I write to register my objection to the Old Milverton and Blackdown development in Warwick District Council's local plan.

My reasons for objecting are as follows:

* The proposed land is designated as Green belt, and no exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated as to why the land should be encroached upon in such a manner as the building of several hundred houses.

* With the addition of hundreds of houses in one area, the inevitable concequence is double the amount of cars (each household will have up to or more than 2 cars). Simply building another road, over yet more greenbelt, will not syphon those cars away from the narrow lanes of Old Milverton and Blackdown. These lanes will become dangerous rat runs and take away the intrinsic peace and quiet of the area.

* There are alternative areas of land, closer to existing amenities, which would negate the need for an ugly and cramped housing estate, and would provide a way of making sure WDC fulfilled any need to provide extra housing. Why not build on these brown spaces and provide them with green spaces for leisure and relaxation instead of shoe horning yet more small boxy houses into a place already providing leisure and public access for hundreds of people.

* The Greenbelt also comprises excellent and productive farmland which has provided a living to families over the years. The compulsary purchase, or denying the farmer his rights to farm this land, would deny him the right to make a living, thus forcing yet another working farm to the brink of closure. Farming methods such as early crops under plastic would be the only profitable way to carry on, a method wich is not only pesticide and insecticide heavy, but an eyesore to look at. Productive farmland should never have to be sacrificed over more suitable land for the building of houses.

* Old Milverton and Blackdown are already satelite villages with little or no public transport, no shops, post offices, pubs, or facilities such as gas, fast broadband or cable. Nowhere in the plans does it say these issues are going to be addressed. Simply building hundreds of houses and putting a park and ride system outside the hospital will not make up for the fact that this scheme is simply an exercise in ticking boxes and riding rough shod over the views of local people who recognise the need to preserve greenbelt spaces for the important role they play in the wider community.


I am emailing a copy of this letter to my MP and I hope he will do everything he can to stop the proposed development here and direct them towards other areas which would welcome and be able to support such infrastructure.