I believe this site is unsuitable as a Gypsy and Traveller site for the following reasons:
- The top half section of this land is the run-off well for the bypass so the water runs off the bypass, through the reed beds there that cleans the water before returning it to the river. Therefore this area needs to be left alone as it provides a vital function.
- This site is Grade 2 agricultural land and is some of the best agricultural land in Warwickshire, so it would be completely wasted should it become a Gypsy and Traveller site. The fact that Sherbourne Nursery was run until recently on land close to this site is further evidence of the quality of the local soil.
- The gypsies and travellers would not be part of the community as they would be cut off from the village by the A429, which is a really busy and dangerous road for them to cross.
- The additional traffic in and out of Westham Lane cutting on to the A429 is busy enough already and if the other developments go ahead that are being proposed in Wellesbourne then the traffic on that road towards the motorway would be even worse, so getting on and off the A429 would be very difficult and dangerous.
- The site in Barford is very noisy with noise from the adjoining bypass and associated pollution. There is talk of putting up a screen or bank to try and reduce the noise, however houses in Mill Lane and Wilkins Close still suffer fro the noise anyway so that would be inaffective, plus it would take away yet more Grade 2 agricultural land.
- The nearest doctor's surgery is in Bishop's Tachbrook as although there was talk of a new doctor's surgery in Barford, this is no longer happening, and the Wellesbourne surgery is closed to new patients.
- The school is at capacity now and is currently rated 'Outstanding' by OFSTED, so there is unlikely to be any space for additional children from the site and the overall standard of the school may be affected if children were to frequently come and go.
- It is an area of natural outstanding beauty looking across the fields to Sherbourne and its historic church.
- The area is home to an extensive range of wildlife - for example there are bats and kingfishers along the nearby river - which would all be affected too.
- Barford has recently been voted in the Top 30 of the best places to live in England in the Times List so why would anyone want to ruin one of the jewels in Warwickshire when some of the other sites, for example the land at Harbury Lane/Fosse Way, does not impact any village, it just has a few farms around it; there is better access off the Fosse Way and the site is in a slight dip.