Testun llawn:
I believe that this modification is unsound because there has been no demonstration of the 'exceptional circumstances' required to develop important and highly-valued green belt land. We will never regain any green-belt land that is lost; the current government and opposition, and in this case the local-community all agree that green belt land should have the highest importance attached to its preservation and protection.
As an example of this concord please see:
https://hansard.digiminster.com/Commons/2016-03-15/debates/16031557000003/HousebuildingKing%E2%80%99SHillCoventry
The proposed modification regards an area of green belt that also has a 'highly ranked' importance attached to it's green belt status. Although I believe all green belt land should be protected wherever possible, there are lower value green belt sites closer to Coventry that should be considered in preference to the land in Old Milverton; a valuation criteria established in previous planning decisions.
Developing on this land is undesirable because it means the loss of an area of land that is important to Old Milverton's identity as a distinct village and our local infrastructure, the land:
* provides a treasured recreational area for joggers, dog-walkers, amblers and families giving them an important and easily accessible escape from urban life
* the local road system is inadequate to deal with increased traffic and the proposed changes would increase congestion problems in rush-hours and the risks of death & injury to all road-users
* replacing agricultural land with a built-up area is likely to create drainage & flooding issues that have not been thoroughly evaluated
* there will be a large and negative environmental impact not just in terms of the loss of the greenbelt land itself but also for the surrounding areas of countryside in terms of light, noise & air pollution and the effect on local wildlife and habitats
I also totally agree with Old Milverton parish council assessment of the plans, who have objected to them on the basis that the proposed development is to support Coventry City Council's housing need and have highlighted that there are sustainable sites closer to Coventry that should be used in preference to the land North of Milverton to reduce unnecessary commuting, inevitable congestion and further road construction and that the proposed park-and-ride scheme is ill-conceived and unsustainable for the reasons they have cited.
I would like to add that I realise that planning is a difficult job, balancing many needs, but the continued attempts by the council to develop this land, contradicting national policy to protect high-value green belt and the flying in the face of the local community's views is really surprising and very disappointing.