Testun llawn:
This is going directly against the Government's assurance that it would maintain protection for the Green Belt and against the promises by ministers that their reforms under the National Planning Policy Framework would not lead to a degradation of the Green Belt.
There are still no exceptional circumstances. When the exceptional reasoning for building on North Leamington's Greenbelt were read out in our meeting at Old Milverton Church on March 14th, there was a round of laughter. It took a few moments for us to realise that Mr. Landers was not joking!
While I appreciate houses are needed in Warwick District, I do not agree that there are exceptional circumstances to build on the Greenbelt for the following reasons:
1) You say that it needs to be there because it needs to be close to the A46!
a) If you build in Leamington Spa, it's not just people from Coventry who will buy the houses so why is this relevant?
b) There is more appropriate, cheaper land available closer to Coventry which you have identified but discounted.
c) The Greenbelt is there to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. I do not believe urban regeneration has been properly investigated due to builders putting pressure on the Council. In addition to this land closer to Coventry, we have acres of land on the old School on Kenilworth Road, which I've been told is being overlooked because it is too expensive to demolish. There is also 8 acres of land off Coventry Road in Warwick which could be developed into lovely canalside houses like the ones on Myton Road. The Old Travis Perkins site by Leamington train station would be a great location for apartments.
2) Coventry City Council have pledged to preserve Greenbelt land in Coventry so it's comical we are planning to use Greenbelt land to fulfil their housing shortfall? The Coventry Local Plan States "The Local Plan will make sure Coventry keeps its beautiful parks, green belt and open spaces as the city grows. High quality, well-connected green areas can make Coventry a much more attractive and prosperous city, and a healthier place to live and work. The plan will look at all areas of the city's green environment, from individual protected trees to areas of open land, woods, parks and wildlife sites. It looks at the green belt that surrounds the city and the green corridors within it. It looks at how to protect public parks, allotments, churchyards, nature reserves, waterways, civic squares, sports pitches, play areas and much more........"
Coventry City Council clearly values and appreciates the Greenbelt. Why is the Greenbelt in Leamington Spa being prioritised for building Coventry's houses? Why can't we have a attractive, healthy place to live and work and they get to keep theirs? Do we not have environmental values or any plans to maintain healthy living for residents of Warwick District? If you build on our Greenbelt, we would loose our access to open fields for walking / running and access to clean fresh air.
3) CCC also states in It's plan that it wants to "improve active travel - better networks for walking and cycling; cutting air and noise pollution through fewer car journeys and reducing the speed of vehicles".
There are closer areas to Coventry which have been identified for development which would reduce the air and noise pollution.
Park and Ride
Other than ticking a box, I do not understand why this has been proposed for the following reasons:
a) We already have ample parking in the form of private car parks and 10 district council car parks with just under 1900 spaces in Leamington Spa.
b) In addition to the money made in the council car parks, the Council also make up to £1 per hour in some places for on street parking. Surely this Park and Ride will, if any one actually uses it, will reduce Council income.
c) Let's presume that this is for the residents of the new houses:
i) I've heard that a majority of the houses are required for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Employees. They all have very nice company cars and it is doubtful they will use the Park & Ride.
ii) Do you think residents, regardless of where they work will drive 5 minutes up the road to get a 2 minute bus ride into Leamington Spa?
iii) There's a perfectly good bus stop at the island by Nuffield Hospital if you want to get a bus into Coventry.
iv) It only takes 20 mins to walk into Leamington town centre on foot and 5 minutes by bike so it would be more sensible to improve the cycle tracks instead of building a park and ride.
v) It would be more cost and environmentally efficient to put bus stops up in the new estate and improve the current bus services than build an ugly concrete Park & Ride on our Greenbelt.
It is becoming annoying obvious that the Builders who have "Building Rights" on the land are putting pressure on the Council to use this land as it is very valuable. Less valuable sites, close to an existing infrastructure are available and HAVE been identified by WDC but I presume are less desireable to builders because there's less profit to be made.
I'm extremely passionate about our Greenbelt because it is home to a wealth of wildlife, including small owls, badgers, foxes and crested newts and makes North Leamington a beautiful place to walk, cycle or run. It makes an entrance to Royal Leamington Spa an entrance to be admired and enjoyed by all. This is not only Greenbelt land, it's grade A agricultural land and we need to protect our resources to feed ourselves as a country.
Our Greenbelt currently prevents neighbouring towns merging into one another - the 2nd stage of this proposed building will merge Old Milverton Hamlet with Leamington Spa.