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Dear Sir/Madam

As a resident of Leamington Spa, I strongly object to the proposed development around Old Milverton and Blackdown set forth in the Warwick District Council's Preferred Options for the Local plan. Having spoken to many people about this I can assure you this is not the 'preferred option' for the locals I have spoken to.

The National Planning Policy Framework stipulates Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered under "very special circumstances". I don't believe the proposed plans for the area constitute exceptional circumstances. Greenbelts must be preserved in this country and are in place so that that sprawl is restricted, so that the countryside is protected and in this case so that the special character of a town such as Leamington is safeguarded. The fundamental aim of the NPPF is to prevent urban sprawl and keep the land permanently open. The proposed plans go against this completely.

The proposed "out of town" retail operators will also cause further damage to Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth High Streets and retailers that are already struggling to turn a profit in this economy and with the rise in online shopping may not survive. The Leamington high street (and surrounding streets) in particular has seen many closures in the last 12 months. Large retailers are having to bow out, not to mention small independent retailers that don't have as much backing to begin with. Empty shop fronts in a town the size of Leamington stand out like a sore thumb and with each new shop that closes the town loses a little of it's character and buzz. A realistic fear is that this will happen at an accelerated pace if new shops are introduced where the Greenbelt stands.

Thank you for considering these views.
Bree Norton