BASE HEADER

I am objecting to the proposed redevelopment on the Green Belt in the North of Leamington area between Northumberland Avenue, Guys Cliffe Avenue and Old Milverton / Blackdown.

This is not the first time that the council have attempted to push through development of the Green Belt in this area.


As follows:


1. This is one of the very few areas of greenbelt that is accessible to the public, having a number of public footpaths, it is enjoyed by very many walkers, joggers, dog walkers and children.

2. The A452 route into leamington is the only route into leamington that doesn't require visitors to travel through large areas of urban sprawl. The infrastructure to the South and East of the town is far better able to support development

3. There are large areas of greenfield sites around Leamington that could be used to provide housing without the need to redefine the greenbelt boundaries and destroy this area of greenbelt that are designed to prevent the very sort of development now being proposed.

4. There is an obligation on the council to demonstrate that there are exceptional circumstances to redevelop the greenbelt, and although there is significant material of the WDC website, this has not been demonstrated at all and the reasons for choosing the area seem to be motivated by other non strategic planning reasons

5. During the 2009 Core Strategy the council fully rejected the plans to develop this area of Greenbelt and the reasons for the rejection only 3 years ago must still hold good today.

6. The assumptions on which the number of houses that has been projected seem to be deeply suspect now that the economy has been in such decline since 2008 with no real signs as to if or when the growth and demand used for the housing projections will return.