Testun llawn:
1. Infrastructure must be the primary consideration of any Draft plan and this appears to be ignored by the current proposals. The thoroughfares of Warwick cannot cope with the addition of further traffic. We already have a situation whereby all traffic from the north (Coventry), north-west (Kenilworth) and north-east (north Leamington) is funnelled into Coten End and St. Nicholas' Church Street. The facilities for traffic wishing to turn right into Coventry Road from Coten End are such that, earlier this week, the traffic lights had to change four times before traffic could proceed from Coten End into St. Nicholas' Church Street because of buses and heavy vehicles trying to turn right.
All of this traffic then meets up with further traffic at the southern end of St. Nicholas' Church Street. This further traffic represents all traffic from south Leamington and traffic from the south including traffic leaving the north-bound traffic of the M40.. This already creates major delays during the morning rush-hour and at school times. Traffic is frequently 'backed up' on Myton Road beyond Myton Crescent and on the Banbury Road beyond the Barford turn. To increase the amount of traffic entering Warwick without major road building would be criminally negligent. Having regard to the existing development, the only possibility appears to be a feeder dual carriageway between the A46 running parallel to the M40 between Junctions 15 and 13 with a dedicated access to Gibbet Hill.
2. I believe the population of Warwick currently to be about 32,000 but the construction of 12,300 new homes could well increase that population by more than 75% based on a family unit of 2.4.
What facts and information exist to show that industry, commerce and services can expand to provide employment for such an increase in population? If the sources of employment do not increase by such a factor then even more pressure will be placed on roads and public transport as these new residents commute over longer distances to and from work. Surely the sensible plan is to proceed far more slowly matching residential construction to employment needs.
3. The whole concept of community is being eroded and will be worsened by the proposed development. Certainly provision is envisaged for new schools but far more is needed in the provision of community facilities such as leisure centres, youth clubs, creches, churches, shops and services. I watched the development of the Clifton estate on the south-west side of Nottingham and the development of the Amington estate on the north side of Tamworth. These were disastrous with husbands having to use the sole family car to commute to work, being absent for long hours because of commuting time and not facilities for the wives and families left at home. Infrastructure and such facilities must be provided before land is released for residential development.