Testun llawn:
I would like to object to the proposed plan to change use of Leamington Football pitch site into a traveller site ref GT04.
I have always supported the use of the site as a football ground and it is now well established so I can't see sensible reason to move it, the cost would be considerable and I suspect to be subsidised by the rates payers to at least some degree? I agree the site is some distance by road from Leamington which is not ideal for transport on match days but buses services are offered. The added benefit from being away from town is the noise level to many residents on match days either mid-week evening or weekend afternoon, this can be quite considerable as singing/chanting and cheers for a goal this would be annoying to nearby residents whereas at Leamington Hall most of us are 200m away.
The fact that the site is not near any local community is a major reason not to use this site as guidelines suggest the traveller sites should be near shops, surgeries, schools. There is no daily bus route here and I am confident a few traveller families requiring the occasional bus daily would not economically justify a new service to be started or is one going to be subsidised at ratepayers expense? There is no footpath along the Harbury Lane and it is not a pleasant road to cycle along which I know from experience. The distance from the site to shops is 2 miles+ to Whitnash or Bishops Tachbrook, maybe slightly less to Harbury but climbing a very steep hill.
There are a multitude of reasons in planning guidance in addition to the above as to why this site is unsuitable which have been listed by my neighbours here at Leamington Hall which I also back wholeheartedly and do not need relisting both wasting my time to write and your time to read!
It is well documented that the report recommending the need for the number of traveller sites is flawed and this should be investigated properly by WDC as time usefully spent here would save not only the cost of providing but also running a number of sites.
In summary
I object to GT04 on the grounds of -
Costs to move the football ground
Noise pollution in town
Distance to facilities for travellers and lack of infrastructure
Lack of adhering to planning guidance
I question the reliability of the needs report and therefore the cost of establishing and running the number of sites in the area.