BASE HEADER
Gwrthwynebu
Preferred Options
ID sylw: 50389
Derbyniwyd: 26/07/2012
Ymatebydd: Mr Daniel Taylor
Object to Old Milverton and Blackdown site. Well used as recreational land. It also prevents urban sprawl and merging with Kenilworth.
Alteration to green belt boundaries should only take place in exceptional circumstances. Land to south previously identified in Core Stategy not similarly constrained. This land is valid alternative. lack of exceptional circumstances should lead to reconsideration.
I write to object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Council's Preferred Options for the Local plan.
I have lived in the area for my whole life, in the same house which backs onto the Greenbelt land, upon which there are development plans. Every day, I walk through this land and there is always another walker, runner, cyclist, dog walker etc., out and making the most of this wonderful expanse of countryside in the area. I was, therefore, quite shocked, as well as mystified, when I heard of the proposed plans to remove this Greenbelt from the area to which it adds so much, and has done so over my years here.
I am not only surprised to hear of the plans because of the recreational value of this land. The land also prevents unrestricted sprawl of the town of Leamington to the north, as well as its merging with Kenilworth.
Furthermore, it is unusual to propose development on this Greenbelt land because of the statement in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) attaching great value to Greenbelts such as that which is planned to be destroyed.
The NPPF also states that the alteration of Greenbelt boundaries should only happen in exceptional circumstances. I can report little success in finding any such circumstances, especially with the clear availability of other sites, mainly to the south of Leamington, which were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). This land is clearly a valid alternative, as is reinforced by the already established employment opportunities and infrastructure, therefore leaving no excuse to apparently ignore this land's potential, instead choosing to alter the boundaries of the Greenbelt land in Old Milverton and Blackdown. Since, then, there seems to be a lack of 'exceptional circumstances', the harm caused by choosing to develop on this Greenbelt is reason enough to reconsider your preferred options.
I hope you can realise the reason for my objection, and take heed of the obvious local discontent at these plans.