WDC REVISED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY LOCAL PLAN OBJECTION

I strongly object to the latest local plan published by WDC for the following reasons.

Any plan should accurately reflect the population growth and demand within the district taking into account the latest data from the `Office of National Statistics`. The proposed plan is thought to massively overstates the demand.

The situation has been made worse in South Leamington and Whitnash by the `immigration` of students from Warwick University.......which is 10-15 miles away, dependent on route - and in Coventry! Many `low-cost` properties suitable for `first time buyers` have been bought to let and been used to accommodate students. Whitnash also currently takes a higher level of Immigration compared to other areas.

Healthcare and education provision is already virtually to capacity.

Transport - at times the roads in this area are exceedingly busy and hazardous around schools especially. If the schools are extended any further then the roads will be impassable at certain times of the day, particularly Golf Lane, Coppice Road and Morris Drive around Briar Hill and St. Margaret`s schools. The potential developer of the Fieldgate Lane area admitted that their traffic survey failed to measure the traffic at the peak time of day i.e when parents are all arriving to collect their children at the same time - around 3pm.

The plan shows the most significant development focussed on the area south of the river. The `green belt` argument used to limit development to the north of Leamington is artificial. `Green belt` status is man-made, created some years ago to meet the needs of the time, and should be varied when circumstances change. An even and fair distribution of new housing across the district is needed.

There is still much `brown field land` in the wider area e.g Baginton and Ryton. Land has been set aside for yet another fuel filling station adjacent to the new Morrisons store.

I object specifically to the proposed development of the field adjacent to Fieldgate Lane / Golf Lane field for the following reasons:-

Drainage / potential flooding

A neighbour has evidence of the flood risk status of Fieldgate Lane which shows that we are within 250m of an area prone to flooding (zone 3).
The drainage channel in Fieldgate Lane connects directly to the Whitnash brook in the flood zone.
The normal flow in the Fieldgate Lane drainage channel is negligible but several times a year at times of heavy rainfall the water level reaches within a few centimetres of overflowing the channel. On several occasions water has come over the top, flowed along Fieldgate Lane, down driveways and has reached as far as garage doors.
The slope of the field and loss of the water soakaway due to development must result in additional water in the drainage channel at peak times.
We have already had house insurance declined by one company on the grounds of flood risk.

We also have the situation several times during a normal winter when the ground is waterlogged to the point where we can have several centimetres of water standing across our gardens and this can take a considerable time to drain away. Fieldgate Lane also often floods with running rain water to part way up the kerbs for short periods during heavy rain. These are actual events seen by local residents.

Currently the field regularly floods in the north-west corner and along its north edge several times a year during heavy rain. Development of roads and hard standing on this sloping site will inevitably result in more runoff towards the Fieldgate Lane drainage channel and will make the current situation much worse.


Traffic hazards
The entrance to Golf Lane from Heathcote Road has long been considered a hazard and, I believe, has formerly been the prime reason for not allowing further development. The main issues are :-
... this part of Golf Lane is on a steep slope and is relatively narrow.
....visibility to the right is restricted when exiting Golf Lane.
....the junction with Home Farm Crescent is at the bottom of the slope, on a bend and visibility is again restricted when turning right into Home Farm Crescent.

The junctions at Morris Drive/Golf Lane, Golf Club entrance/Golf Lane, Golf Lane/ Fieldgate Lane corner and Mullard Drive/Fieldgate Lane are areas which residents consider hazardous. At all of these junctions the issues are the same in that many drivers come through them not expecting to meet other traffic. It is not just strangers who don`t know the roads, but local drivers who only expect traffic from a particular direction. We are aware of the hazards and usually drive through these junctions at around 15mph but regularly have near misses. Many local drivers ignore the road signs and markings and residents can quote daily incidents.

At school times the traffic situation in Coppice Road, Golf Lane and Morris Drive is hazardous and Police are regularly in attendance. Children already have significant difficulty in crossing the roads through parked and moving traffic. We are aware of at least 2 serious incidents outside the schools.

Traffic lights at Heathcote Road/Tachbrook road are already at capacity at certain times of the day with traffic often queuing back several hundred metres.

Traffic flows have recently been measured as part of an application to develop the Fieldgate Lane field but this failed to measure the traffic at school closing time as it was not considered to be a busy time of day. In fact this is the most hazardous time of day and additional traffic from the proposed site will make it worse.

Schools
The local primary schools have been at capacity since the advent of Warwick Gates, and there are regular appeals to accessfavoured secondary schools. Any additional housing locally which fails to increase provision will make the situation worse.

Ecology and wildlife
Bats - there are numerous bats of several species which feed around the local houses and over the Fieldgate Lane field every night during the summer months and sometimes at other times of the year. The roost sites are not known but are certainly local.

Birds - many species use the field continually. My husband has records of 47 species using the hedgerows and fields in Fieldgate Lane alone including Tawny Owls, Herons, Lapwing, Snipe, Buzzards, Sparrow Hawks, Woodpeckers, Bullfinches. In winter time there are migrants including redwing and fieldfare.

Mammals - the field is used by deer, fox, hedgehogs (a declining species) and several species of small rodents. There has been a suggestion of badger activity.

Ridge and Furrow system - the field is a rare and disappearing example of the medieval ridge and furrow system of historic importance and should be preserved.

General
Formerly, the Fieldgate Lane site has been considered unsuitable because of the slope and its contribution to potential flooding. The angle of slope will also mean that the view from Fieldgate Lane properties will be of a succession of house ends and roofs increasing in height up the hill, particularly in winter when there is no foliage on the trees.

The site is an `Area of Restraint` in the current local plan - for many of the reasons quoted.

A current planning application shows the access road immediately opposite our property in Fieldgate Lane This would result in major disruption to access to our property, parking and our way of life for several years. The slope of the land will mean that, at night, headlights will shine directly at our living room and bedroom windows.