I object to the proposed development in Leicester Lane, Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils' Preferred Options for the Local plan.
This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by many runners, riders, walkers and cyclists. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.
The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It
Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth, Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment, Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town) Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.
The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.
Please reconsider your Preferred Options.

I object to the proposed development in Leicester Lane, Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils' Preferred Options for the Local plan.
This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by many runners, riders, walkers and cyclists.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.
The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north, rrevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth, helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment, helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town) and helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.
The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.
Please reconsider your Preferred Options

To whom it may concern,
I object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils's Preferred Options for the Local plan.

This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by many runners, riders, walkers and cyclists.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.

The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It
*Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
*Prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth
*Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment
*Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town)
*Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.

The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.

Please reconsider your Preferred Options.

Scanned representation

I strongly object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils's Preferred Options for the Local plan.

This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by numerous runners, riders, walkers and cyclists.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.

The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It
* Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
* Prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth
* Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment
* Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town)
* Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should clearly be used in preference to the Greenbelt.

The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.

Please reconsider your Preferred Options.

I wish to register my objection to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils's Preferred Options for the local plan.

I am sure you are aware, this land has great recreational value to the local community and is continually being utilised and enjoyed by many local runners, riders, walkers and cyclists.

You will equally know that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states how the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. I wish you to reflect this in your building policy and note that the Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever.

It is essential in the
1) prevention of the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
2) prevention of Leamington and Kenilworth merging
3) safeguarding of the countryside from encroachment
4) preservation of the setting and special character of the historic town of Leamington
5) promotes urban regeneration by encouraginh the development of brown belt sites

I feel there are better sites which are better placed to absorb the devopment which don't encroach on the green belt and I would urge you to revisit your original proposals from 2009. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, have exisitng employment opportunities and infrastructure and it is this land which should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.

The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.

Furthermore, some of the land in Old Milverton and Blackdown is Grade 2 agricultural ground which must not be squandered.

Our Greenbelt must be protected and preserved. We owe it to ourselves and future generations.

Please, please reconsider your Preferred Options.

I object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils's Preferred Options for the Local plan.
This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by many runners, riders, walkers and cyclists.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.
The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It
Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
Prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth
Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment
Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town)
Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.
The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.
Please reconsider your Preferred Options

I object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils's Preferred Options for the Local plan.
This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by many runners, riders, walkers and cyclists.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.
The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It
Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
Prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth
Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment
Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town)
Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.
The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.
Please reconsider your Preferred Options.

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Letter attached

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See attached documents

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I am writing to object to the intended development on the extensive green belt land in North Leamington, specifically between the A452 and Old MIlverton. This area of land is a crucial area for our local community and wildlife, and its destruction is needless. I object on the following bases:

1. The area is an essential local amenity. The footpaths that cross this land are well used for recreational / dog walking, running and as a means to access Old Milverton and beyond (e.g. The Saxon Mill). This area forms the only publicly available open green space for such activities in the North of town, and its development would deprive much of Leamington of this well used amenity.

2. As I understand, green belt land may only be developed by demonstrating "exceptional circumstances" under NPPF. Warwick District Council has singularly failed to demonstrate such circumstances, particularly when there is prime land for development in the South of the town. The Preferred Options paper submitted by Warwick DC does not contain sufficient evidence required to permit development under the NPPF. One of the over-riding principles of the NPPF is to inhibit "urban sprawl", which is why such green belt land is protected. The intended development by Warwick DC constitutes exactly the sprawl that the NPPF seeks to avoid.

3. The justification for the volume of development and the number of new houses being built is based on estimates from housing "boom" times. Even if the projections were to be believed, the green belt development between the A452 and Old Milverton could be deleted whilst still meeting the target of the projections.

4. As alluded to in 2 above, the development of this land and the land to the South of Kenilworth will effectively merge the two towns, causing coalescence of these urban areas.

5. The infrastructure in North Leamington struggles to cope with existing demand. The single lane Kenilworth Road is the main thoroughfare between Leamington and North Warwickshire / A46 / M1 and already struggles to meet demand. The introduction of further dwellings on this side of town would not only further congest this area, increasing pollution, but also put more cars on the road due to the lack of public transport (train) facilities in North Leamington. Further, traffic South to the M40 would clog the already busy town centre area. It is purely nonsensical to build so many dwellings so far from the most used transport amenities (the train station and M40).

I look forward to your confirmation that these objections have been taken into account.

I am writing to you to express my strong opposition to the plans to develop the Green Belt Land in Old Milverton. The Green Belt land is an area of protected countryside and it is important that it remains as such for future generations.
The Green Belt land plays a significant part in the lives of many people. I myself have had the privilege of being able to enjoy the area since I was a child and continue to do so as an adult. Some may think that I am writing because I do not wish the development to be in 'my back yard'. However, I also know many other people from Warwick, Leamington, Kenilworth and Coventry and further afield who come to enjoy this Green Belt Land. Many of these people live in built up urban areas and rely on this land for their outdoor recreation. They would regard this area as their 'back yard' as well. We all enjoy using the land around Old Milverton for many different activities; walking dogs, cycling, horseriding, painting, photography. We appreciate the peace and quiet and enjoy spending time with our families and friends in the countryside. Outdoor recreational activities are so important for our mental health and well-being in our busy stressful lives. Developing on this land will therefore significantly affect the quality of all of our lives. This is something that is very valuable, but unfortunately unable to be quantified in monetary terms.
It is imperative that the Green Belt land should remain protected. In addition to the personal affect that developing on the land will have on myself and many others, the Green Belt land is specifically protected for several important reasons and building on it will not comply with the Government's National Planning Policy Framework.
* The land is designated to prevent neighbouring towns merging into each other - If the Green Belt between Leamington and Kenilworth is built on, the distance between the two towns will decrease to less than 1.5 miles, adding to the urban sprawl that is ever increasing in the West Midlands.
* The Green Belt land is protected to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns and villages - Old Milverton is an historic village that is part of our English heritage and should remain in the countryside.
* The Green Belt land is also designed to protect natural habitat for wildlife. The land north of Leamington is a large area with a variety of habitats that will be destroyed including fields, hedgerows and a river.
Whilst I recognise the need to support plans for future housing and infrastructure, it is clear that the plans that have been proposed the Green Belt Land in North Leamington are wholly unnecessary. There are other areas of land in Warwickshire that are more appropriate. The plans from the 2009 Core Strategy Plan did not include development in the Green Belt Land. Alternative sites were identified in South of Leamington which already have road networks and other infrastructure to support development. I would urge you to review the plans to develop the Green Belt Land North of Leamington and reconsider the alternative identified sites.
The Green Belt land north of Leamington is a beautiful example of English Countryside that should remain protected. I urge you to reconsider the plans to develop this land, so that we can continue to appreciate this very special place in Warwickshire.

Here are some suggested reasons why you might object to the proposals.

National Planning Policy Framework requires "Very Special Circumstances"

. The fundamental aim of Greenbelt policy as set out in the Government's National Planning Policy Framework is
to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.




. The Government's National Planning Policy Framework requires there to be "very special circumstances" for
development in the Green Belt. It also requires the harm caused to the Green Belt by the development to be
outweighed by the benefit of the development. According to Warwick District Council the special
circumstances are that there is nowhere else for the homes to be built.
. However, in the "2009 Core Strategy" (the previous plan adopted by Warwick District Council) land south of
Leamington (not in Green Belt), was identified and is still available, for development. The assessment
performed by Warwick District Council shows that this land is easier to develop and already has a substantial
amount of infrastructure (roads etc) to support the development, and the new residents who will live there. It
is close to the M40 and there are existing employment opportunities South of Leamington as well as existing
out of town shopping facilities and good access to the town centres.
. Therefore, the previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy) is direct evidence that there are alternative areas for
development other than the Green Belt and that the "special circumstances" put forward by Warwick District
Council are wrong.
. Warwick District Council argues that the land in the South of Leamington is not as attractive to developers
because concentration of development in that area may result in the developers making less profit.
Consideration of the developers' financial gain is not a "very special circumstance" to permit unnecessary
development in the Green Belt.


The Green Belt

. The proposals ignore Warwick District Council's study of the Green Belt land at Old Milverton and Blackdown,
which concluded that these areas had high Green Belt value
. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out five purposes for Greenbelt land. In summary these
are, to prevent urban sprawl of built up areas, to prevent neighbouring towns merging, to protect the country
side from encroachment, to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns and to assist urban
regeneration by encouraging the recycling of urban land. The Greenbelt land identified for development in the
Preferred Option does carry out these purposes and its development would therefore be contrary to the NPPF.




. The proposals will reduce the" Green Lung" between Leamington and Kenilworth to less than 1 1/2 miles
encouraging the merger of these two towns and their loss of independent identities.


Recreation Value of Old Milverton and Blackdown

. The land at Old Milverton and Blackdown is enjoyed by many walkers, runners, riders, and cyclists. It provides
a countryside environment close to the centres of Leamington and Warwick. Both the proposed building
development and the "Northern Relief Road" would substantially reduce the amount of land that is available to
be enjoyed and have a detrimental impact on the ambience and hence the amenity value of the land. Turning
some of it into a maintained park land would detract from, rather than enhance its value.
. Old Milverton is one of the last surviving villages close to Leamington that has not been absorbed into the
greater conurbation. If the proposals go ahead it is only a matter of time before it is also absorbed by
Leamington.


Proposed New Roads

. Turning the A452 between Leamington and Kenilworth into dual carriage way will not help traffic flows. At
peak times the delays on the A452 result from commuters wanting access to the Town centres.
. Building nearly 3000 houses north of Leamington will simply increase the congestion.
. The dual carriage way will have a detrimental effect on the picturesque northern gateway to Leamington and
southern gateway to Kenilworth.
. A "Northern Relief Road" (budgeted cost £28m) is not required. Traffic flows tend to be north to south rather
than east to west. The road will serve no purpose other than to take new home owners quickly on to the A46
and to jobs and shopping opportunities away from our Towns. If the development does not go ahead the road
will not be required.
. A "Northern Relief Road" will form a natural barrier and encourage further development in the green belt up to
this new road. It will need to be built across the flood plain (at considerable cost) and will violate an important
nature corridor along the River Avon.
. If the proposed development is concentrated in the South of Leamington there is an existing road network that
could be upgraded at considerably lower cost than the £28m allocated to construct a "Northern Relief Road".
. New Out of Town Stores
. The proposed "out of town" retail operations will be another blow to independent retailers in Leamington,
Kenilworth and Warwick who make the area an attractive place to live. Further "out of town" shopping will
take trade away from the Towns.


Loss of Agricultural Land

. There will be a loss of a significant amount of high quality agricultural land in Blackdown and Old Milverton


Number of Homes included in the Forecasts

. Warwick District Council has added nearly 1400 homes to the number that it anticipates will be required so as to
include a "buffer" in the forecasts. If this "buffer" is removed from the forecast there is no need to include the
land at Old Milverton and Blackdown in the proposals.

Attached proforma

OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF GREENBELT LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT - OLD MILVERTON AND BLACKDOWN, WARWICKSHIRE

Having recently attended the Parish Council meeting at Old Milverton Village Hall to participate in the 'consultation' process of the proposed plan for development in the areas of Old Milverton and Blackdown, I wish to register my strong objection to the Warwick District Council's Preferred Options for the Local Plan, which was delivered as a fait accompli, with no alternative options presented for discussion.

My objection is based on many points which I outline below:

GREEN BELT LAND
The "very special circumstances" that Warwick District Council ("WDC") maintains exist to permit a major development in the Green Belt have not been convincingly proven. The 2009 WDC adopted development plan for more homes than the present proposals, did not require release of Green Belt land. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts in preventing urban sprawl, yet the WDC's own Green Belt study, scoring Old Milverton and Blackdown highly, has obviously been ignored.

EVIDENCE BASED PLAN
According to WDC the Preferred Options have to be supported by strong evidence. I am deeply sceptical that the evidence is accurate, and indeed, the model acknowledged at the meeting to have been used to determine future numbers of homes was convincingly shown at the meeting to be fundamentally flawed.

VALUABLE FARMING LAND
It goes against basic common sense to use high grade prime farming land when brown field and lower grade land is (and was in 2009 plans) available.

VALUE AND IMPORTANCE
This land has great recreational value to the local community and is a valuable gem which should be preserved for future generations. It prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth and helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment.

COST/EMPLOYMENT
During the meeting it became very clear that not sufficient consideration has been given to employment opportunities or the cost of putting in the infrastructure to support such development, which already exists south of Leamington and Warwick.

Finally, I take exception to the comment made by Councillor Doody that contacting our MP would be "a waste of time". This I believe can be taken as evidence that the WDC intend to proceed regardless of the concerns of local people. I would ask that the WDC reconsider their preferred option in the light that this is not sustainable development and there are not exceptional circumstances to support releasing greenbelt land.

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See attached Response Form and Letter

Please read below objections I wish to raise as part of the consultation period concerning the proposed development in old Milverton and Blackdown as detailed in Warwick District Council's 'Preferred Options' for the New Local plan.

a) Amount of new homes proposed:

Whereas I understand the need for the district council to have a plan in place for future growth and development in the warwick and leamington district, I have concerns about the number of new homes proposed in the 'preferred options' plan.

It seems that the plan accounts for nearly 1400 extra homes above the number estimated to be necessary to meet towns population growth.

This over-calculation may be a 'safety net' on behalf of WDC but seems over cautious and would cause more building works, expense, disruption and needless use of land.

In particular, without the extra 1400 homes there would be no need to even contemplate building on presently designated Green Belt land north of Leamington in Old Milverton and Blackdown areas.

I also object to the term and title of 'preferred options' - this makes members of the general public feel that the only options for development open to them 9and WDC) are those shown in the 'preferred options' plan and maps - there are other options not detailed fully although there seem to be other options mentioned briefly in the main report. there were also other areas of non-Green Belt land identified as suitable for development in the WDC's 2009 Core Strategy plan. these non-Green belt areas are still available for development - and even if not in the WDC's final plan, the non- Green Belt areas could still be ear marked for planning consent. The public need to clearly know ALL options and areas available for development.

Change to plan: Remove the extra 'safety net' of nearly 1400 homes from the plan.
Omit designated Green Belt sites from development plan.
Make all options more clear - highlighting ALL areas suitable for development to the public


b) Save our Green Belt land:

Although it is clear that WDC need to plan for housing developments for the future, I strongly object to proposed sites in the 'preferred options' in the areas of Old Milverton and Blackdown, north to and on the edge of the existing boundaries of Leamington Spa which is clearly presently designated Green Belt land. the Green belt areas north of Leamington have been identified by WDC in previous study as areas of high Green Belt value.

The National Planning policy framework (NPPF) identifies the Government's commitment to preserving our country's Green Belt areas. It states that the NPPF aims to protect communities and Green Belt and to help local people 'to protect local countryside and green space they value'. It is the responsibility of WDC to follow the guidelines set out by the NPPF; the 'preferred options' proposals do not do this.

As WDC must be fully aware, the main aims of Green Belt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping designated areas open and clear from development.

The NPPF lists five purposes of Green Belt land and the Old Milverton and Blackdown Green Belt fits the purposes of at least four, if not all five, of these:
* To prevent unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
* By preventing the merging of the towns of Leamington and Kenilworth; and keeping Old Milverton as a separate village community
* Safegurading the countryside from encroachment
* Preserving the historic and picturesque setting and character of Leamington and Kenilworth amongst scenic, protected countryside
* Helping urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land (this last bullet point would definitely be better addressed by WDC if the Green Belt is NOT built upon and other 'White land' is used and renovation of empty buildings in town)
If the Green Belt land north of Leamington is developed then it is likely that eventually the towns of Kenilworth and Leamington would meet and emerge; both losing their separate and individual characters.

My objection is valid as there are other sites for development available which are not green Belt land which would fulfil the needs of the planning proposals in regards to numbers of houses needed - these White land areas should all be utilised before development of Green belt land is ever considered. Non- Green Belt sites, many being south of Leamington, were clearly identified by WDC in their '2009 Core Strategy'.

As made clear by the NPPF, development of Green Belt land should only be proposed by a council under 'very special circumstances'. As WDC have already identified other non-Green Belt sites (although not all clearly publicised in this 'Preferred Option' plan) that are suitable for development, WDC do NOT have not given sufficient reasons or detailed 'exceptional circumstances' to validate their proposal to develop Green Belt land. WDC do not provide evidence that shows any superior benefit to the existing community of north Leamington should the Green Belt be developed. Therefore, WDC have not fulfilled the NPPF guidelines.

It is a matter of principle that WDC develops White land and preserves our Green Belt.

Change to plan: WDC to clearly identify ALL White land (non- green Belt) sites suitable for development (as in 2009 Core Strategy)
Development of south Leamington areas that are NOT Green Belt land and are suitable for development
Remove all proposals and suggestions to develop Green Belt land north of Leamington (Old Milverton and Blackdown areas)

c) Use of green Belt land:

The Green Belt land north of leamington in Old Milverton and Blackdown areas provide Leamington and Warwick residents with easy access to the countryside environment.

The Green Belt land is highly valued by local residents and visitors to the area who regularly use the pathways on the Green Belt land for recreational purposes; such as, walking, running, dog walking, bird watching, general relaxation. As a north Leamington resident for many years, i have often enjoyed using this land and strongly object to it being developed and destroyed.

The land is used regularly by many groups of the community of all ages. It is important to the health and well-being of residents, visitors and their dogs who are exercised there. It is a social place where people greet and talk to each other. To develop and destroy such areas would be a catastrophe.

The walks across the Green belt land are well known and well used by locals and visitors. If this land is destroyed then Leamington would lose an attractive asset which must only serve to encourage residents to stay living in the area, and new people to move to it. There is a lack of established open green space as it is - we should not destroy what we have.

Change to plan: Do NOT develop the Green belt land north of Leamington in Old Milverton and Blackdown areas as they are valued areas for recreation
WDC to protect our designated Green Belt land; ensuring provision for recreation on established Green Belt land

d) Conservation:

Linked to the above point, I strongly object to propsals in the 'Preferred options' plan to build on the Green Belt land north of Leamington as it is home to a wealth of wildlife and should therefore continue to be protected.

Development of green belt land would cause distruction of habitats and the environment for an abundance of wildlife and a wide variety of trees, wild flowers and plants. Development of this land would ruin this established natural environment. Even if green areas are left amongst new homes much of the wildlife (such as, bats, newts, herons and foxes) will leave the area because of noise and light pollution, lack of established habitat, dangers of changes in water availability, etc. Reduced Green Belt area will affect the movement of species across the land as they travel from place to place.

WDC is accountable for protecting the environment and habitats within the Green Belt land north of Leamington.

Change to plan: Omit proposals to develop Green belt land north of Leamington from the plan
WDC to protect and conserve Green Belt land as it is for future generations

e) Other available areas for development:

There are areas of land that are not Green belt which WDC has already identified as suitable for development - many sites are south of Leamington Spa as identified in the 2009 core strategy, and some (but not all) seen in plans in the current 'preferred proposals'

I object to proposals to build on green belt land in the old Milverton and Blackdown areas as I strongly feel that areas south of Leamington would be more suitable for development because:
* the areas south of Leamington are NOT Green Belt land
* they already have easy access to main roads and routes (such as, the M40 and A46) - infrastructure links that are capable of taking more traffic and space to develop further if needs be
* SHLAA identified that there is enough land in the south of town to devlop and suit the requirements for growth without having to develop Green belt areas north of the town
* there is a lot of existing employment areas and opportunities south of Leamington (business park, large shops, etc)
* there are large shops and supermarkets in that area which, if development was made north of Leamington, people would travel through town to get to causing lots of congestion - plans for growth in the retail area seem to be south of leamington - there is already a large shopping area south of Leamington which would not need as much development as building a new shopping area north of Leamington. if another out of town shopping area is built then more local and independent retailers within the town centre may suffer; shops close; leaving empty shop premises as an eye sore and so stop residents and visitors from wanting to shop in town or move to live in Leamington.
* developing key areas south of Leamington would reduce the need to spend millions of pounds developing infrastructure (roads, public transport, etc) north of town
* there are already established routes and public transport access south of Leamington which would be more easily revised and developed rather than creating brand new transport systems north of the town - development of the A452 between Leamington and Kenilworth would be costly and cause major disruption; traffic would still try to get through Leamington town centre in order for people to access the shops and amenities south of town.
* there are large open spaces in south area that are suitable for development of housing areas; land which is not Green belt
Although WDC has suggested that land south of Leamington may not be as attractive to developers as they might feel they'd make less profit - i strongly feel that this is an invalid reason to make proposals to build on green belt land because the profit made by developers should NOT be WDC's priority.

Change to plan: Concentrate on developing non- Green belt land south of Leamington and other non- green belt areas
WDC to stick to plans and areas identified in 2009 plan
Remove plans to develop Green Belt land north of Leamington in Old Milverton and Blackdown
WDC to include plans to enhance public transport south of Leamington

f) Affordable housing:

I am aware and agree that the WDC has to provide for the building of some homes that are 'affordable'. However, it is unclear in the documents why exactly WDC have proposed a 40% affordable housing plan. There needs to be consultation with the public about the need for 'affordable' housing.

Change to plan: consult with public in more detail about affordable housing needs.

Please accept the above points and opinions as my valid and firm objection to the proposal to develop the Green belt areas in Old Milverton and Blackdown, north of Leamington Spa; particularly as WDC has not produced sufficient evidence for 'very special circumstances' to develop and so erase those Green Belt sites. The WDC also needs to reconsider the planned numbers of houses and reduce their proposals by the extra nearly 1400 homes that have been added as a 'safety net' in their 'preferred option' plan.

Scanned representation

See attachments

scanned form

Scanned representation

Scanned representation

Scanned representation

See attachment.