Object
Gypsy and Traveller Site Options
Representation ID: 54680
Received: 03/08/2013
Respondent: Mr A Roots
Object to proposed change of Oaklands Farm to Permanent Gypsy Site.
Oaklands Farm is opposite large residential estate, Hatton Park. Property values near a Gypsy site, permanent or otherwise, will reduce and by up to 40% based on current information.
Understand that current owner of farm had several planning applications, for business ventures and housing, refused, mainly because of poor access to the site from Birmingham Road. How will this be overcome to allow up to 15 permanent Gypsy caravans?
Birmingham Road is main road between Warwick and Birmingham and very busy with local commuters and many visitors to Warwick. A large Gypsy site with old vehicles and scrap metal is not a fitting advert for this historic town.
Building 31 permanent Gypsy sites around Warwick will at least mean no need to build 12,300 new properties as no one will want to live in Warwick!
I am writing to object to your proposed plan to change the use of Oaklands Farm to a Permanent Gypsy Site.
My objections are as follows:
1. Oaklands Farm is sited opposite a large residential estate, Hatton Park. Regardless to Warwick District Council statement in their "Frequently asked Questions and Answers". The value of property will reduce when in close proximity to a Gypsy Site, permanent or otherwise. Current information suggests this can be as much as 40%.
2. To my knowledge, the current owner of Oaklands Farm, Mr Robert Butler, has previously, on a number of occasions applied for permission to redevelop his land for various business ventures, and he has applied for planning permission to build a small number of residential properties. On each occasion one of the major factors for the refusal by the Council has been poor access to Oaklands Farm site, from the busy Birmingham Road. I am interested to see how this access problem will be overcome to allow up to 15 permanent Gypsy caravans.
3. Birmingham Road (A4177) is the main road between Warwick and the second city - Birmingham. As previously stated it is a very busy road which in addition to local commuting traffic, also handles a large number of visitors to Warwick.
Does Warwick District Council really think that a large permanent Gypsy site with old vehicles and piles of scrap metal, a fitting advert for visitors to this historic town.
The proposal to generate 31 permanent Gypsy sites around Warwick, will solve the other local problem, the need to build 12,300 new properties. If these Gypsy sites go ahead then there will be no need for new housing, because who in their right mind would want to live in Warwick......Brilliant!!!.