Whereas I am sure we are all aware it is wise to have a District plan I am disturbed about the way the District council has gone about it and more particularly the conclusions that have been reached.
I do not have an issue with local authorities taking responsibility for local planning, but the local authority must take into account the views of local people and not impose upon the electorate the Councils "Preferred options". I, as a Parish Councillor, am unaware of any previous discussions.
Having read the proposals and attended meetings about the preferred options I am left with the distinct feeling that the assumptions upon which the decisions have been made are flawed. Most important, the National Planning Policy Framework concerning Green Belt has been ignored despite the fact that the Council have ditched the Core Strategy options which were proposed in 2009.
The flimsy excuse that gas pipelines would impede development South of Leamington did not exclude development proposed there in 2009.
The assumption that we need to put employment in with housing is questionable, and the suggestion that travelling to and from work will have a significant effect on the environment pails into insignificant when we think of a Northern relief road running across a large area of Green Belt and Flood plane destroying for ever an area full of natural beauty and diversity.
The council do not appear to have considered Warwick and Leamington's history. Leamington is a Spa town, largely residential. Warwick is an historic County town. What is meant by "employment", does this include industry? The Ford Foundry has recently been demolished and now we are getting another super market. How does this fit into the preservation of the old town centres?
The Council has not discussed the needs and spare capacity of neighbouring Councils. We cannot plan in isolation.
To say we have to accept these options or accept a free for all is scare mongering, and to say "It is a waste of time" sending a copy of this letter to our M.P. is disingenuous.
We all recognise the need for a District plan, but we must be more aware of the value of our green belt and not just consider the financial benefits to the District, land owners and developers.
What about the Great- Crested Newt?