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I am writing to express my disquiet about the proposals in the Local Plan Preferred Options to allocate Green Belt land for development. Green Belt policy has served the nation well for many years.
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development is harmful to the Green Belt and 'should not be approved except in very special circumstances'. It goes on to say that construction of new buildings should be regarded as inappropriate; a list of exceptions does not include housing or commercial development!
Warwick District Council has not demonstrated 'very special circumstances'; indeed the Authority's own documents show ample suitable land is available without the need to violate the Green Belt. The identification of sites to the south of Leamington as being appropriate is supported by their previous inclusion in the Core Strategy Preferred Options.
I am also very concerned that the Draft Infrastructure Plan includes for the possibility of a completely new road from the vicinity of Old Milverton Lane to the A429/A46 grade separated junction. Again, this would violate Green Belt.
I urge you to oppose this element of the Local Plan Preferred Options proposals and throw your support behind what will surely be an overwhelmingly popular campaign to protect the Green Belt.