As residents of Bishops Tachbrook, I write with concern over the proposed development plans for the areas around the village.

My husband and I attended the recent consultation meeting in the village. After listening to the Council representative, and villagers views and concerns, we came away with the strong feeling that this is already a 'done deal'. The meeting was for the purpose of letting the villagers and those affected close by, know what was to happen to the land surrounding Bishops Tachbrook and Whitnash. It was a marketing ploy aimed at selling us on the 'proposed' developments.

We came to live in Bishops Tachbrook 10 years ago as we wanted to live in the village, experience life in the village community, a semi rural location. We paid a premium for our property to do this.

Why is there such a need to develop every piece of green field, build housing estates on them and let the local residents views become obstructed with bricks and mortar??? Where is the respect for the local residents?

Our farmland is set to become a mass of building developments, and we object to it!

Why so many houses? With banks and mortgage market being slow to respond to demand for borrowing, and so many young people unable to get onto the mortgage ladder, who will occupy these houses? We understand that there will be social housing, and this in itself, sadly brings concerns with it.

Now, it appears, that in a few short years, this will all change, and for us personally, not for the better. The 'village' will no longer be. With the proposed building of approx 3,500 new homes, what can the residents expect?

Our concerns are that:

1. With the proposal of approx 3,500 new homes comes the prospect of approx. 7,000 more vehicles within this villages boundaries. In today's lifestyle, rarely does each home have less than 2 vehicles. Volume of traffic increases significantly where schools are located.
2. This alone presents a real concern, as increased traffic indicates increased air pollution. People living in this area will rely on transportation.
3. The main road through the village becomes a short cut for an increased number of motorists trying to get to the Banbury Road/M40. This affects those who live in the village that also have a need to access these roads, resulting in further delays in commuting to from/work.
4. Employment Land - the suggestion was made that this would be to the benfit of local people by encouraging companies to locate to the area. In our experience, people commute to/from their workplace even if it relocates
5. Residents of Bishops Tachbrook do commute to areas outside of Leamington Spa/Warwick etc., and always will do. We have to go where the work is and some don't have the luxury of choosing where they work!
6. Travel time to/from our place of work increases with the increase in traffic.
7. The value of our homes will reduce if/when proposing to sell
8. Within the next few years, Bishops Tachbrook will become like Whitnash, now a part/extension of Leamington Spa
9. Proposed Primary & Secondary Schools/Local Centre/Medical Centre and certainly a Park & Ride facility? These do not suggest that Bishops Tachbrook will not be affected greatly by the proposals
10. How does the council propose that Warwick hospital will cope with the extra demands on it's already stretched services?
11. Who pays for the sizeable infrastructure required?
12. How will the residents of Bishops Tachbrook benefit from this?
13. How will this new home 'proposal' be policed?
14. Residents express a concern over personal safety/security. How will this be addressed?
15. How will the 999 services cope with the extra demand when they are under manned and already suffering as a result of governmental/council cutbacks?