Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 55512

Received: 29/07/2013

Respondent: Hannah & Ritchie Simpson-Stern & Gilzean

Representation Summary:

Aware of the need for an area for travellers but object to this site as completely inappropriate.

A lifetime resident of Warwick, have recently bought a house on Chase Meadow. Local services eg schools and doctors' surgeries are oversubscribed and it's unfair that my future children will struggle to access their preferred schools because of additional families moving in. A site of 12 pitches could mean 24 or more extra children needing places.

Local historic loan/grant charities would be unable to cope with increased demand from gypsies and may close down. Concerned that gypsies may use site address to gain access to such luxuries without actually living there.

Enjoyment of walking over to racecourse on race days would not be possible with proposed site cutting straight through the footpath and onto the racecourse. The racecourse provides a great deal of revenue for the town and this would be hugely affected by this site. Would also be higher risk to racehorses of disease from gypsies' unvaccinated horses.

Site would have dramatic adverse effect on how Warwick is viewed and reduce tourism and affect local businesses which rely on tourism. This conflicts with "Planning Policy for Traveller Sites".

That Policy says sites should promotes peaceful integrated co-existence between site and locals but responses from local residents suggest this will not be the case.

Full text:

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to forward my objection to the proposed gypsy travellers site above.
I feel this site is completely inappropriate for many reasons.
I have been a resident of Warwick all of my life and have recently bought my first house on Chase Meadow. I thought long and hard about where to buy, taking the immediate local area into close consideration. I looked at schools, doctors surgeries and other public services in the area. Each of these are already running at oversubscribed capacity as is all of Warwick. In the near future I would like to start a family and I feel it unfair that my children would be struggling to get into the local preferred schools even though their roots are in Warwick because additional families will have moved to the area from all over the place and be entitled to eduction in the local area. You are proposing a site of 12, this could mean an increase of 24 or more additional children to find school places for in an already oversubscribed community.
Further concerns I'm raising is the local charities of Warwick such as the Sir Thomas White fund and the King Henry VIII fund. These local grants and loans may not be able to withstand the increased capacity of the gypsy travellers which would see a historic part of the town come to an end. Moreover, who is to say that the gypsy travellers are genuinely living on this site and not from another but using that address to gain access to such luxuries.

Another reason for me moving to Chase Meadow was the Racecourse being in such close proximity. Being brought up with horses and racing I take great pleasure in walking over on race days. With the proposed site this would not be possible given that the site would cut straight through the footpath to the racecourse and in fact go onto the racecourse track itself. This site would also have huge effects on the impact that the racecourse has on Warwick given that it is such a huge investor into the towns revenue from holiday makers and race goers alike. The racehorses would also be put at a higher risk of disease from unvaccinated horses that the gypsy travellers may have as the preparation stable area is within arms length of the proposed traveller site.
Warwick is a historical town and attracts tourists from all over the world to experience its natural and historic beauty. This proposed site would have a dramatic and adverse impact on how the town is viewed and will negatively impact Tourism to the local area, particularly the Racecourse, and many local businesses who heavily rely on it for trade which is in direct conflict with the 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites'.
Finally the 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' suggested that these sites should promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community. The response from myself and other local residents highlights to you that this requirement would not be met.
I realise that you have to provide an area for these travellers, however, I do not agree that the Hampton Road site would be a suitable location to house them.