Shirley is a bustling suburb of Solihull in the West Midlands, with a village ‘feel’ and a strong community spirit. The unique parade of shops along the Stratford Road is affectionately known as ‘the strip’, and these shops have become one of the focal points for Shirley’s battle against an ASDA dominated development, known as Parkgate.
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KSA Press release June 2010:
NEW COUNCIL – NEW INITIATIVE?
Residents group ‘Keep Shirley Alive' has always been in favour of an appropriate development in Shirley. Unlike the developers and Asda we have no financial interest in ‘Parkgate', we are just residents who live here and want the best for our community, and for Shirley to continue as a good place in which to live.
We have however been opposed to a development that involves yet another large supermarket in an area already dominated by 7 supermarkets.
The developers have just presented their latest plans, so why are we still opposed?
A recent survey by Shirley residents has revealed that only 15 % of over 50 Shirley retail shopkeepers are in favour of the development.
We note that talks are now starting about building 100 houses on the old Powergen site (Asda own the lease); why do they need our parkland as well?.
Having said all that, we see that Shirley has suffered in the recession, along with other shopping parades up and down the country. However, we have a new Council and we are in a new situation: the current trend is towards smaller supermarkets, so why not a new initiative?
The last decade has been dominated by claims of a ‘done deal' with Asda, but a new era of openness and transparency could enable a new objective look at what it is possible to provide in terms of ‘best value' for Shirley. The developers say that even if planning permission is granted they will not start work until the latter half of 2011, so there is time.
For example; why not an Asda “Living” store as an anchor for a smaller development? Tesco have also said in the past that they would like to relocate from their store on the border with Hall Green without taking any parkland. No doubt the developers will dismiss these examples, but we believe a smaller development without taking parkland is possible and could have been up and running by now.
This is our community, and it is the people who actually live here who are important.