Testun llawn:
Dear sirs,
I feel the need to email my comments regarding recent consultations and the local plans for development and travellor sites within the Warwick area.
I have massive reservations to both the plans and have listed them below.
I hope that I am in time to make my objections heard within the consultation period.
I would like to comment that we were not informed properly, and only found out about these activities by doing research and talking to others in the local community. Having heard that wheely bins had flyers left on them (we don't have a wheely bin), local radio and supermarkets used as tools (we work long hours and are at work when this must have happened, I must admit I am very disappointed by the councils actions.
I do understand the needs and government requirements but wonder if all consequences have been taken into consideration, Warwick is a small chocolate box town which tourists flock to and local businesses need.
Local development plan
Over 6000 dwellings planned for construction
1- pollution
This area is already measured as above levels of pollution that are acceptable for townships, adding to the number of homes and cars will only increase this unacceptable level. This in turn increases the risks of asthma and other ailments in the young and frail. I would also like to point out that at least 20% of people who die from lung cancer have never smoked, a statistic that should not be ignored when planning to massively increase areas of population.
2 - road infrastructure
The road system around this area cannot sustain the number of vehicles that use the roads. Traffic build up, congestion and long ques are something that we all struggle with. It can often take 45 minutes to drive the few miles from Warwick to Leamington. This is also affecting properties and how stable they are structurally. The M40 junctions near Tachbrook and out to Gaydon already have long ques on the hard shoulder in the mornings where people have to wait hoping that nothing will happen to them whilst other drivers rocket past them at 70 miles an hour.
Surely this will also have an impact on local businesses, as they rely on people passing through for trade, and using the current road systems, I understand that plans to change traffic flows could mean a threat to our small beautiful town. Having had a car written off whilst it was parked outside my home, it is a worry to me that more cars will only mean more risk of damage, and worse.
3 - flood impact
This area does have problems with surface water collection, not technically flooding, but major issues are often seen. Surely new building areas will only increase these problems as there will be less natural land for water to discourse into.
4 - sewer systems
Can the current sewer system take the amount of new homes proposed? Considering that the water board don't have accurate plans for the sewer systems I wonder how this will be reported against and updated.
5 - entertainment for young people
We already have problems with vandalism (especially cars and during holiday periods) in the area and with an increase in homes, families and teenagers it seems only logical that without enterntainments to keep them occupied this will quite possibly increase. I wonder how many times my car will be keyed, bonnet jumped on, wing mirror smashed off, washer jet caps stolen again in the future. I don't have infinite funds to keep repairing damage caused, and would like to see some proper actions made to decrease these.
Travellor sites
1 - access to GP's, schools & public transport
The current population struggles with access to see GP's, and it takes over two weeks to have a scheduled appointment with a doctor or nurse unless you take the tact of it being urgent, an increase in people in the area will only make this worse.
Local schools are already too large, and are struggling with the numbers of children needing places, how can this be managed effectively?
2 - avoiding flood areas
Flood or surface water problems, as we do have surface water issues, which are not recorded and reported against. Making it a little inaccurate to use only a flood report to go on.
3 - noise and disturbance
Wherever there are groups of people there will be noise disturbance.
4 - undue pressure on local infrastructure
With all the activities planned it is clear that this will have an impact on an already fragile infrastructure.
5 - integration in local landscapes
Having seen how a site is left on television program's, I don't feel I understand how this is possible without proper management of sites, which I understand will not happen.
I know not a valid reason for complaint but it was discussed at a consultation meeting that council tax would be required to be paid, but I don't understand how this wil be collected, rates also fall into this.
I would also like to know who will fund the proposed utility blocks.
Could you advise what numbers of sites are required in adjoining wards, as it seems our green belt land percentage is massive and I do wonder if this has been considered.
I hope these reasons can be taken into consideration as being genuine and relevant concerns.