Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 56654

Received: 28/07/2013

Respondent: Paresh Chauhan

Representation Summary:

Concerned about saleability of property as the number of buyers will drop dramatically if there is a gypsy encampment across the road. Chase Meadow estate will become a much less desired area to live in. prices will have to drop in order to sell properties.

also concerned it will create immense friction between local residents and gypsies. Better if gypsies buy current low cost housing that is already built in the Warwickshire area and integrate, thus avoiding a them-and-us situation. Being from an Ethic minority background understand the issues and work hard to integrate into a mixed community.

Local infrastructure (local schools, doctors, surrounding roads and social facilities) is unable to support one or more of these sites.

The current discord the issue has created demonstrates that peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community is not possible.

The development SW Warwick over the past 10 years (Chase Meadow Estate and Tournament Fields Business Park) already placing a burden on roads and schools with extensive works to cater for the current increased volumes.

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.

The Council's sustainability audit questions the living conditions the site will place on the Travellers and their families given the proximity to busy major interchanges and major arterial roads.

Full text:

Dear Development Policy Manager,
Below are some reasons for my objections to having Gypsy and Traveller site being built in Warwickshire.


a) I am concerned about the saleability of my property. I as the seller can keep the price at market value but can guarantee that the list of buyers will drop dramatically when they find out that there is a gypsy encampment across the road from me. As the buyer list will be much smaller I will have drop the price in order to sell quickly to the limited number of potential buyers. Once buyers find out that there is a gypsy site close by, the Chase Meadow estate will become a much less desired area to live in.

b) I am also concerned about the fact that separating a community like the gyspies into their own village/cummunity will create immense friction between the current local residents and gypsies. I would rather see the gypsies buying current low cost housing that is already built in the Warwickshire area and allow them to integrate with us, thus avoiding a them and us situation. I am from an Ethic minority background so have felt the pain historically and have worked very hard to ensure I intergrate and live with the local people, to be part of a MIXED community.

c) In direct conflict with the 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' the local infrastructure is simply not able to support one or more of these sites, especially the local schools, doctors, surrounding roads and social facilities.
d) In direct conflict with the 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' it should promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community: the current discord the issue has created shows that this requirement would not be met.
e) The area of SW Warwick has undergone significant development over the past 10 years with the Chase Meadow Estate and Tournament Fields Business Park. This is already placing an overburden on the area, roads and the schools have/are undergoing extensive works to cater for the increased volumes this brings.
f) Warwick is the most historical town in Warwickshire. In direct conflict with the 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' these sites 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.
g) The sites are located close to major interchanges and major arterial roads that already take huge numbers of vehicles. The councils own sustainability audit questions these sites for this reason and the living conditions this will place on the Travellers and their families.
h) The Hampton Road (GT11) site sits in part within the Flood plain. There is also particular concern of extremely close proximity of the sites to Green Belt land. Any further hard standing within the area is likely to exacerbate the current issues with the flood plain.
i) The racecourse is a major investor into the town of Warwick and draws a large volume of race goers and holiday makers. This will be adversely impacted by the sites as will most significantly the recent developments the racecourse have made in building a stable block for owners to prepare their race horses as this would be within a short distance from the proposed sites. There are potential risks of diseases being transferred from non-vaccinated animals to thoroughbred race horses.