BASE HEADER

OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF GREENBELT LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT - OLD MILVERTON AND BLACKDOWN, WARWICKSHIRE

Having recently attended the Parish Council meeting at Old Milverton Village Hall to participate in the 'consultation' process of the proposed plan for development in the areas of Old Milverton and Blackdown, I wish to register my strong objection to the Warwick District Council's Preferred Options for the Local Plan, which was delivered as a fait accompli, with no alternative options presented for discussion.

My objection is based on many points which I outline below:

GREEN BELT LAND
The "very special circumstances" that Warwick District Council ("WDC") maintains exist to permit a major development in the Green Belt have not been convincingly proven. The 2009 WDC adopted development plan for more homes than the present proposals, did not require release of Green Belt land. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts in preventing urban sprawl, yet the WDC's own Green Belt study, scoring Old Milverton and Blackdown highly, has obviously been ignored.

EVIDENCE BASED PLAN
According to WDC the Preferred Options have to be supported by strong evidence. I am deeply sceptical that the evidence is accurate, and indeed, the model acknowledged at the meeting to have been used to determine future numbers of homes was convincingly shown at the meeting to be fundamentally flawed.

VALUABLE FARMING LAND
It goes against basic common sense to use high grade prime farming land when brown field and lower grade land is (and was in 2009 plans) available.

VALUE AND IMPORTANCE
This land has great recreational value to the local community and is a valuable gem which should be preserved for future generations. It prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth and helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment.

COST/EMPLOYMENT
During the meeting it became very clear that not sufficient consideration has been given to employment opportunities or the cost of putting in the infrastructure to support such development, which already exists south of Leamington and Warwick.

Finally, I take exception to the comment made by Councillor Doody that contacting our MP would be "a waste of time". This I believe can be taken as evidence that the WDC intend to proceed regardless of the concerns of local people. I would ask that the WDC reconsider their preferred option in the light that this is not sustainable development and there are not exceptional circumstances to support releasing greenbelt land.