BASE HEADER

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ID sylw: 105831

Derbyniwyd: 02/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Kathlyn Craig

I am writing to formally object to the inclusion of the following Strategic Growth Area/
proposed New Settlement location within the South Warwickshire Local plan.
C1 - Land south of Kingswood
My personal interest in this Strategic Growth/ New Settlement site is:
I am a resident of Lapworth, with an in-depth knowledge of the area
The grounds for objection to this Strategic Growth Area/ proposed New Settlement
location within the South Warwickshire Local plan is as follows:
Lapworth is spread along a collection of narrow country lanes, with only a very small area right
in the centre of the village having pavements or street lights. There are narrow, steep canal
bridges, blind junctions, and many areas where the roads flood frequently. The introduction of a
large number of extra cars would cause a danger to residents, walkers, cyclists, and horse
riders, and to the children walking to and from the village primary school. Facilities in Lapworth
are limited. The railway station, built in Victorian times, has a very infrequent service, and would
require a huge amount of investment to improve tracks, rolling stock, signalling, platforms, and
passenger facilities to bring them up to a level to deal with extra passengers, and step-free
access would have to be provided. The car park there is very small with no room to be
enlarged, and the village has no regular bus service. It would be necessary to build secondary
and primary schools, a GP Surgery, Dental surgery, retail outlets, and employment opportunities
before houses were built, as the existing facilities would be totally inadequate. Lapworth has a
small village shop, an off-licence/Post Office, a petrol station, and a shop selling tiles. The GP
surgery is at full capacity, there is no Dental surgery, and the primary school could not absorb a
large number of children. Water supply, sewerage, drainage and electricity supply are all
inadequate for the size of the existing village, even before any expansion. To improve transport
systems, upgrade utilities, and provide the additional education/employment/retail/health
facilities, would require vast amounts of investment, which would need to be funded by
Government. The site is of course situated in the Green Belt. This land was so designated in
order to ensure a continuing divide between areas of built-up development, to provide everyone
with an opportunity to enjoy nature, to protect wildlife, and to keep open wildlife corridors.

In conclusion, I believe these objections are important because:
Lapworth is unable to sustain such a large number of new residents, possibly 6 or 7 times more
that the existing population of the village. Such a level of investment would be needed to
improve road, transport, education, retail, and utilities, as to make the scheme unviable. The
character of the village would be irrevocably changed, and the Green Belt compromised, to the
detriment of all.