A plan to close the gates to prevent drivers from using a millionaires’ “private” estate in Birmingham as a rat race was postponed at the last minute after the city council threatened legal action.
The Four Oaks Estate in Sutton Coldfield wrote to its members and local residents on Wednesday June 30th about a “trial closure” of a gate it had installed on Wentworth Road at the intersection of Bracebridge Road in April this year.
The scheduled closure of the wooden gate should be from 7:30 am to 9:00 am and should test the water as the property believes its streets are private and they can block traffic.
Read more: Gate erected to prevent the property from being used as a “rat run” by millionaires
In May 2019, the settlement had applied for a “certificate of legality” – quasi a confirmation of the legal situation – of its proposal to install eight gates at each exit and entry point of the private estate.
Local residents were concerned they had to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds to maintain the roads, which drivers used as rat runs to avoid traffic on nearby Lichfield Road, which is congested during rush hour. And their plan received public support.
But the estate managers said they hadn’t heard anything and decided to close the wooden gate in the middle of the estate to force the council to make a decision.
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
A note to residents from Four Oaks Estate Secretary and Treasurer Stuart Tullah stated: “Non-resident vehicles entering Wentworth Road and attempting to drive to Blackroot Road will be stopped and directed at the Bracebridge Road intersection , turn left on Bracebridge Road and return to Lichfield Road.
Temporary warning signs will be posted at both ‘ends’ of Wentworth Road.
“The residents are of course free to use the streets, but it is likely that there will be delays at this intersection despite the signs. Residents who may be affected should therefore plan a different route during the process.
“Directors hope that residents will not be harassed and that the results of the process will be used as research in creating a long-term traffic reduction plan that may include permanent traffic for the benefit of the property and its residents.”
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
But Birmingham City Council hit back saying it would take enforcement action as it believes the streets are public roads, the closure would be illegal and there is evidence of it.
Now the directors of the Four Oaks Estate are calling to see the evidence – effectively urging the council to stop or shut up.
Ron Forrest, chairman of the Four Oaks Estate, said: “We postponed the closing of the gates after the Birmingham City Council gave assurances that it was illegal to do so. However, you have not provided us with the evidence to prove this point.
“We asked them to provide the evidence as required by law.
“In the absence of convincing evidence to the contrary, we intend to continue our Gates program once this has been resolved.”
Be the first to hear about the biggest stories when they leave. Sign up for email notifications of breaking news from MySuttonColdfield.
We send the latest stories from across Sutton to keep you updated on the latest news from the Royal Town.
Delivered straight to your email inbox seven days a week for free, it has all the news you need from across Sutton Coldfield, whether it’s business, crime, or stories about members of our community doing incredible things .
How do I sign up?
First click on this link to our newsletter registration center.
When you’re there, enter your email address above and check the box for MySuttonColdfield. Other newsletters are also available if you wish, covering news from across the region, sports, and other specific topics. You can sign up for as many as you want.
Once you’ve made your choice, click the Save Changes button below and we’ll do the rest.
He continued, “As we said, despite our request for eight goals [on all entrances/exits to the Four Oaks estate] is to demonstrate the legality of this practice. If we want, our current plans are to install two gates to stop through traffic. “
Birmingham City Council has now announced that its investigations into whether the streets of the Four Oaks Estate are public or private are “ongoing”.
Pictured GV of Gates at the junction of Wentworth Road and Bracebridge Road, Sutton Coldfield, in the Four Oaks private estate, on a plan to prevent drivers from using the streets as “rat runs” out of the Lichfield Road area.
A spokeswoman for the agency told BirminghamLive: “The application for a legal development certificate for the installation of vehicle doors in locations across the Four Oaks Estate is pending and an outcome has yet to be determined. This is a lengthy process as it involves obtaining and reviewing scrap logs and associated documentation from more than 100 years.
“An investigation is ongoing into the gate installed at the intersection of Wentworth Road and Bracebridge Road.”
