Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 57217

Received: 27/07/2013

Respondent: Rhona & John Bredikis

Representation Summary:

What on earth is Council thinking of? Baginton is a small village in Green Belt, already destined to be decimated and dominated by the Gateway development. Size of proposed site looks larger than Baginton village and would take taking over the existing community.

Site would put an enormous strain on local facilities. Village has limited local bus service; children go to schools out of village and there are no medical facilities.

Site currently accommodates thriving local business which has operated for over 60 years. Livelihood of locals employed could be jeopardised by the arrival of this unwanted, new development. It will not enhance the lives of local people and is just another nail in the coffin of rural communities.

There are numerous other Brown Belt land sites which are more appropriate in size and position for this type of development.

Full text:

It is with regret and total disbelief that I find myself writing to you to complain about the above proposed development.

What on earth are you thinking of? We are a small village set in Green Belt land, already destined to be decimated and dominated by the Gateway development (I will copy you in on a letter soon to be sent to our MP regarding manipulation of planning committee members,which resulted in a dubious scheme being passed!). There is already a Gypsy/Traveller camp sited at Siskin Drive, on the perimeter of Baginton, which I may add bears NO resemblance whatsoever to the photograph of the proposed site depicted in the booklet available via WDC. If you drive past Siskin Roads camp, you will see that it is full of 4 wheel drive vehicles and vans, rubbish, children and dogs. Not the 'haven' depicted in your booklet!

The size of the proposed camp on the map, actually looks larger that the size of Baginton village, which would mean their community taking over the existing Baginton community. We have a limited local bus service, our children have to be transported to 'out of village' schools plus there are no medical facilities. The extra number of people who would end up living in a camp that size would put an enormous strain on local facilities resulting in, at the very least, extra sewage and refuse collection services having to be initiated.

And lastly, the proposed site already houses a thriving local business which has been a large part of Baginton for over 60 years. When the Gateway Development mentions 'potential' local employment, what about the fact that there are already many people employed at Smiths Nursery, who could have their livelihood jeopardised by the arrival of yet another unwanted, new development. None of these new proposals will enhance the lives of the people of Baginton, living in this beautiful Green Belt area. Instead it is just another nail in the coffin of rural communities.

It beggars belief that this site has been chosen over numerous other Brown Belt land sites which are more appropriate in size and position for this type of development.