Solihull

About Solihull

Solihull town is the largest town situated in the West Midlands of England. According to the census of 2011, the town has a population of near about 206,700. Solihull town is a historic county of Warwickshire and metropolitan county of West Midlands. It is the administrative centre of the Solihull Metropolitan Borough. The borough encompasses Castle Bromwich, Knowle, Marston Green, Shirley, Balsall Common, Meriden and surrounding areas. Solihull has been acknowledged as “the best place to live” by the uSwitch Quality of Life in November 2013. The residents of the town are known as Silhillians.

• Solihull Town Suburbs - Solihull Lodge, Blossomfield, Widney Manor, Haslucks Green, Shirley Heath, Sharmans Cross, Cranmore, Hillfield, Lyndon, Monkspath and Olton.
• Satellite towns and villages of Solihull Borough - Castle Bromwich, Catherine-de-Barnes, Cheswick Green, Barston, Dorridge, Knowle, Bentley Heath, Meriden, Dickens Heath and many more.

Governance

In 1974, to form the metropolitan borough, the Solihull county borough was amalgamated with the rural district surrounding Meriden. Princess Margaret bestowed the town by promoting it to a municipal borough from an urban district. Solihull town became a county borough in the year 1964. This honour was bestowed by the Queen. Shirley, Dorridge, Castle Bromwich, Knowle, Balsall Common and Chelmsley Wood districts are involved in this. Conservative Julian Knight won in 2015 as the Member of Parliament for the Solihull constituency.

Solihull town has 17 wards, and three councillors represent each ward at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Council has the responsibility to elect the mayor. Mike Robinson from the Conservative Party is elected as the current mayor.

Transport

Solihull railway station is located on the ancient Great Western Railway line. Chiltern Railways run the express train services through Solihull, and London Midland run local services. The Grand Union Canal is within 1.6 km of the town centre. It passes across Solihull, linking the town to the River Thames in London.

A41 road (Birmingham to Warwick) and the A34 road (Birmingham to Stratford) pass through the Solihull town. The M40 and M42 provide fastest links to Oxford and London. National Express West render local bus services from Yardley wood (in the south) and Acocks Green depots (in southeast Birmingham).

Education

Solihull College (earlier known as the Solihull College of Technology) consolidates a University Centre. It provides foundation degree and full degree courses particularly in the field of computer sciences and engineering. There is a college known as the Sixth Form College of Solihull on the outer parts of the town. An independent school, naming Solihull School was established in the year 1560. It is situated near the centre of the town on Warwick road.

• Oak Cottage Primary School, Greswold Primary School, Bentley Heath School and Dorridge Primary School are some of the primary schools under state-funded schools.

• Secondary schools under State funded school includes Grace Academy, Light Hall School, Arden School, Langley School, etc.

• Kingswood School, Eversfield Preparatory School, Saint Martin's School and Ruckleigh School are some of the independent schools in the Solihull town.

Economy

The town of Solihull has an open-air shopping centre naming Mell Square. It was built after the destruction of terraces of Solihull Congregational Church and Victorian houses. Offering a wide variety of shopping facilities, Solihull town opened a new shopping centre, Touchwood. It was inaugurated by Queen in the year 2002.

Land Rover's, a four-wheel drive car manufacturer has the central production plant in the Solihull town. From 1942 to 1983, Meriden was the hometown of the Triumph motorbike factory. Headquarter of the Cooks the Bakery company is located in Solihull town. Solihull town has The National Exhibition Centre situated within.