Dear Sir/Madam,

In line with the consultation process for the Local Plan I wish to raise a number of points/objections to the proposed traveller site on the Hampton road (GT11).

As you will no doubt be well aware, Warwick is an important historic county town which draws many tourists into the region, who in turn provide a key source of revenue for the many local businesses . It is therefore vital that the local plan drafted by the Council seeks to protect and nurture this privileged position and does nothing to jeopardise it.

The proposed traveller site located on the Hampton road (GT11) is situated on a key route into the town. At present, after passing over the A46, the views are of open countryside and the racecourse, with the town and church framed in the distance. Locating a traveller site here would interrupt this view and is out of keeping with the medieval nature of Warwick, so is likely to have a detrimental impact on the first impressions of many visitors to the town.

Whilst Warwick Castle will always be a unique draw for tourists, it's vital that their overall impression of the area is positive if we are to encourage them to stay and explore the wider town rather than immediately travelling off to their next destination such as Stratford or Oxford. Furthermore the site is likely to have a direct impact on the appeal of the Warwick Racecourse - itself another key attraction for visitors and an important investor/employer in the town.

To further reinforce the point of the altering the character of the town, I would also draw attention to the proximity of this site to green belt land, which should be protected in all circumstances, but especially when it forms one of the defining parameters of the town itself. As a secondary point, this site is also in/close to a flood plain area, so would not be considered favourable against the councils own proposed selection criteria.

On a more general note, the schools and amenities in this area are already been stretched, so situating more families in this area will only add to this unless steps are taking to improve facilities and increase capacity. This point also extends to the road system itself, which is already busy at rush-hour times and would be further effected by an additional turning.

Unless these points are satisfactorily addressed there is likely to be much cause for concern amongst the residents of Chase Meadow, which will do nothing to aid integration with the local community.