BASE HEADER

We wish to object very strongly to the proposal to develop Green Belt land to the north of Leamington Spa. We find it astonishing that WDC appears to be ignoring the Government's National Policy Framework which exists to prevent unpopular local plans, especially on Green Belt land. Briefly, our reasons for objecting are:

1. Loss of amenity. The footpaths in this area are used on a daily basis by hundreds of ramblers, dog walkers, cyclists, joggers and even horse riders. There is no other similar amenity in the area, and its loss would be devastating to many people who currently make use of it, including ourselves.

2. Use of Green Belt land. The Government's National Policy Framework requires there to be very special circumstances for there to be development in the Green Belt and for the harm created to the Green Belt to be outweighed by the benefit of the development. WDC say that these special circumstances are that there is no other land to develop - this argument is patently wrong as previous WDC plans have identified suitable alternative non-Green Belt land.

3. Urban sprawl. The proposed development will lead to Leamington, Old Milverton and Kenilworth merging into each other. Again this is would be counter to one of the main purposes of Green Belt land.

4. Infrastructure. It will require further land and huge expense to provide the infrastructure necessary to support the development. The proposed Northern Leamington Relief Road would utterly ruin Old Milverton and the agricultural land surrounding it.

5. Level of Housing Provision. WDC has over-estimated the requirement for new homes in the area, as the number described has been obtained from projections from a period of exceptional growth.

We sincerely hope that WDC reconsider this absurd and very unpopular proposal