BASE HEADER

This latest version of WDC's local plan seems much the same as last summer's one. An attempt to distribute some of the dwellings seems to have slightly reduced the number proposed for the area just south of Leamington and Warwick. This number still comes to 4550 dwellings.
Stratford's proposed allocation at Gaydon will further aggravate traffic.Wider and maybe more roads are essential for the proposed 4550 dwellings south of Leamington and Warwick. Bus services improvements are planned but past experience is that users are reluctant to use them. Buses in this area are expensive. Rather than putting a very high proportion of the development in one place and rely on road 'improvements' to support it, WDC should distribute more of the developments along rail corridors. WDC should look at one or two eco-towns each built around a new (or perhaps existing) railway station on the lines to Solihull and/or Coventry. An eco-town of around 1700 dwellings would allow all residents to be within 400m of the station. This could also be the site of the local health centre, primary school, shops and other community facilities. This approach would be more sustainable and help residents cope with rising fuel prices.I suspect this approach is ruled out simply because it means building on green belt which seems to be sacred.WDC should pursue such a development policy while seeking reform of green belt laws and designing the towns to preserve the overall concept of green belt and ensuring the development is truly sustainable.