Testun llawn:
I am writing to you to formally object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils' Preferred Options for the "Local plan".
I have a number of specific objection to both the basic nature and the scale of the Preferred Option as follows:
1) This land is used by my family and many of our friends for recreational activities - dog-walking, cycling, running, bird-watching etc. It is of huge value to the local community. My family use it virtually every day and meet people from all over Leamington when we do so. The impact the plan will have on people's general well-being cannot be underestimated.
2) This is Greenbelt land that serves a very specific purpose. I am sure that you must be aware the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. These purposes are
* Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
* Prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth
* Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment
* Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town)
* Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
3) There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.
4) The building will completely change the nature of the small area of countryside left after the proposals are implemented, making it effectively unattractive and useless for any of its current users.
5) Communications links into the area will need significant changes and upgrades to cope with the massive increase in local traffic. The costs and general environmental impact for the areas surrounding will be considerable. The additional traffic will also make the current traffic issues seen on Kenilworth road into Leamington much worse - it will obviously be gridlock at busy times
6) Sites to the south of Leamington are significantly more suitable for building due to existing infrastructure and communications links. There is also a significant opportunity to develop "brownfield sites" rather than encroaching into Green Belt.
The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.
Overall I also wonder at the integrity of the Council that has made this decision. It does not make any sense and the only reasons that logically come to mind are that there decision-making here has not been supported by the correct due diligence, or that there are some vested interests at play.
Please reconsider your Preferred Options.