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We write on behalf of Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd in respect of the Warwick District Council Gypsies and Travellers Options for Consultation document. Whilst there is an identified need to be met for gypsies and travellers either living in or passing through the area, it is imperative that the preferred sites are located where they embrace opportunities for community cohesion and maximise the accessibility of services for all.
Potential sites at Barford (sites GT12 and GT16)
We note that there are two sites for consideration adjacent to the settlement of Barford, covered by area of search GT12 and the specific site covered by GT16. Critically these sites are separated from the existing settlement of Barford by the A429, which by-passes Barford on the western side.
The A429 opened in February 2007 and is considered to clearly mark the western edge of Barford settlement in its current form. It is considered that the A429 has a significant impact on the ability of any sites to the west of it to meet the aims for future gypsy and traveller site provision as set out in the Planning Policy for Traveller sites (March 2012) document produced by DCLG. It should be noted that Local Planning Authorities should:
* promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community;
* ensure that children can attend school on a regular basis; and
* provide for proper consideration of the effect of local environmental quality (such as noise and air quality) on the health and well-being of any travellers that may locate there or on others as a result of new development. (Para. 11)
Taking the above points in turn, there are significant concerns as to how the allocation of the land covered by sites GT12 and GT16 can achieve 'integrated co-existence' with the existing community whilst separated both physically and visually from the existing residents of Barford. Furthermore, the opportunities to safely access services and facilities in the village - including Barford Church of England Primary School - will inevitably be negatively impacted on and due to the nature of the road may be unsafe. It is also noted that there is a mixture of an earth bund and a fence, which We write on behalf of Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd in respect of the Warwick District Council Gypsies and Travellers Options for Consultation document. Whilst there is an identified need to be met for gypsies and travellers either living in or passing through the area, it is imperative that the preferred sites are located where they embrace opportunities for community cohesion and maximise the accessibility of services for all.
Potential sites at Barford (sites GT12 and GT16)
We note that there are two sites for consideration adjacent to the settlement of Barford, covered by area of search GT12 and the specific site covered by GT16. Critically these sites are separated from the existing settlement of Barford by the A429, which by-passes Barford on the western side.
The A429 opened in February 2007 and is considered to clearly mark the western edge of Barford settlement in its current form. It is considered that the A429 has a significant impact on the ability of any sites to the west of it to meet the aims for future gypsy and traveller site provision as set out in the Planning Policy for Traveller sites (March 2012) document produced by DCLG. It should be noted that Local Planning Authorities should:
* promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community;
* ensure that children can attend school on a regular basis; and
* provide for proper consideration of the effect of local environmental quality (such as noise and air quality) on the health and well-being of any travellers that may locate there or on others as a result of new development. (Para. 11)
Taking the above points in turn, there are significant concerns as to how the allocation of the land covered by sites GT12 and GT16 can achieve 'integrated co-existence' with the existing community whilst separated both physically and visually from the existing residents of Barford. Furthermore, the opportunities to safely access services and facilities in the village - including Barford Church of England Primary School - will inevitably be negatively impacted on and due to the nature of the road may be unsafe. It is also noted that there is a mixture of an earth bund and a fence, which runs on the eastern side of the A429. This will both reduce the visual impact of the road and also limit the noise impact from vehicles utilising the bypass. It is a significant concern that any development of a gypsy and traveller site to the west of the A429 would not benefit from these features and the environmental quality of any sites to the west of the A429 must be considered in this regard.
Finally, the Planning Policy for Traveller sites also states that in considering planning applications sites should not be enclosed '... with so much hard landscaping, high walls or fences, that the impression may be given that the site and its occupants are deliberately isolated from the rest of the community.' (Para. 24) It is considered that this site would be contrary to this site-level consideration at the application stage due to the distinct isolation as discussed above and should therefore not be favoured as an allocation.

Summary
Given the above it is considered that the Council should ensure that there are opportunities to achieve community cohesion and access essential services for the travelling community on any sites included as future allocations. Significantly this should restrict development of a gypsy and traveller site on land to the west of Barford (sites GT12 and GT16) for the reasons set out above.