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The proposal identified land at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre which was suitable for a gypsy and travellers site. I do not believe that any land at the site is suitable as any area chosen will dramatically affect the operation of the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre which has been a trading business on the site for over 10 years (part of Meridienne Exhibitions Ltd).
This is a viable and thriving exhibition centre which attracts nearly 40,000 visitors a year to a full range of events.
I work at the exhibition centre and my role is to specifically grow the venue usage which I have achieved over the past few years. We are now enjoying significant growth in new events and also retaining most clients year on year.
As news of the proposed site has spread most of my clients have phoned for assurance as to how this will affect their event. If you are unaware the exhibition and event industry normally has a 6-12 month lead time from when an event is booked at a venue to actually operating. In some cases this can be extended up to 2 years. Clearly any potential usage of our site for a gypsy or travellers site is a huge concern for clients and potential clients. They simply do not know what impact this will have on the venue's ability to service their event as they need all the surrounding land for their parking and event operations.
I have already lost potential bookings because of the adverse publicity to date of our venue being named so clearly in the proposals. Customers simply want to book a venue that they know will be suitable for their event and at the moment, what we will become over the coming years is not clear or stable.
I must also stress that we contribute massively to the local economy in terms of additional spend from thousands of visitors and hundreds of exhibitors we attract to the area, be it on entertainment, accommodation, travel or leisure. The value of this should not be underestimated to the local economy when there are shops closing every day.
Only last week I attended an event organised by Business Enterprise & Tourism Officer, representing the Enterprise, Housing & Revenues section of Stratford on Avon District Council. Within that we were trying to find ways to support Southam and attract more tourism to the area and the impact and potential from the visitors that we already attract was clearly identified as critical to supporting this plan and encouraging greater tourism of Southam.
The exhibition centre also directly supports a team of up to 40 employees during events - all whose jobs are at risk should the proposed site be granted. Without doubt whatsoever the exhibition centre would cease to exist as clients would simply move to other venues where there was no external issues which affected their event.
I understand that some of the suitability and sustainably of the proposed site is judged on public transport - although there is a bus route close to the site stops were implemented only in recent years since a local resident on the Radford Semele hill wanted his young son to have independence and hence formal bus stops were introduced. We very rarely recommend to visitors to use this as it is a treacherous road to walk along, and an infrequent service, in fact, we put on a mini bus for most events from the station direct to the venue to ensure visitors safety.
The Fosse Way itself has had numerous accidents in recent years hence the volume of traffic warning signs and the installation of a speed camera in an attempt to manage the traffic and reduce accidents on this stretch of road.
The final point I would like to make is that one of the criteria is to promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community. Because of the location, the immediate residents who would become the "local community" have their homes in 6 dwellings. Within these 6 dwellings there are no more than 30 residents. From what I understand the proposed site could be home to more than 120 gypsies and travellers - this is not integration into the local community but rather a take over which makes residents who have been in their homes for over 10+ years the minority community.
I could continue to answer the many other criteria by which you will deem whether this site is suitable or not but following the meeting where nearly 400 local residents attended I feel you may have evidence from them on these points.
My concern is that the Enfusion report simply could not ascertain the effect on the local economy of the proposed site. Clearly if you name in the site location an active and thriving business you will affect the local economy and hopefully you can understand from my objective the risk to jobs, local economy and a thriving businesses.