OVER the years the Lickey Hills Society has sought to protect, conserve and improve the Lickey Hills area and the surrounding villages.

The society entered into discussions with a number of councillors, developers and others in an effort to prevent piecemeal developments in Rednal village. The society has been concerned for some years to restore the attractiveness of the village, whilst accepting that we could not bring back the past.

Now, with permission given for two blocks of flats in Rubery, one on the market site and the other in the St Chad's Church wooden side hall, we feel there is also a danger of an undiscriminating rush to develop on the grounds that any new buildings must be an improvement on the present structures.

Most people would probably agree that Rubery, even if it is our home area, is not the most attractive village, so we must not let this opportunity pass to improve the village scape by demanding that these new buildings are of quality design.

We wrote to Bromsgrove District Council's planning department about the present St Chad's Church development, pointing out that:

1) The appearance of the building would be of great importance as the church area is the most attractive part of the village and could easily be marred by an unattractive building.

2) The height of the building should not lead it to be dominant or intrusive and it should not diminish the scale of the church.

3) The building should not be closer to the road than the buildings either side.

4) Trees must be protected.

A number of the above points also ought to guide the architects of the building on the market site development. Additionally, it would be a great pity if there was no place within the new flat and shop development for some form of market.

We would like to call upon councillors and developers to co-operate in ensuring that both of these new developments enhance Rubery.

We in the Lickey Hills Society are ready to meet with both to discuss our ideas, just as we continue to do with the developers of Rednal.

Baden Carlson

Honorary secretary

Lickey Hills Society