
Alison McWilliam 30th March 2011

'the proposed scheme is still too big, welcome a supermarket, but not at this size'
Audrey Corbett 30th March 2011

'store proposed is still too big and will have an adverse effect on traffic, health and safety '
Roy Corbett 30th March 2011

'Dorridge is unique in this area. It is more like a southern stockbroker belt village. Please don't turn it into a copy of every other town centre.Develop it with restaurants and private shops.'
Trudy Young 30th March 2011

'The lorries are a concern that cannot be appreciated until they are a reality. Can Sainsbury see the potential to create a flagship 'green' store by utilising the local train line for goods delivery? Please make this store an appropriate size for Dorridge!'
Alison Blackburn 30th March 2011

Store out of proprtion compared to the size of Dorridge. Only enough car parking spaces for the staff!!'
John Watkins 28th March 2011


Store is still too large for the village. Too few car parking spaces available. I feel Sainsbury's are not interested in "village" life only at obtaining the largest store they can.'
Martin Widman 28th March 2011


'A supermarket of this size would ruin Dorridge - their aims are purely commercial and we must fight to ensure we get an appropriate sized store for the village.'
Arran Brown 28th March 2011

We don't want the traffic and noise for Dorridge centre. Please consider local residents of Station Road, Forest Road and Avenue Road. It is too big
Dagmar Hamilton 28th March 2011


'It would be great to see Forest Court developed however, the current size of the proposed Sainsbury's store is far too big for still.'
Emma Robins 28th March 2011

'We need a better medical centre and village amenity not a superstore.traffic will be quite dangerous and store opening hours will get longer and longer. Let's be The Big Society and do the right things-stop the development and redevelop forest court for the community.
Shaun sibley 27th March 2011

'The Sainsbury's development ought to be more in keeping with the timeless and traditional architectural style of the village, similar to Station Approach and the Evesons Court development on Station Road. Sainsbury's need to consider the long-term impact which the superstore will have on the village - what will their plans look like in 10, 20 years time when it's not all new and shiny?'
Tim Rowell 27th March 2011


Too big, too noisy, too much traffic and completely inappropriate for Dorridge
SJ Vaughan 27th March 2011


'I'm all for Sainsury's redeveloping the site - but it needs to be with something that is appropriate for the setting. The current proposal would inevitably result in huge amounts of extra traffic, including HGV deliveries at all hours. Not reasonable or acceptable. '
Simon Gates 27th March 2011


'i think that the sainsbury store proposed is to big and needs to be made smaller. Dorridge is a quite and small village with lots of old buildings and i think that a sainsburys of that size will ruin dorridges nature. I do not want sainsburys to dominate dorridge. It will bring people from outside of dorridge in and it will make it busyer which will make it noiseyer. i think the saisburys should be the size of tesco in knowle and a half.Thank you xxx'
Becky White 26th March 2011


'Dorridge is a village which attracted us away from London with it's atmosphere of calm and quiet yet easy links to urban areas. This enables us to live without dependence on a car for every journey, and to cycle with the children in the village and countryside around. The Sainsbury's development will change this completely. We will see a massive reduction in the quantity and variety of wildlife in the area. We will no longer be able to safely take our family on bicycles - or safely walking for that matter! - with the massive increase in traffic that will ensue. We do not understand why we and the people of Dorridge should be facing London style levels of noise, traffic and pollution. It is difficult to see how Sainsbury's is adding to the community with the size of the planned development the driver for this would seem to be rather less than altruistic.
Dr Mary Montgomery 27th March 2011

'A supermarket here will be positively harmful for many reasons, amongst them: (i) Traffic burden will rise- increasing pollution, reducing social access, and increasing risk to children. (ii) Local storeholders will lose business, and customers the social contact we all need. (iii) Local agriculture will not be benefitted- as small stores are able to bu from local farms in a way that large stores are not. Think. The community has been perfectly happy without this store. It cannot be happier WITH one.
Hugh Montgomery 27th March 2011

'I am in support of Sainsburys and the new proposed Doctors Surgery. I would love to be able to walk down the road and get what I need when I need it - currently something I am unable to do as the shops we currently have don't stock what I need for my family. I have a daughter with special needs and she uses a buggy which at the best of times is difficult to get round Tesco's and sometimes I just can't be bothered to even try. I would love to take her shopping so she can choose things that she would like. We also need an updated GP surgery - also if you have a disability it is impossible - it's very hard to get a buggy into the consulting rooms as they are very compact to say the least. Remember disability can happen to anyone at any age or fittness. Pehaps DROVS should try Dorridge Surgery in a wheelchair and sometimes without the help of some kind hearted member of the public to open the doors. I feel very down hearted that this could end up being refused. I have lived in Dorridge for 40 years.
Joanne 18th March 2011

'Although I thought the 1st Sainsbury's proposal to be too big, I think this propsal ought to be looked & not dismissed out of hand.Having lived in the area all of my life (I used to play in the building site that became Forest Court) I feel that Dorridge shopping has dwindled to hairdressers, barbers, estate agents, mainly for the older generation, there are 2 Chinese restaurants & an Indian.On your 'Impact on our Community' page, you highlight Anti Social behaviour might increase - why - I wouldnt walk in or around Dorridge after 10pm now, its plagued with large gangs of youths, the park is definitately out unless you are a drug dealer.Similarly about an increase in crime - why. The litter from the chip shop, chinese's, indians, is bad anyway, Sainsbury's is an upmarket store - its not Aldi or its like.Why would Sainsbury's customers take more of the GPs time, you would still have to live in the area & book / wait your turn (often recovered before seeing the doctor anyway)The Doctors parking area should & must be kept seperate.Please don't dismiss it out of hand before Dorridge dies.There is of course another way, that is for members of DROVS to put up the 15 - 25 million or so & do whatever you want with your shopping area, build little shops & try to fill them.
Christopher Adams 5th March 2011

'I have been to the display for the new store in February. Notes to point:- 1) The downsizing that they have done is great. 2) The "layby" is only for pedestrians NOT for vehicles. I DID ask the the personnel who were there and they said NO CARS are allowed. 3) The Tescos that we have in Dorridge is useless, It does not sell all the things that a family requires. If we want to do more for the environment then we need a store which is in Dorridge and caters for the residents here NOT a store which does not cater for all our needs. If one had a store in Dorridge and has all then things we need, Will we still be going to Shirley to do our shopping. ? At the time of no jobs, We need jobs in Dorridge and if you ask everyone who does not have jobs, will they be prepared to work for the store, the answer will be yes. Yes i agree there will be traffic problems, there are traffic problems already especially on Hanbury Road and Station Road When School is on. It's time for all of us to get a grip and have a store close by that we require. If we do not have the store, there will be no jobs in dorridge and the forest court will be run down as it is. '
'Subha Sen Gupta' 5th March 2011

'As one of the Workshop delegates, there was no agreement reached or a meaningful discussion as to the preferred size of the proposed supermarket. The size from start to finish was driven by Sainsburywith no regard to Workshop comments. The current proposal of 1812 sq metres is still inappropriate for the centre of a residential area and should be reduced to no greater than 1200 sq metres. DROVS comments are very accurate and they deserve the strongest support.'
Mr & Mrs C J Ainley 26th February 2011

'Wishing you luck in your opposition'
Lucy Hodkinson 18 February 2011

'Whilst clearing rubbish in Forest Court to-day, I met two people (mother and son) who wanted to help DROVS.
Jean Shearman 18th February 2011

'Thank you for your e.mail update regarding Sainsburys Dorridge. I still think the planning should be challenged. I do think the layby they have planned could be potentially a crash waiting to happen. People pull out of the car parking area opposite that houses tescos, minhs etc and swing back into the one way system when they haven't got a space first time around. There are a number of elderly drivers in the vicinity which is probably why Sainsburys are proposing a dropoff layby and it would only take one car coming down the hill from knowle end of station road and another pulling out of the layby together with another trying to get the next available space opposite - it all seems potentially very dangerous.'
Michelle Inman 13th February 2011

proposed store is still too big for Dorridge and the extra traffic generated by customers and delivery vehicles is a grave concern.'
'CLAIRE WALTON' 13th february 2011

'What a grand job you are doing. Yes I do think Sainsbury's plans should be still be challenged. I thought the revised plan was much improved, but still worry about the increase in traffic. If the giant supermarkets want to open a store in a residential area perhaps they should consider not trading on Sundays. At least it would give residents a break from the increased traffic noise. Perhaps its too much to hope that Sainsbury's put residents well being before profits. '
'Kathleen Graves' 13th february 2011

Our concerns are identical to those that DROVS express. Nothing really to add.'
David & Gill Neild'

'The new proposals are still totally wrong for the village. What benefit is there other than removing an eyesore? We would be mad to allow this kind of development to ruin Dorridge
'Clare Kealey' 11th February 2011

Are you sure about the number of delivery lorries being 12, as I was told at the meeting by a Sainsbury's representative that there would be 7 or 8 and only then because of not being able to deliver during the night. A 50% increase could be seen as misleading. Although I do appreciate that 7 or 8 is more than enough.'
Angela Cordell 16th February 2011

'Yes to Sainsburys plans as they have made every effort to accomodate every request, our only concern is the volume of traffic but something needs to be started urgently down there as it is now an eyesore.here'
Debbie Burrell 17th February 2011