Testun llawn:
Having reviewed the consultation version of the Barford Neighbourhood Development Plan I have the following comments.
I am broadly supportive of the document however:
At para 5.53 the document talks about Area 8 (Barford House Land) as an important wood / spinney or " Green Corridor". The area is undoubtedly free from development but I believe its importance and environmental significance has been over egged and its inclusion here is misleading. It is not a woodland, nor a spiny, but an enclosed area of pasture. There is no clear evidence base that makes this piece of open land stand out in comparison to any others in and around the village.
Under Policy B10 land around Barford House is included as worthy of protection as a "Local Green Space". No evidence is presented as to why this might be the case. Parts of the area may have a role in providing the setting to a listed building but the area is visually enclosed and is not accessible to the public. The inclusion of this land in this policy is unsubstantiated and may be seen to be inconsistent.
The Plan does not put forward a clear rationale or position about development of land to the west between the existing settlement edge and the bypass. There are clearly development opportunities here, however there is an argument for some restraint to avoid the creation of a "wall" of development along the bypass. There is an argument for the creation of a staggered or feathered edge along the bypass avoiding wholesale development of the infill area. Whilst implicit in the land allocations in the Neighbourhood Development Plan, this principle has not been articulated. IT would be helpful if it was.
In the "Main Issues" section under the heading "Traffic", there is a suggestion that removal of a grass strip along Wasperton Lane to provide parking would be a good idea. This is a proposal I have heard mentioned by the Parish Council. Such a scheme would have a dramatic urbanising effect on what is a pleasant street and junction with Wellesbourne Road. A further unintended adverse effect of such a scheme would be to remove the natural traffic calming provided by the on-street parking. I suggest that this proposal would cause significant harm to the character of this part of the village and would deliver very little benefit.