Object
Gypsy and Traveller Site Options
Representation ID: 54677
Received: 03/08/2013
Respondent: Mr Stuart Styler
Object very strongly to proposed Travellers' site. Wholly inappropriate for a small village.
Size of site will make it a dominant feature in Baginton, dramatically increasing population without increasing amenities.
A significant number of places will be required at Baginton catchment area schools, where children often don't get their first choice. Not appropriate to increase the number of children competing for reduced percentage availability.
People living or owning/operating business near such sites have had negative experiences.
The mere suggestion of a site will cause dramatic drop in property values, severely limiting ability to sell.
Combined with Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway this would be too much development, too quickly, resulting in strained community relations and reduced quality of life for gypsy/travellers and villagers.
Size of the site will make it difficult to integrate gypsies/traveller into village and lead to distortion of views, lack of social harmony, and even isolation for some people.
I wish to register my very strong objection to the proposal for a site for Travellers to be created at Smiths Nurseries, Baginton, ref. GT-07.
I feel the proposed site is wholly inappropriate for such a small village for the following reasons:
The size of the proposed site will result in it becoming a dominant feature within Baginton, dramatically increasing the size of the village population without increasing the supply of amenities.
There will be a significant number of children requiring places at the Baginton catchment area schools. Currently Baginton children are often not able to get their parents first choice school within the catchment area. It is not appropriate to increase the number of child places competing for what would be a reduced percentage availability for an enlarged population.
The link between gypsy/traveller sites and crime is hotly debated. However, the negative experiences of those persons already living in the vicinity of such sites cannot be denied as cannot the experiences of business owner/operators within the vicinity of such sites.
The mere perception of a site to be established within the vicinity will cause property values within the village and surrounding areas to fall dramatically and severely limit the ability of people to sell their property should they so wish as has been experienced elsewhere in the not too distant locality.
Combined with the Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway this is too much development far too quickly for a small community. The result of this development will be strained community relations and a reduction in quality of life for both the gypsy/travellers taking residence at the site and the already established village inhabitants.
The integration of the proposed new gypsy/traveller population into the population of the village will be seriously adversely affected by the size of the proposed development leading to distortion of views, a lack of social harmony, and even isolation to some of if not all parties concerned.
I most strongly object to the proposal in it's current format.