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I am writing to express my opposition to a gypsy/traveller site at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. I have a number of serious objections.
Firstly, I was very surprised when I found out that the potential site would involve compulsory purchase which would lead to the closure of a flourishing local business, the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. This organisation makes a valuable contribution to the local area, creating direct employment for up to 40 people and indirect employment for many more. In these days I find it difficult to believe that a decision would be taken that would lead directly to the closure of a successful and important local business and the loss of local jobs.
Secondly, I am very concerned about the impact on traffic and the safety of both users of the potential travellers' site and other road users. The Fosse Way is a notoriously dangerous road and on this particular stretch there have been numerous recent accidents. I am concerned to think of the danger to the traveller children who are going to live adjacent to this road. It is alarming to think of them walking out or using bicycles to take themselves about. There is very little room to pass a cyclist and absolutely no pavements to walk on. This is a dangerous position in which to place families. I am also very concerned at the prospect of the creation of a site which would result in many additional vehicles constantly coming in and out of a new entrance and joining the Fosse Way every day. In my experience, a lot of incidents on this road are caused by local traffic emerging from side roads at slower speeds than the long distance drivers. These drivers think they are on a major road where they can travel at consistently high speed and do not appreciate the danger of slower local traffic pulling on and off the main road.
I am also concerned that this site is far from ideal because of the difficulty of access to vital local amenities including a doctor's surgery and primary school. There is no public transport from the site to either. Users of the site would have to walk a significant distance along the dangerous road to the nearest bus stop, or travel by car with the dangers described above. It is also possible that these local amenities would not have the capacity to cope with the influx.
My final concern is that this beautiful rural area in which I live is having its essential characteristics whittled away. Ufton Wood is ancient woodland, precious and needing to be protected. The area abounds with wildlife and is the approach to major tourist areas. This site is on the Archaeological Register and should be protected not have its nature destroyed.
For these reasons, I think it wrong to locate a new gypsy/traveller site at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.