Testun llawn:
I object most strongly to the development of 1170 houses with additional employment and community facilities proposed for the Blackdown area including Leicester Lane. All of this area is designated Green Belt land north of Leamington Spa which constitutes a vital environmental asset preventing urban sprawl towards Kenilworth and providing a valuable resource for peoples' health and opportunity to pursue leisure activities.
As land south of Leamington Spa has already been identified as suitable and available for development within the 2009 Core Strategy Plan, it is monstrous that Green Belt land is being offered up for development as a viable option. The south has a substantial amount of infrastructure already in place to support growth. It is closer to the M40 and employment opportunities currently exist. Building north of Leamington Spa would create a traffic nightmare. There would be a greater dependency on cars and buses, therefore higher carbon emissions detrimental to health, and severe congestion as the narrow roads would not easily accommodate the increased traffic. Development would require an improved road system at considerable expense on additional land, again destroying the character and local value the area naturally provides.
In order to develop on Green Belt, the Council has to show that there are 'exceptional circumstances'. As suitable land has clearly been identified east of the A452 (Europa Way) and south of Heathcote towards Bishops Tachbrook, the Council do not lack alternative sites outside of Green Belt. These are areas that should be given first consideration to new development.
At a recent meeting I attended, the Council indicated the need to 'spread the development' around the region. According to the National Planning Policy Framework, this is not a planning policy criteria and therefore not an acceptable argument for developing on greenbelt to the north of the town. I felt the Council were completely in favour of encouraging urban sprawl at any cost. Green Belt land is a vital planning policy to safeguard countryside and prevent the ultimate merging of towns and loss of identity.
I value my local community, countryside and green spaces. They must be preserved for future generations. I trust the Council will reconsider its proposals for development and not invade the Green Belt particularly when other more feasible and economic alternatives are available.