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I am writing to express my opposition to gypsies and travellers being given the right to occupy land at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. I have several serious objections.
Firstly, this beautiful rural area in which I live is having its essential characteristics whittled away. Ufton Wood is supposed to be ancient woodland, precious and needing to be protected. The area abounds with wildlife and is the approach to major tourist areas. In my village there are holiday properties for visitors to the rural and historic Warwickshire area. Surely a site for the travellers would adversely affect attempts to encourage tourists to the area. This site is on the Archaeological Register and should be protected not have its nature destroyed.
Secondly, I was disbelieving when I found that you were going to acquire land which would result in a flourishing business having to close - The Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. I feel you may not be aware of the valuable contribution this business makes to the local area. It provides local work, and, in addition, accessible casual work for our young people. I don't feel you appreciate the difficulties of living in a rural area if you are planning to close a business which can flourish in a location like this.
My third objection concerns the traffic in the area. Having for many years commuted to work along the Fosse Way, I am horrified that you are thinking of creating a site which would result in multiple vehicles coming out of a new entrance and joining the Fosse Way. 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 can travel at consistently high speed and resent slowing for local traffic. I believe there have been 12 serious accidents in the last 3 years; to my knowledge 2 of these have involved the deaths of 2 local people. These could be my children. I do not think you should be adding to the danger of such a road. I am also 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 getting off school buses, 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 also remember that when my own children attended Harbury School, newcomers to the village often had difficulties obtaining the required places at the school. I doubt very much our fragile local services could cope very well with a big influx of newcomers. There will be absolutely no access to services except by driving, which is highly undesirable.
For these reasons, I think this would be an inappropriate location for a new traveller site.