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We write to support the Revised Development Strategy, which recognises that the exceptional circumstances to develop the Green Belt to the North of Leamington do not exist. Much of this land is used for agricultural purposes and it is clearly in the country's interest that we do everything possible to maximise home production. Recent reports have emphasised the possibilities of future world food shortages and we must be doubly determined to preserve greenbelt land, because once it is built on, it will be lost to the nation's larder for ever.

It is also very important to limit urban sprawl by preserving the limited green space between Leamington and Kenilworth, which distinguishes the area and avoids the prospect of Leamington and Warwick being merged with the West Midlands conurbation.

Specifically we support the Revised Development Strategy because it:

1. Has a fair distribution of new housing across the District.

2. Removes the proposal to build 2,000 houses on the North Leamington Green Belt. Through the better use of sites, only 325 further houses are proposed on greenfield land, as opposed to the proposals in the Preferred Options for the Local Plan published last year.

3. Proposes that a substantial proportion of the new development is located close to where there are employment opportunities (to the south of Leamington & Warwick), providing an opportunity for people to live close to their place of work. This is obviously a sensible approach and furthermore there is almost unlimited green space to the south of Leamington where the nearest town is Banbury.

4. Provides improvements to the road network south of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is important that these road improvements are carried out as part of a coordinated plan that will reduce traffic movements, ease congestion and reduce pollution.

5. Provides for the necessary schools and other infra-structure required to support the new development.

We do not have the information to query the number of new houses included in the Revised Development Strategy, but we must always be vigilant in restricting house building to that which is absolutely necessary and avoid the concreting over of attractive, productive land, which is a key reason why people choose to settle here.