Latest news with #SaqibBhatti
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Deep reservations' over leafy Midlands village housing plans as 'besieged' residents speak out
A West Midlands MP has expressed "deep reservations" over proposed developments around Hockley Heath in Solihull. There are a number of ongoing development proposals surrounding the leafy West Midlands village - with some submitted to the council and others under consultation ahead of being proposed. Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti spoke of his "deep reservations" around the proposed developments, which could bring a significant number of extra homes to the "tranquil" village. READ MORE: Residents of 'tranquil' West Midlands village feel 'besieged' at housing plans READ MORE: HMO extension appeal thrown out by inspectors Some plans are yet to be submitted to the council as they are undergoing public consultation through developers, but if later approved, would bring hundreds of new homes to Hockley Heath. In addition to plans to be submitted to Solihull Council, there are proposals from the south Warwickshire side of Hockley Heath that are also worrying villagers. Hockley Heath villager Peter Sylvester told BirminghamLive: "Hockley Heath forms part of the green belt between the Dorridge/Knowle conurbation and Solihull and if the developments that we are seeing proposed at the moment, that will convert us from a green belt location to a town in its own right, which means we will lose the complete split between the green belt and the buildings." The 73-year-old added: "We are not against new houses. "We don't want to be NIMBYS we have to be realistic but we have to say crikey, how are we going to do this? "We appreciate that we have to play our part but this is overwhelming. "You feel as if you are being besieged from north and south." Peter helped set up Hockley Heath Action Group at the start of July and it now has some 185 members. Saqib Bhatti, Member of Parliament for Meriden and Solihull East, also met with residents of Hockley Heath, attending a meeting with Hockley Heath Action Group on Thursday July 17. Responding to concerns, Mr Bhatti said: 'I was pleased to meet with residents at a meeting hosted by Hockley Heath Parish Council, to express my deep reservations about the proposed developments around Hockley Heath. "This follows a meeting I attended in February, earlier this year. 'My constituents in Hockley Heath and I are in lockstep in our belief that these planning proposals could have a significant impact on the local greenbelt. "We also agree that the Government's National Planning Policy Framework is gravely unfair – putting enormous pressures on rural communities whilst leaving urban areas like Birmingham criminally undeveloped. 'I will continue to work tirelessly with my constituents to protect our precious greenbelt, preserve our natural environment and ensure that the people of Hockley Heath are treated fairly and with consideration.' A Solihull Council spokesperson told BirminghamLive: "We are aware that these sites, along with many others, have been submitted via our Call for Sites exercise over the winter. "The Council will be reviewing all sites to determine which may be appropriate to be included in the draft Local Plan. 'The Call for Sites is a land availability exercise, and it does not necessarily mean that sites are suitable for development. 'The council is also aware of the proposals within the South Warwickshire plan and will continue to engage with the neighbouring authorities as these plans evolve.' You can read more of what Hockley Heath residents have to say in our report, here.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- BBC News
Sentence of child abuser from Bloxwich referred to appeal court
The sentence given to a teaching assistant who sexually abused children with special educational needs and disabilities has been referred to the Court of Appeal. Daniel Clarke, 29, of Bloxwich near Walsall, was jailed in May for seven years and six months, after admitting sexual offences against six vulnerable children. The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, said she could only properly refer a case to the Court of Appeal if she considered the sentence appeared unduly lenient and "it appears to me that this test is met".Conservative MP for Meriden and Solihull East Saqib Bhatti has said he had written to the attorney general and asked for Clarke's sentence to be reviewed. Clarke may have targeted "well over 81" vulnerable young people over a decade, according to detectives overseeing a West Midlands Police his trial, prosecuting barrister Daniel Oscroft said the defendant had worked as a teaching assistant at a school in Solihull and, separately, as a personal assistant to several said he would like to thank parents of victims for contacting unduly lenient sentence scheme allows anyone to ask for certain crown court sentences to be reviewed by the Attorney General's Office if they think the sentence is too a letter to the MP, the solicitor general, who said she was responding on the attorney's behalf, stated she shared Bhatti's concerns about the sentence added: "I can only properly refer a case to the Court of Appeal if I consider that the sentence appears not just lenient, but unduly lenient."After careful consideration, I have decided to refer this case to the Court of Appeal as it appears to me that this test is met."Rigby added the court would decide in due course whether the sentence was unduly lenient "and, if so, whether to substitute the existing sentence with a new one". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Hard-pressed drivers ‘MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices'
Read on to find out what many MPs fear Rachel Reeves has planned for drivers FUEL FEARS Hard-pressed drivers 'MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRIVERS must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned. New figures show petrol prices rose to 132.1p a litre yesterday, threatening to end a three-and-a-half month run of falls. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Drivers must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned Credit: Getty 3 Fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances Credit: Getty Wholesale costs have already surged 3p a litre in a week and are still rising. The AA says the spike is being fuelled by conflict between Israel and Iran plus surging demand from the US summer motoring season. Now fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances. Tory MP Saqib Bhatti said: 'As she struggles to make her accounts balance, Rachel Reeves needs to be clear she won't be hammering motorists to fill the black hole that she has created.' Labour MP Graeme Downie added: 'The Chancellor said in the spending review she wanted to do everything she can to keep money in people's pockets. 3 The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011 'At a time of volatility, that means keeping fuel duty as low as possible.' The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011. A Treasury spokesman said: 'Our Plan for Change is putting more money in the pockets of working people. 'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion.'
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Hard-pressed drivers ‘MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices'
DRIVERS must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned. New figures show petrol prices rose to 132.1p a litre yesterday, threatening to end a three-and-a-half month run of falls. 3 3 Wholesale costs have already surged 3p a litre in a week and are still rising. The AA says the spike is being fuelled by conflict between Israel and Iran plus surging demand from the US summer motoring season. Now fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances. Tory MP Saqib Bhatti said: 'As she struggles to make her accounts balance, Rachel Reeves needs to be clear she won't be hammering motorists to fill the black hole that she has created.' Labour MP Graeme Downie added: 'The Chancellor said in the spending review she wanted to do everything she can to keep money in people's pockets. 'At a time of volatility, that means keeping fuel duty as low as possible.' The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011. A Treasury spokesman said: 'Our Plan for Change is putting more money in the pockets of working people. 'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion.'
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Hard-pressed drivers ‘MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices'
DRIVERS must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned. New figures show petrol prices rose to 132.1p a litre yesterday, threatening to end a three-and-a-half month run of falls. 3 Drivers must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned Credit: Getty 3 Fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances Credit: Getty Wholesale costs have already surged 3p a litre in a week and are still rising. The AA says the spike is being fuelled by conflict between Israel and Now fears are growing Chancellor Tory MP Saqib Bhatti said: 'As she struggles to make her accounts balance, READ MORE MOTORS NEWS Labour MP Graeme Downie added: 'The Chancellor said in the spending review she wanted to do everything she can to keep money in people's pockets. 3 The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011 'At a time of volatility, that means keeping fuel duty as low as possible.' The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has A Treasury spokesman said: 'Our Plan for Change is putting more money in the pockets of working people. Most read in Motors 'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion.' Fuel duty STAYS FROZEN in victory for Sun's campaign
