BASE HEADER

I am writing to object to the intended development on the extensive green belt land in North Leamington, specifically between the A452 and Old MIlverton. This area of land is a crucial area for our local community and wildlife, and its destruction is needless. I object on the following bases:

1. The area is an essential local amenity. The footpaths that cross this land are well used for recreational / dog walking, running and as a means to access Old Milverton and beyond (e.g. The Saxon Mill). This area forms the only publicly available open green space for such activities in the North of town, and its development would deprive much of Leamington of this well used amenity.

2. As I understand, green belt land may only be developed by demonstrating "exceptional circumstances" under NPPF. Warwick District Council has singularly failed to demonstrate such circumstances, particularly when there is prime land for development in the South of the town. The Preferred Options paper submitted by Warwick DC does not contain sufficient evidence required to permit development under the NPPF. One of the over-riding principles of the NPPF is to inhibit "urban sprawl", which is why such green belt land is protected. The intended development by Warwick DC constitutes exactly the sprawl that the NPPF seeks to avoid.

3. The justification for the volume of development and the number of new houses being built is based on estimates from housing "boom" times. Even if the projections were to be believed, the green belt development between the A452 and Old Milverton could be deleted whilst still meeting the target of the projections.

4. As alluded to in 2 above, the development of this land and the land to the South of Kenilworth will effectively merge the two towns, causing coalescence of these urban areas.

5. The infrastructure in North Leamington struggles to cope with existing demand. The single lane Kenilworth Road is the main thoroughfare between Leamington and North Warwickshire / A46 / M1 and already struggles to meet demand. The introduction of further dwellings on this side of town would not only further congest this area, increasing pollution, but also put more cars on the road due to the lack of public transport (train) facilities in North Leamington. Further, traffic South to the M40 would clog the already busy town centre area. It is purely nonsensical to build so many dwellings so far from the most used transport amenities (the train station and M40).

I look forward to your confirmation that these objections have been taken into account.