Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 52680

Received: 03/07/2013

Respondent: Mr Vince O'Neill

Representation Summary:

Object to the siting of a travellers' site directly opposite the entrance to Chase Meadow residential estate.

Appreciate the need to offer suitable sites for travellers', but object to this site due to:

Schools - With an expanding community, school places and time spent educating each child will face a challenging few years. Added pressure from a potential travellers' site, could lead to an overall fall in educational standards.

Doctors Surgery - currently it is almost impossible to get a quick appointment at the local surgery but with the new houses currently being built plus a possible traveller's site, things would become untenable and unviable.

Traffic - the private residential estate will become a "cut through" for traffic wanting to reach the Stratford Road and Motorway junctions quickly. Given the number of families living in Chase Meadows this is a major road safety concern. The new houses being built will only compound the issue further.

House Prices - property prices would undoubtedly take a knock based on historical information associated with other travellers' site locations. This would be totally unfair and unnecessary on those who have worked hard and struggled to buy their houses when other more suitable locations are already available.

The location of a traveller's site so close to Warwick town centre would have a detrimental effect on the perception of our market town from both a business and residential point of view. This would be a great pity after the town has survived a few very difficult years since the economic crash in 2008.

Overall, the proposed site is just too close to the existing established communities of both Chase Meadow and Shakespeare Avenue. Could lead to a very volatile and unsettled environment in which to bring up families. Feel there are a number that offer a much better overall balance for all parties involved.

Full text:

As a long term resident of the Chase Meadow development in Warwick, I wish to raise an objection to the proposed potential siting of a travellers site off the Hampton Road almost directly opposite the entrance to the private residential estate.

Whilst I fully appreciate the need for the council to offer suitable sites for travellers, I object to this potential site due to the following reasons:

* Schools - I'm sure you will agree that we all want to offer our children the best educational opportunities. With an already rapidly expanding community, school places and the time spent educating each child will face a challenging few years. With added pressure from a potential travellers site, I fear that overall educational standards in the Warwickshire region would slip considerably.
* Doctors Surgery - it is almost impossible to gain quick access to a doctor at the local surgery as things stand at present. With the addition of the new houses currently being built by Taylor Wimpey (including the next phases already planned) and then adding a travellers site in to the mix, it would make things untenable and unviable with the current infrastructure available.
* Traffic - with the proposed location opposite Chase Meadow, the private residential estate will undoubtedly become a "cut through" for traffic wanting to reach the Stratford Road and Motorway junctions quickly. With a largely family based community living in Chase Meadows this has to be a major concern for the safety on our roads. With added traffic volumes already inevitable due to the new construction of houses on the estate, this would surely only compound issues even further.
* House Prices - Due to the close proximity of the proposed site to privately owned homes, property prices would undoubtedly take a knock based on historical information associated with other travellers site locations. With most homes having saved and struggled to achieve what they are currently have, this would be totally unfair and unnecessary when other more suitable locations are already available.

I also believe that by perception alone, the location of a travellers site so close to Warwick town centre would have a detrimental effect on our beautiful market town from both a business and residential point of view. I think this would be a great pity with the town having managed to keep its head above water for so long and having survived a few very difficult years since the economic crash in 2008.

In general terms, I feel the proposed site is just too close to the existing established communities of both Chase Meadow and Shakespeare Avenue and believe that this could lead to a very volatile and unsettled environment in which to bring up our families. Having seen the proposed list of all potential sites, I feel there are a number that offer a much better overall balance for all parties involved including the travellers themselves.

All comments above are made with good intentions and without any intended prejudice.

I would appreciate your further thoughts or comments.

I have copied this e mail to a number of people to stress the strength and depth of my objection