BASE HEADER

Gwrthwynebu

ID sylw: 6828

Derbyniwyd: 18/09/2009

Ymatebydd: Paul, Elizabeth & Thomas Karnik

Both me, my wife and family would formally like to object to the overall plan to build 8,100 new homes in the Warwick area, and specifically on the area of restraint, phase 1E on the Core Strategy Preferred Options Document (Plan 5)

How the Baroness has the nerve to overrule the area of restraint beggars belief and is completely unacceptable, and she should be told so. If you could be so kind as to give me her full name and title I will communicate to her directly my displeasure at her outrageous decision.

Firstly we would point out the lack of dispersal of the planned development (namely 1A, 1B, 1E, 1F, 2F and 3F). The planned development is focused almost entirely on land south of Warwick. This area has already been significantly developed in recent years exerting pressure on existing services and infrastructure.

We wish to strongly object specifically about the development in the area of restraint to the west of Europa Way. This area had been identified as an area of restraint at the time of planning the Warwick Technology Park. It was put forward as an untouchable green buffer zone to separate Warwick from Leamington Spa, to prevent the two towns becoming one urban sprawl. This was identified by my lawyers when conducting a search when looking to move here and was a prime reason in the decision to buy the house in which I now live.
The Core Strategy Preferred Option would severely damage the character of the area and create urban chaos and loss of identity of the two towns.
Furthermore, the land west of Europa Way (1E) is rich agricultural land which has been served well under the careful stewardship of the Oken Trust and Henry VIII Trust. The local farmer also serves the land well and its wonderful to hear the sounds of the country on a summers morning when waking up. You are threatening to completely destroy this with your proposal. There are also wide green hedges providing habitats for many wildlife species including woodpeckers, buzzards, bats, foxes, deer as well as newts and hedgehogs. Its also a wonderful rural area where walking the dog is an absolute pleasure.

We object to the fact that the area of restraint (1E) is one of the first to be developed under the proposals, and should with immediate effect be designated as the last site to be developed to protect this area until a viable alternative is found, and the probable and most welcome change in Government occurs, as the shadow secretary has already indicated that when they come to power they will cancel all these strategies. Stopping this now will save the council taxpayers of this district significant sums of money - my money!

The plan has been presented to the public with a total lack of detail or alternative development options for public consideration.

There has been no plan for the infrastructure in terms of drainage, sewerage, roads public transport, schools, hospitals, or other public services as confirmed by the councillors at the last two public meetings. Nor have there been any impact studies on traffic, schools, drainage, sewerage, health provision or indeed employment. You said yesterday that you HOPE employment would be encouraged into the area - its no good hoping, you must have a clear plan and you do not have one. Traffic in South Warwick is already past saturation point, with both the Myton Road and Europa Way being virtually impassable between 8am-9am and 4pm-6pm. There is absolutely no capacity on these roads for a further 1250 houses on option 1E or the additional houses being proposed in the south of Warwick at peak time. If any studies are done during these times (and not during school holidays I may add) they will easily confirm what I am saying. This will not only have a detrimental effect and impact o the quality of life of myself, neighbours and current residents of Warwick, but also on Warwick's capacity to attract tourism.

Current plans also include additional development for 'employment use' in areas 1E, 1F, 2F and 3F. Given the number of vacant industrial and office buildings in Warwick, as pointed out by councilors at the public meeting on the 17th August 2009, we would question the need for further development and therefore object to it. As I said earlier you need more than hope to attract business to the area - you need a plan.

In addition, development of the area of restraint (1E) threatens local houses with a real risk of flooding. At present during heavy rain, the run off is slowed by the pasture and crops. It backs up by the malins and is relieved into the Myton School playing fields. It has been shown that any earthworks in the area floods houses. Myton Gardens was flooded when one development was carried out. More recently a property on Myton Crescent was flooded when building work was done at the old Trinity School site. Developing the Myton Road site would threaten ALL of the houses south of the Myton Road. I also give you notice that if this development is built then I expect the council to provide insurance cover should I be unable to obtain cover due to flooding as you have been warned.

The schools in this area are well oversubscribed so where will the extra children be educated?
Warwick Hospital would require significant expansion to cope with the additional population, is there a budget for this?
There is no capacity for extra cars and people at the stations for commuters. When they got off the trains they would not be able to get where they need to because of the congestion.

In closing I trust and hope as elected representatives of the people of this district that you listen to what you are being told by the people who vote you in.
This government is on its last legs and the opposition has already said they will scrap these proposals and others like them, so stop this proposal now.
You should conduct your affairs with the public in mind, not the shameful greedy antics and wants of developers who are only looking to make handsome profits. Nothing wrong with making profits but not at the expense of public opinion and quality of life for the people who currently live here or those who may wish to move here in the future

We wish to see the whole plan withdrawn and an alternative plan presented that reflect the overwhelming opinion of the Warwick Population (as evidenced by the public meetings on the 17th August 2009 and 17th September 2009) and that will preserve the character of Warwick as a beautiful and historical county town, one which we all should be proud of.