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Gwrthwynebu
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ID sylw: 48919
Derbyniwyd: 13/07/2012
Ymatebydd: Gordon Vallins
Green belt is intended to be a permanent lung of open space, for agriculture and to provide access to the countryside and to prevent urban sprawl in this case between Leamington and Kenilworth. Parts of Warwickshire are already overdeveloped and recent growth around Leamington and Stratford has put additional strain on the road network. The highways around Old Milverton are already heavily used and the proposed development would increase this. Additional infrastructure including health facilities, education and retail would be required to serve the new population and existing supermarkets are located on the other side of town.
There are other sites such as west of Ayleford School off the Stratford Road which are suitable for development.
I have been given to understand that there is a proposal to build houses and employment facilites on the designated Green Belt area north of Leamington Spa in the Blackdown/Old Milverton Area.
This is a terrible idea to deliberately set out to erase an area of green belt with yet more bricks, cement and tarmac. It is also a betrayal of trust. I understood that the green belt, agreed at both national and local levels, underpinned by an Act of Parliament, was there to provide a permanent lung of much needed open land, not just for agriculture but also for urban dwellers to have access to the countryside.
1,980 houses and a major highway through Old Milverton is, I believe, a proposal that sets out to destroy valued countryside. I would even suggest parts of Warwickshire are already over developed; the growth around both Leamington and Stratford has been phenomenal of late putting enormous strain on local road systems. The highway through Old Milverton will lead immediately into already heavily trafficked roads, the A445 Rugby Road to the south and the A452 Kenilworth Road to the north. Which means those living in the proposed development will be joining those already commuting to Coventry, Birmingham, via the Warwick By Pass and the M40. Think of possibly 2000 more cars.
Growth in the proposed area brings Leamington closer to Kenilworth. I thought green belts were agreed to prevent urban sprawl?
There are also questions it seems to me about infrastructure; provision for education and health, with its schools and medical surgeries and access for the emergency services? And shops. Supermarkets are on the other side of town.
With the mention of local employment the question that springs to mind is of what kind and how much? There still seems to be acres of vacant land on a designated site for industrial development west of Aylesford School off the Stratford Road, the A429.
Whilst there is possibly a great need for the provision of housing in the Warwick District I'm left asking the question of about how much of the development will be for first time buyers, will there be a mix of council housing or is all for independent, private developers?
I suggest you return to the drawingboard before thrusting a building plant into green belt.