Please refer to the following as my OBJECTIONS to the Specific Section of the Preferred Options Booklet
Part of the document which I am responding to: - PO4 Location 11
Heading: - Woodside Farm, Tachbrook Road.
I OBJECT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:-
1. Whitnash has already been the target of massive development in the form of Warwick Gates - even though this was presented in the guise of the Warwick Boundary. This should weigh heavily against further development
2. A boundary should be maintained between the Warwick Gates development and Whitnash. This development will destroy that.
3. The expansion of Whitnash schools to accommodate the growth from Warwick Gates has made a serious impact on facilities in the Whitnash community. The answer to this will be to expand present schools even further to the detriment of residents with respect to parking.
4. The impact of building housing on this sloping site would destroy the urban appearance of the present site from the Tachbrook Road.
5. This application is almost a carbon copy of the previous plan. This plan was severely criticised by local residents and was supported by the government inspector. The government recommended no urban sprawl. Are the planners not aware of this?
6. The undergrounded cables make a large margin unsuitable for such development.
7. The Harbury Lane is a dangerous road with many serious accidents reported. Adding 200 houses in a tightly packed development will result in an increase of vehicles spilling out onto the adjoining roads.
8. There is no proof of the need for the proposed number of houses.
9. It is ridiculous to make such long term plans when any number of events could make radical changes to the need for more houses. For example we have just been informed that we have 270,000 illegal immigrants and criminals awaiting this government to deport them. That would free up a very considerable number of houses. Planners please take this and other factors into account and not just pick figures from the air.
10. Whitnash has for some time been treated as a dumping ground by planners when housing developments are being considered. I would like to see equal distribution of plans for areas north of Leamington.
11. The elevation of Woodside farm hides Whitnash from the Tachbrook Road. This proposal will be an ugly scar of tightly packed 'LEGO' houses.
12. Access to the site would no doubt be gained by building an island at the traffic lights (we can assume this has always been the plan due to the vast area covered by the junction - WDC please admit this?). This will lead to dangerous backing up of traffic in Harbury Lane at the summit of the hill adjacent to the hotel.
13. There is ample proof that further housing on the scale within the whole plan is greatly exaggerated. There are simply not enough jobs to support such numbers. The only reason therefore is that it is for the benefit of developers to build houses for commuters from London and other 'rich' areas. We do not want that. It destroys communities.
14. This and many other parts of the overall plan amount to unsympathetic planning that will go on destroying the urban nature of this area.
15. Residents choose to live in Whitnash because they wish to go on living in the pleasant semi-rural area. They do not wish to wake up one morning and find themselves joined to every adjoining town and village. That is very bad planning. WDC have a long reputation of this.
16. Warwick Gates is known to be a large mistake by WDC. They should learn from it and not make it worse than it is.
17. Practically all the green space between Whitnash and the Harbury Lane will disappear.
18. In my previous objection I made the point that if the number of houses proposed really is necessary then it warrants a new town or towns well away from present communities. Of course this will not go down well with developers who would have to face the cost of providing the infrastructure. Which of course comes back to the question. "What is the real reason for these plans". I believe the public are being kept in the dark over the truth behind the plans. Have planners been in contact with WDC over these plans - answers please? No response from WDC will be taken as a YES!
19. The reality behind building mass housing anywhere is that someone will move in and buy them and commute. That is why I question the viability of the whole plan in terms of need of such numbers of houses, or pressure from developers who have no interest in the interests of local residents.
20. To summarise. Any future housing 'needs' should be strictly on the basis of requirements within the community and not speculative based on the interests of developers.
21. Future development should not favour large developers. It should provide jobs for local established small builders and keep it 'in house'. That is how Whitnash and many other towns and villages have developed sympathetically.
Changes to Plan:
Throw out the plan for the reasons given by every objector in the previous plan. This includes those given by the government inspector.
Provide real proof of the projected requirements taking into account every factor available.
Stop trying to make silly plans so far ahead of time and spend the effort (and our money) on dealing with present day issues - of which there are many.
If we cannot trust our planners to make sensible and acceptable plans then we should entrust the job to those with an interest in the areas proposed.