Object

Revised Development Strategy

Representation ID: 55318

Received: 29/08/2013

Respondent: Mr Steve Tebby

Representation Summary:

Objects on the grounds that the public's wishes as reported in the Final Report of Public Consultation (published December 2011) very much seem to have been disregarded in the Local Plan Revised Development Strategy (published June 2013).
Appendix 5 in the Final Report of Public Consultation (page 63) shows that:
a) 54% of the public respondents advocate low levels of development or growth in our part of leafy Warwickshire with all farming land protected.
b) 31% say that neither low levels nor high levels of development in our leafy Warwickshire are acceptable. Only a limited level of development is acceptable.
c) Only 15% say that high levels of growth of services and facilities are required to support a growing population in our leafy part of Warwickshire.

The message behind these three percentages is partly concealed because the percentages are separately presented on page 64. The wording seems to conceal the real meaning of the Scenario 3 which is that high levels of population growth will demand a proportionately high level of growth in services and facilities. So only 15% of respondents want a high population growth.

Why does the RDS expound on an intention to build 12,300 new homes? The consultation process shows that the public does not want it. Such a high level of growth would result in a high level increase in road congestion and air pollution - a staggering 78% of respondents agree that this is an important issue.

Full text:

This is an objection to the Local Plan on the grounds that the public's wishes as reported in the Final Report of Public Consultation (published December 2011) very much seem to have been disregarded in the Local Plan Revised Development Strategy (published June 2013).

Appendix 5 in the Final Report of Public Consultation (page 63) shows that:

a) 54% of the public respondents advocate LOW LEVELS of development or growth in our part of leafy Warwickshire with all farming land protected.

b) 31% say that NEITHER LOW LEVELS NOR HIGH LEVELS of development in our leafy Warwickshire are acceptable. Only a LIMITED LEVEL of development is acceptable.

c) Only 15% say that HIGH LEVELS of growth of services and facilities are required to support a growing population in our leafy part of Warwickshire.

The message behind these three percentages is partly concealed because the (incorrect?) percentages are separately presented on page 64. The wording seems to conceal the real meaning of the Scenario 3 which is that high levels of population growth will demand a proportionately high level of growth in services and facilities. So only 15% of respondents want a high population growth.

Why then does the Local Plan Revised Development Strategy expound on an intention to build 12,300 new homes? The consultation process shows that the public does not want it. Such a HIGH LEVEL of growth would result in a high level increase in road congestion and air pollution - a staggering 78% of respondents agree that this is an important issue.

I object to the Local Plan Revised Development Strategy because it does not seem to have been developed from public consultation. In Paragraph 1.2, WDC considers it important that the Local Plan revised development strategy will "deliver the Council's Vision for the District". The idea of consultation is generally recognized as a bringing together of visions from residents, voters, elected representatives and district councils alike. A declaration by WDC that it will deliver the Council's Vision for the district is not in keeping with what I understand to be consultation and I therefore object to the whole document.
End.