Testun llawn:
Barford Residents' Association has consulted with many residents in Barford since the Gypsy and Traveller sites were first proposed last year, and we wish you to know that the residents of Barford object most strongly to the sites GT06, GT12, GTalt 12 proposed in the recent plan, with particular reference to the area known as GT12 as we (the Barford Residents) believe they are totally unsuitable for the following reasons mindful of the Council's own criteria.
The first criterion is for convenient access to a GP surgery. There are no GP surgeries in Barford, the nearest quoted in the brochure in Tachbrook is actually 4.4 miles away by road. This site would therefore fail in this criterion.
Although there is a school and limited public transport - the need to cross the Barford Bypass means that these services are not safely accessible and certainly there is no adequate pedestrian crossing facility to assist in accessing these services.
The western part of the area does fall within or very close to the flood plain as identified on the Environment Agency maps. Development in this area would not be consistent with avoiding areas with a high risk of flooding.
In our view safe access would not be possible. The Barford Bypass already has a poor accident record. Adding slow moving vehicles and turning traffic would exacerbate an already unsafe situation.
The Barford Bypass is adjacent to the site and therefore this is not consistent with an objective of avoiding locating development where there is potential for noise and other disturbance. Noise mitigation, if it were possible, would reduce the land available for the site, be very expensive and not very effective.
There are no utilities within the proposed area so these would have to be provided at considerable cost and disturbance to traffic using the Bypass whilst this work was being undertaken. There has to be a question as to whether the Gypsies and Travellers would be able to, or wish to, fund this development as it would add significantly to the individual pitch price.
The proposed site is Grade 2 agricultural land and a reduction in the holding area it is situated in would render it non-viable as a holding.
The Council has produced no evidence in relation to the ecological and biodiversity importance of the land within the areas proposed. It is our contention that development in this area would cause unacceptable harm to biodiversity interest contrary to the provisions of the NPPF. Indeed we are very much aware that the area contains a number of protected species including, but not limited to, water voles and badgers which we understand, to be legally protected species. This, in our view, represents a failure to accord with the Council's proposed criteria to avoid areas where there could be adverse impact on important features of the natural environment.
Given that this site is greenfield and divorced from the settlement of Barford by the Bypass it is not considered capable of accommodating development that could be successfully integrated into the landscape without materially harming the character of the area.
This site does not fully accord with the provisions of 'Planning Policy for Traveller sites' as it does not promote peaceful integrated co-existence between the site and the local community and does not avoid undue pressure on local infrastructure and services.
The owner of the site is not willing to sell and Compulsory purchase proceedings would therefore need to be initiated. This would be strongly resisted by both the landowner and the residents of Barford.
SUMMARY
There are no GP surgeries in Barford.
There is no safe access to the school or public transport as to access both would require crossing the very busy and dangerous Barford Bypass.
The Barford Bypass already has a poor accident record, adding more traffic in this location and particularly large slow moving vehicles would exacerbate an already unsafe situation.
There are no utilities i.e., running water, toilet facilities, waste disposal. GT12 places undue pressure on local infrastructure and services and therefore does not promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community.
In light of the above we wish you to represent our objections to the appropriate interested parties on the basis that these sites, particularly GT12, is not appropriate as a Gypsy and Traveller site as it is unsuitable, undeliverable and could not be developed
PROPOSED STRATEGY
A number of the required Gypsy and Traveller sites should be accommodated in the new housing developments allocated in the Local Plan. This will give Warwick District Council the opportunity to address all the Gypsy and Traveller's needs at the planning stage rather than imposing them on existing communities.
I trust you will take the above points into consideration and reflect the views of many of your constituents when considering the recommendations for Proposed Gypsy & Traveller Sites in the New Local Plan