Object

Revised Development Strategy

Representation ID: 55310

Received: 29/07/2013

Respondent: David W Smith

Representation Summary:

Questions why comments are sought on proposed development when boundary changes are being proposed. Building a large number of houses in this area would impact on the villages rural character due to increased light pollution and traffic. Development would access an already busy road notorius for speeding, close to a hump bridge, bend, busy garage, shops and office. The road is also subject to flash floods, set to increase with climate change. It would be irresponsible planning to ignore that Kingswood Brook is in a flood plain. A good plan should make good use of space, creating a pleasant environment for the wider community not just enable developers to make profit.Acknowledgement of flood mitigation need is significant and any measures will only prevent flooding of new homes as the water will go somewhere and natural soakaway will be reduced. Also queries whether other services cope.

Full text:

With regard to the development strategy for the local plan of Kingswood I have the following comments and objections.

The plan which the County Council is seeking comments on is dated June 2013, however boundary changes are being proposed/revised on which none of the people who are effected have been notified. Why are boundary changes being considered again when they where rejected last time, and is it to enable a larger number of houses to be built in this area with little development taking place away from Lapworth/Kingswood.

Proposals and preliminary plans are in place for a considerable number of houses to be built at Kingswood Nursery and Kingswood Farm, which if given planning permission would be in breach of green belt and previous boundary envelopes.

Any large number of houses built in this area would greatly spoil this area as a rural village as there would be twenty four hour light pollution,
and a large increase in cars and commercial vehicles serving the new houses. The village would change in character from rural, having properties with conservation status to a general housing state typically as seen around Warwick.

Any development would need access onto a already dangerous road close to a hump bridge, bend, busy garage, shops and Post Office.
The police are unable to control the speed of the traffic and it is notorious for speeding cars and motor bikes in the summer. It would have all the makings of an Accident Black Spot.

It also well known by all, that this road is subject to flash floods which seam to be set to increase with climate changes. It would be a complete irresponsible planning folly to ignore the fact that Kingswood Brook is in a flood plane, and further building would inevitably bring flash floods there by creating problems for the shops, Post Office, and nearby properties. A good strategic plan should be to make a good use of space, with facilities to create a pleasant and pleasing environment for the wider community and not just to enable developers to make money irrespective of what they spoil and damage

Any building of Gambion dams is a big admittance that there is a serious problem, and may prevent flooding of the new homes but to hell with everybody else as the water has to go some where, and the natural soak away effect would be greatly reduced. The brook needs to flow through a culvert beneath the canal and was not designed to cope with sudden large volumes of water.

Also can the sewers, and all other services cope in this area ?

Lapworth Kingswood seams to have been neglected for a number of years, ie., trees which have died have never been replaced, parked cars have been allowed to damage grass verges, there are no parking restrictions on bends in the road, the road drains are always chocked etc. Now should be the time to improve not create irreversible damage.