'Clearly unsafe' plans to send nearly 400 HS2 lorries through Balsall Common every day have been rejected by councillors for a second time.

The high speed rail developers had resubmitted an application to send its HGVs straight through the village centre to reach its Waste Lane compounds.

But Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council members unanimously voted down the proposal saying HS2 was wasting the council's time.

"Significant road safety concerns - that pretty much says everything," said Cllr Michael Gough at tonight's (March 30) SMBC planning committee meeting.

"I certainly don't want to be in a situation down the road where somebody has been killed on that road and I have to sit there and think 'I approved that'."

Planning permission for a similar application was refused in July 2021. The decision was then upheld on appeal in December with HS2 told that the route was unsafe.

This fresh application included road safety measures including 20mph speed limits along Kelsey Lane and Windmill Lane and a mini roundabout at the junction of Kelsey Lane, Waste Lane and Windmill Lane.

Speaking on behalf of HS2 Mr Mumby said: "We believe that the measures proposed are capable of being secured by conditions and are sufficient to make the proposed lorry route acceptable on the basis of highways safety.

"We request that members give further consideration to this point as we do not believe it has been given due weight or sufficient assessment in the committee report."

And responding to renewed comments that HS2 should instead use an alternative route from Hallmeadow Road he said it was "undeliverable" given that the developers did not own the land needed.

But councillors said this was not the fault of the planning committee and added that HS2 had ignored the obvious option of reinforcing its Truggist Hill Farm bridge across the West Coast Mainline.

"That bridge has been there for 150 years so it was definitely there in 2016 when it was discussed as an alternative," said Cllr Steve Caudwell.

"It wouldn't have needed planning permission – it was within the land take boundary of the HS2 act to make use of it.

"I cannot understand why HS2 Ltd has not sought to make use of it, instead of troubling this council with planning applications that are clearly unsafe."

Adding: "For HS2 to come back to us and basically ask this council to subordinate the safety of our residents for their poor planning is unacceptable."

(Image by Bill Nicholls via geograph.org.uk)