Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 54712

Received: 03/07/2013

Respondent: MR IAN JENKINS

Representation Summary:

Strong opposition to the traveller sites proposed in south west Warwickshire.

The basis for this objection is:

School Places - understand children from traveller communities will be given a higher priority when allocating school places but schools in the area would be unable to cope with any potential increase given the projected school intakes for 2013 - 2016 and the large extensions to family estates such as Chase Meadow.

GP Access - existing surgery is already stretched so concerned it cannot cope with the additional patients.

Infrastructure - concerned about additional traffic flowing through Chase Meadow estate and the need to police the speed limits on these unadopted roads. An additional turning on Hampton Road so close to an existing turning is a risk to residents' safety.

Aesthetics - having seen traveller sites in the past, they are a serious risk to the tourism economy for Warwick. The proposed Hampton Road and Junction 15 sites are key routes into Warwick and should be preserved. Also, the Hampton Road site will be visible to those attending the races.

Full text:

I would like to take this opportunity to register my strong opposition to the traveller sites that have been proposed in south west Warwickshire.

I have been a resident of Warwickshire for the past 12 years, residing in Leamington, Kenilworth and now Warwick.

I believe that the Warwick District Council have agreed to a meeting and I think this is critical in order to share information, views and concerns both ways between the residents of Chase Meadow and the council.

The basis for my objection is based on the factors which I will outline below.

- School Places;
It is my understanding that the children from traveller communities will be given a higher priority with regards to the allocation of school places and this is a concern that the schools in the proposed areas would be unable to cope with any potential increase.
This is two-fold. Firstly, with the projected school intakes for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 based on the birth rates in the area and secondly, taking into account the large extensions to family estates such as Chase Meadow where it is not possible to estimate the additional places required.

- GP Access;
Living on Chase Meadow, I know how difficult and stretched the GP Surgery (The New Dispensary) is and my concern is that this surgery can not cope with the number of additional patients that the proposed sites may house.

- Infrastructure;
Chase Meadow is largely unadopted by the council and it already suffers with issues surrounding speeding on the estate and leading to and from the estate. One of the proposed sites (plot 11) is located on the border between a 30mph and 60mph limits. My concern is the additional traffic flowing through the chase meadow estate and the need to police the speed limits on the unadopted roads.
Hampton Road is a fast road and the concern of an additional turning so close to an existing turning on this type of road is a risk to the residents safety.

- Aesthetics of the Warwickshire countryside.
Warwick is such a beautiful and historic town for which tourists travel to visit annually. Having seen a number of traveller sites over recent years and months, the risk to the tourism economy for Warwick has to be taken seriously.
The proposed Hampton Road and Junc 15 sites are key routes into Warwick and should be preserved.
Also, the Hampton Road site is located next to the Flat Straight for Warwick Race Course and will be visible to those attending the races.


I would like to thank you for taking to the time to read and file my objection to these proposed traveller sites and look forward to the opportunity to meet with you at the forthcoming meeting