Testun llawn:
The ideal site, within W'k District for a G & T site is the Ford Foundry car park, which did have 75 Volvo trucks parked there ready for an auction. It is large enough and hard standing, so problems with flooding.
Please take Page 6 as the cover, with its short forms.
MY OBJECTION TO THE GYPSIES & TRAVELLER SITE ON STRATFORD ROAD, WARWICK
Warwick Town Council has rejected this site on planning grounds and feels the Localism Act is being ignored with such a weight of evidence against this site.
Planning Grounds:
1. Too close to main arterial road leading to historic town & Castle, will not attribute to the aesthetics of Warwick
2. In close proximity to two hotels
3. Ditto to prestigious training centre
4. Tournament Fields (employment) not yet fully let
5. Near existing employment land
6. Near huge 21st C housing estate
Warwick Town Council's objection is:
"The above site was not included in previous consultations because of the proximity of the sewage works, although it was in the area of land on which the DC informally consulted with the Town Council as land for commercial development, which the Town Council supported.
All the other proposed permanent sites, with one exception have fallen and the DC have now identified a site on the land referred to above and which is located within some 37 metres of the nearest residential property and located 400 metres from the Stratford Road and 760 metres from the M40 Junction.
Schools and communities are located within some 1.2 miles of the access to Longbridge Farm and there is a regular bus service in Stratford Road.
There may well be issues regarding flooding and access, for unless access is provided through the proposed commercial development, access would be via a narrow country lane, which passes a number of rural houses. The WCC have not yet advised on this issue.
Local residents have expressed concerns regarding the proposal to locate a G & T site at this location and cite as concerns:
The overall views of the Local Planning Authority are that this would apply to this land which should be developed for commercial rather than residential purposes.
Residents consider that the land should be regarded unsuitable for residential use because:
1. The close proximity of the sewage works and the M40
2. The inadequacy of access via Longbridge Lane
3. Issues regarding flooding possible contamination to the River Avon
4. The possible loss of amenity to residents on the access route
Why is the land suitable for residential use for a G & T site, but not general residential development? The same planning considerations should apply."
Derek Maudlin, Warwick Town Clerk
Access, Air, Water & Soil Quality, Flood Risk, the effect on the local economy and the fact that this proposed site pitch for 15 units is on the main highway from J 15 M40 down which most of Warwick Castle's 775,000 visitors arrive. It is unacceptable for a G & T site to be sited on an attractive entrance to the main Castle car park, bearing in mind that the Tree Council have just planted 2000 whips along the hedges of Stratford Road, to grow into magnificent deciduous trees in the years to come. This is forward thinking and the proposal for a G & T site is a negative proposal.
The effect on the Local Economy has been flagged up in many emails, 15 caravans (say 3 to a unit) = 45 people, will more illegal encampments take place around arguing with the flock of sheep for space, Budbrook School is in "special measures" because of over-crowding. The illegal encampment on Tapping Way, this summer, has frightened many residents. So they have direct experience of living with G & Ts. They left behind gas cylinders, toys, black sacks of rubbish, crockery, cardboard boxes and human waste. [All cleared up by Martyn Stacey's teams of RRUs]. All the rakes were stolen off the golf course on the Racecourse.
This land is not suitable for human habitation as planning would not be considered for houses, so why is it suitable for caravans? WDC has flagged this up as (?) so even officers don't know whether this should be RED, negative or GREEN, acceptable.
I have been inundated with over 90 emails from Stratford Road, The Peacocks & Chase Meadow residents and today, Fri 12 Dec, they are still arriving with the main objections being the stink from Severn-Trent Water's sewage disposal site. Admittedly the stink is less than it was in the 1980s along Stratford Rd, when I came to live in Warwick, but nearer the sewage works and across the road in Chase Meadow and adjacent in Longbridge Manor the sewage works lets out a terrible smell four times a day, presumably when they release a valve to emit the gases, at 9 am, 2 pm, 9 pm and 2 am. This summer (2014) was warm and even the nights were warm so Chase Meadow residents up at 2 am with babies to feed and the windows open were very conscious of the stink.
Chase Meadow Residents' Association organised an excellently run Public Meeting, at Aylesford School, on 4th Dec 2014, when Rt Hon Chris White MP addressed them on the badly organised consultation process. Then there was a presentation on their main objections, on a power point slide show. At the end, 8.45 pm, a few sensible questions were asked and answered by the Chairman and his deputy. There was no representative from WDC Planning Dept or the Leader, Andrew Mobbs. The one objection that hadn't occurred to me was the amount of money it will take, from WDC to make this land suitable. Figures of £250,000 to £3M have been suggested. George Osbourne's autumn statement emphasised that further savings have to be made in grants from HMG to Local Authorities. So the money just will not be there. Longbridge Lane is photo-ed in todays' Courier clogged up with stationary cars, there is no room for trucks/4 x 4s towing caravans to get down there. Therefore there must be another access.
The front cover of today's Courier is about, as they see it, the flawed Consultation process, by CM residents. What it should have had is "WHAT A STINK" as a headline as it is insensible to even suggest putting families adjacent to a sewage works.
The two Friday afternoons in Chase Meadow Community Centre, 2.30 to 6.30 were staffed by Mrs T Darke and a housing officer on the Friday I attended. CMRA residents assert these sessions finished too early for most people to attend, as they all travel a long way to work. They have chosen to live in Chase Meadow on the edge of the wonderful historic town of Warwick and feel cheated. The afternoon, I was there, Mrs Darke was very patient in answering questions about the process and the consultation. (The second Fri I collapsed again with the virus I have been suffering with for 6 weeks). I gather many people attended and there was a queue.
I presented a petition at a WDC Meeting to request this site be withdrawn from the WDC Consultation, which fell on deaf ears. I feel I have done my best in getting CMRA to present to you their 27 page objection, which was presented at the Public Meeting and I endorse all they say. They, of course, agree with Warwick Town Council. Along with the petition, there was a copy of two separate letters from Severn-Trent Water on why they will NOT ALLOW a G & T site within easy reach of water treatment plant, or a new access road.
What I would like to know is, why are Warwick West residents/citizens being treated as second-class citizens when all our objections are ignored? The petition has seemingly had no effect as the Consultation (ending on Fri 12 Dec) is going ahead. Many of the emails, I have received, cite various other parts of England where G & T sites have been organised by other DCs cf: Croydon flytipping, Gunnersbury Park (Grade 2 listed park) destroyed by tons of rubbish in June 2014, Daily Express article on couple driven to suicide in Aug 2014 in Bosbury, Herefordshire, in the EU Brussels City Council drove away 30 caravans by blasting Dire Straits rock music at 95 decibels through 10 large megaphones.
Another correspondent, newly married and moved to Warwick from Somerset, cites her parents' bankruptcy when their chicken farm was driven out of business by gypsy vans parked across their access drive, so feed lorries could not approach, which is just an example of what happens when a G & T site is approved. I really do fear for my constituents' lives, livelihood and whether Chase Meadow will become a ghost town because of the proximity of the proposed site on the other side of Chase Meadow and Tournament Fields. We all know about the money spent by Essex CC removing Dale House Farm caravans
Both Newburgh School and New Dispensary (GP practice) are fully subscribed and there is no hope of anymore children being admitted or patients registering there. WCC have recently expanded Newburgh School to accommodate the primary school children from Chase Meadow and there is now a proposal to build an extension to Aylesford School to be a 4-18 year old school, but that is NOT there yet and will take 18 months to build. [Mid 2016]
Several people cite the land straddles a transition from the urban fringe of brown field environment to an area of open agricultural land which provides an appropriate setting for both the town - with St Mary's Church Tower visible for miles around - and the Castle. As Heritage Champion we are continually being urged to consider the setting of both town and tourist attractions. The aesthetics of Warwickshire Countryside should be maintained and the uncluttered view from the M40 of Warwick town centre and its Castle should be kept.
Sustainability is the current watchword, with crime and disorder so much in evidence and with these over-stretched schools/doctors where will the G & T families get schooling and medicine? This site is just not sustainable, so close to the stink. Warwickshire's Director of Public Health report cites various aspects of planning almost encouraging road traffic accidents (dangerous corner of A429 by Longbridge Lane) so siting this G & T units alongside J15 M40 and the A46 is just asking for .trouble. Once again, WCC Highways have not put in an objection on these grounds. So I am. Two more emails today citing this dangerous corner and the queuing traffic trying to get to the J15 M40 roundabout to access either the motorway or the A46.
WDC is now more involved in Health with its own Health sub-committee so Health must be brought into the argument. It is unhealthy to site this G & T site here because of the proximity of the river, the sewage works and the motorway. The air quality is not sufficient for humans to breathe (apart from the few houses along Longbridge Lane and Paul Preston's farm). The stink from the sewage works precludes this site from being considered.
Tournament Fields is a Severn-Trent Water investment in employment land with office blocks approached by a beautifully maintained entrance of two lakes (balancing ponds) with fountains. This is now 10 years old and almost fully let. When I was Mayor of Warwick, I cut the sod for the Pure Office block and opened Eagle Burgmann office and workshop.
Longbridge Manor, now HQ of Forever Living Products, is beautifully maintained and has lovely gardens. Major Gray-Cheape of Warwickshire Yeomanry, a hero of the Great War, who owned this house and stables at the beginning of the 20th C would be proud of them. However, with the threat of a G & T site almost adjacent to them they are horrified. Their PR manager has been in touch expressing their horror.
Longbridge Lane is one of the few remaining remnants of historic landscape on the main route into Warwick and is designated as a "rural area" by WDC and is thus "protected from inappropriate development that would destroy its character and is not essential to meet local needs". This is important because by their very nature G & Ts are not local. It is only to include a site for the draft Local Plan to be accepted. Additionally there is no need for any more employment land as Tournament Fields is not yet fully let.
Katie Kwell, Managing Director of Pure Offices, Newbury, Berks objects as they have 14 sites within England and this one was the fastest to let because it is in such an ideal situation, alongside a motorway junction, near an international airport, decent housing and hotels. A G & T site on the other side of Stratford Rd would ruin their business.
Alongside is the Porridge Pot Holiday Inn, well used by Eagle Burgmann staff. They actually shut their cafe and restaurant when the illegal encampment, along Tapping Way, was in existence.
All this is actual evidence, gathered from my constituents, and is valid and is material evidence as to why this site should not even be considered for a G & T site.
HMG's advice for G & T sites state they should be in a safe environment, WDC has flagged up this aspect as RED (negative) so what mitigation are you proposing? Is it safe to put caravans and families with children in between a river (flooding problems) and a motorway junction with noise 24/7? It is safe for them to be adjacent to a sewage works with its stink? Surely that is a "hazardous process"? So will this site ever get through the planning process?
WDC cite this as YELLOW (minor negative) as it is within flood plains 2 & 3. G & T sites are vulnerable (caravans and families with children) and should not be permitted where there is a high probability that flooding will occur. Who will be the underwriter if these caravans and families are washed away in a flood? The Local Authority? Will the Environment Agency insist that WDC clean up the river if caravans are washed away, with their detritus?
A family has moved here from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics, and object on local services being already over-stretched as both daughters could not get into the same school so one is dropped off and the other daughter is continually late at the other school, so is in permanent trouble for lateness and mother is late in at work to pay for after school-care so this G & T proposal will make traffic worse, schools even more overcrowded and Warwick less of a desirable place to live in.
Cllrs in Warwick have a huge burden fighting against this proposal and another constituent thinks crime levels will soar (if this site is allowed) so we will be at fault. Why ruin the tourist entry into Warwick and its Castle from a prestigious and privileged environment safe for families to one of insecurity just because WDC has to bend over backwards to include a G & T site in their draft local plan.
One family has moved here from Bucks and is so disgusted and vehemently against this site in a town so heavily involved in tourism and on the main route into town and the Castle, they want to move away. Warwick families, who've moved to CM to new houses to save on maintenance, have put up with the accompaniment of noise, dust and clutter from the builders building more houses closer to Stratford Road, feel this proposal will stop further development because when they are built they will be more difficult to sell. Connells, at the moment, deny this.
One family have moved to CM from Warwick Gates because of the G & T proposal in Harbury Lane and NOTHING came up in the searches, their solicitor did, about the Stratford Rd site so they are even more angry that this site has been bounced upon the prestigious neighbourhood of CM in the historic Town of Warwick. They feel cheated. Another is now ashamed to be a resident of Warwick and is scared for her children already established in schools with the influx of gypsy children. It's a dreadful place to put families with children, landscaping to disguise it with a hedge or cupressus trees, surrounding the site, will create a little prison and this site is just not suitable. They feel WDC has made a big mistake in suggesting this as a possible site.
This land is not suitable for habitation by the settled community, who live in houses, so why is it considered alright for the G & T people?
LEAVE WARWICK AS IT IS AND REFUSE THIS PROPOSAL.
Cllr Elizabeth Higgins' objection to the proposed Gypsy & Traveller site on Stratford Road, Warwick.
I am Warwick West's Town & District Councillor and Heritage Champion for WDC.
There are several short-forms in this report:
Viz:
WDC = Warwick District Council
WCC = Warwickshire County Council
G & T = Gypsy & Traveller
RRUs = Rapid Response Units
CM = Chase Meadow
CMRA = Chase Meadow Residents' Association
THE IDEAL SITE FOR A G & T SITE IS THE FORD FOUNDRY CARPARK OR THE WCC SALT DEPOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF J15 M40.