Councillor Ken Hawkins, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment & Infrastructure, approved the removal of eight trees and shrubs for the Sprint Phase 2 bus project, with a commitment to plant 162 replacement trees across the borough. The meeting also addressed a petitions update and explored options for the use of Aqueduct Road in Shirley.

Sprint Phase 2 – Tree Removal (Solihull Train Station) Consultation Outcomes

Councillor Ken Hawkins approved the removal of eight trees and shrubs along Station Approach as part of the Sprint Phase 2 bus rapid transit project, with a commitment to plant 162 replacement trees across the borough as mitigation.

Sprint is Transport for West Midlands' (TfWM) flagship bus project, designed to provide high-quality bus services connecting Birmingham City Centre with key destinations in Solihull, including Solihull Train Station, the Town Centre, Birmingham Airport, and the future HS2 Interchange Station and Arden Cross development.

To accommodate Sprint, the existing westbound layby at Solihull Train Station will be upgraded, requiring the relocation of the current taxi rank to the eastbound side of the carriageway. This extension necessitates the removal of eight trees and shrubs.

A 28-day statutory consultation on the tree removals, as required by the Environment Act 2021, received 16 responses, raising concerns about the relocation of the taxi rank, and the environmental and wildlife impact.

In response to the concerns, TfWM officers provided a revised drawing of the new taxi rank location and clarified the layout. An arboriculturist also undertook a desktop assessment to identify trees at risk, and an on-site assessment will be carried out during the early stages of construction. Tree felling will be scheduled between September and February to avoid the bird nesting season, and an ecologist will conduct a pre-felling survey.

To offset the loss of trees, 162 replacement trees (12-14 cm girth), funded by TfWM, will be planted at designated highway locations in priority areas within Solihull between November 2025 and February 2027.

The report Sprint Phase 2 Tree Removal Solihull Train Station Consultation Outcomes stated that:

Planting trees within the new scheme footprint is not possible due to a lack of space.

Appendices to the report included a location plan, a plan of the bus stop layby extension, and a tree removal plan.

Aqueduct Road, Shirley - Options for Use

Councillor Ken Hawkins considered options for the use of Aqueduct Road, Shirley, and is expected to approve the making of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). The ETRO, pursuant to sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984¹, would prohibit all motor vehicles, except for pedal cycles, from proceeding along a section of Aqueduct Road, from its junction with Peterbrook Road, northwards towards the junction of Millisoms Road. If approved, the ETRO is expected to commence in January 2026 and remain in place for 18 months, after which a decision will be made whether to make the ETRO permanent or revert back to opening the highway to all vehicles.

The report Aqueduct Road Shirley - Options for Use noted that there have been several vehicle collisions at the Majors Green Aqueduct on Aqueduct Road, due to the narrow carriageway and limited visibility. The River Cole regularly floods the junction, increasing the risk to motorists. The cost of repairs over the last decade has placed a maintenance burden on the Highway Authority, with a single repair costing £21,397.

Traffic surveys conducted in July 2025 showed that Aqueduct Road carries an average of 2,618 vehicles per day. The route is mainly used as a detour to avoid the junction of High Street and Peterbrook Road. The alternative route from Majors Green Aqueduct to High Street is approximately 0.7 miles, with a similar distance to Haslucks Green Road for access to Green Lane and the Shirley Station area.

Other options considered included a one-way system, vehicle restraint barriers, and traffic signal control. The full closure was recommended as the preferred option to address the safety issues and allow officers to monitor the impacts before making a permanent decision.

The report stated that:

If successful, the closure has secondary benefits of encouraging active travel in a vehicle free zone along Aqueduct Road.

Appendices to the report included a location plan and closure points, a wider context plan, an incidents plan, and a flooding plan.

Petitions Update

Councillor Ken Hawkins endorsed the recommendations for three petitions received since the previous decision-making session, as detailed in the Petitions Update report.

The petitions were:

• Request for action on parking hazards and road safety Shepherds Green Road: Councillor McLoughlin submitted a petition on behalf of residents from Shepherds Green Road, Oakhurst Village, requesting action on parking hazards and road safety. The Shepherds Green development is a private development, and the owner has no plans to change its status. The Head of Highway Management is available to attend a meeting with the lead petitioner and other residents to discuss their concerns and options.

• Request for action to address poor parking and improve safety at the entrance to Billsmore Green: Councillor Long submitted a petition on behalf of residents calling for action to address poor parking and improve safety at the entrance to Billsmore Green. Parking restrictions have been considered previously but did not proceed due to the impact on residents' parking. This location will be considered as part of the next Traffic Regulation Order framework review in November 2025.

• Request that a pedestrian (zebra) crossing on Hurdis Road entrance into Shirley park be installed: Mr Paul Whitehouse submitted a petition requesting a pedestrian crossing on Hurdis Road at the entrance to Shirley Park. A similar petition was declined in October 2020 due to limited road safety benefit. A further survey in July 2025 showed no substantial changes, with low pedestrian numbers, good visibility, and traffic speeds below 30mph. There have been no recorded personal injury road traffic collisions on Hurdis Road. No further action will be taken at this time.

The appendix to the report summarised the actions being taken for each petition.