Testun llawn:
Response to WDC Consultation on Gypsy and Traveller Sites
The three proposed sites that are either abutting or adjacent to the parish are: GT02, GT03 and GT04.
GTO2 - Land either side of the Fosse Way (B4455) north of the junction with the A425.
GT03 - Land SE of the junction of Harbury Lane and the Fosse Way (aka Bendigo Mitchell Crossroads)
GT04 - Land NW of the junction of Harbury Lane and the Fosse Way.
Harbury Parish Council fully accepts that WDC and SDC should provide suitable sites for travellers. However it does not believe that these specific sites are suitable on planning grounds.
The consultation document suggests a number of criteria that might make a site suitable for traveller use.
Medical facilities - the nearest medical facility to these three sites is the surgery in Harbury. Discussions with the Senior Partner at Harbury surgery indicate that the surgery is already struggling to cope with demand. It has more than 6,000 registered patients since it serves Harbury, Bishops Itchington, and a number of the smaller surrounding communities including Ufton and Chesterton. Without significant extra resources to physically expand the medical facilities, there is no way the surgery could accept additional patients. Conclusion: There are no suitable medical facilities close to the proposed sites.
Schooling - the nearest primary school is Harbury Primary, but as with the surgery, it is already oversubscribed by children in the catchment area. School age children would likely have to travel into Leamington. Conclusion: There are no suitable educational facilities close to the proposed sites.
Public transport - these sites are not ideal. At GT03 & GT04 there are no footpaths for pedestrians, and might require a stop on the Fosse Way itself, adding to the accident risk. Conclusion: The proposed sites are not on existing public transport networks.
Safe access to the road network - All of these proposed sites are on a busy main road. The speed limit is 60mph and there have 57 accidents in the past five years on the Fosse between the B4100 and the A425. Three people have lost their lives in road accidents on this part of the Fosse in the past three years alone. Adding more traffic to this road, particularly junctions would inevitably increase the accident risk, particularly if some of those vehicles are slow moving (eg caravans/trailers). The potential risk both to travellers and the local population makes each of these three sites unsuitable. Conclusion: These sites do not offer safe access to the road network.
Flooding - Parts of GT03 and GT04 are noted on the flood maps on the Environment Agency website as being at risk of flooding. Conclusion: WDC should research these sites comprehensively to assess the flood risk.
Impact on the historic landscape - both GT03 and GT04 are adjacent to the Roman Fort at Chesterton and the iconic windmill at Chesterton. Conclusion: The sites would have a detrimental impact on the historic landscape.
It is also noted that these three proposed sites, along with several others (GT1, GT10, GT12, & GT16) are on the boundary between Warwick and Stratford Districts. The impact of any traveller sites would thus largely be felt in the neighbouring district and not by council-tax payers in Warwick district.
Summary
As all three proposed sites would place considerable strain on the local resources and facilities, while also adding to the accident risk, it would appear that GT02, GT03 or GT04 are not suitable sites for travellers.