BASE HEADER

see attached

I have read the proposals in the WDC Draft Local Plan and would like to express my concerns and objections.


I would like to register a formal objection to the removal of land from the Green Belt north of Milverton, and the proposed building of 250 houses and park-and-ride scheme, followed by a further 1100 houses, railway station and commercial property within 5 years.

Whilst there may be need to provide additional housing in South Warwickshire in the future, it is not logical nor permissible to consider using this green belt land to support Coventry City's housing need. This proposal does not demonstrate removal of Green Belt Land in and around Old Milverton is a viable solution for that purpose nor does it have any merit in demonstrating Coventry folk both living and working in the City would contemplate buying houses in Old Milverton.

Traffic congestion in the Leamington/Warwick area is already a significant problem on both Southern and Northern entry/exit routes and whilst the suggestion of Park and Ride facilities are put forward it has not been demonstrated that residents of the proposed area will want to use the facility to travel into Coventry, and will certainly not use it for trips into Leamington Spa. They will use their cars.

The proposal for an additional railway station in the Milverton area again has no logic considering the existence of existing under-utilised facilities in inter alia, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Warwick Parkway and the Kenilworth facility under construction..

The "Exceptional Circumstances" needed to be demonstrated to allow a decision to remove this land from the green belt have not been demonstrated and do not, to my sight exist. To my understanding there are lesser value sites closer to Coventry which, on the basis of planning precedent, should be used in preference to the land in Old Milverton.

In order for Modifications 16 and 14 to become sound:

The land North of Milverton should remain in the Green Belt

The development proposed on the land north of Milverton should be reallocated to alternative sites closer to Coventry which have a lower "Green Belt" value and are capable of delivering the required housing.