I believe that the correct procedure was not followed in the process of site selection for Radford Semele. This latest Consultation sees a new site (Site 1) as the preferred option for development. This site (Site 1) had previously been removed and is referred to in the 1994 Planning Inspector's report where the Inspector states "... remaining land, including the Objection site, omitted, to be protected by countryside policies". The Radford Semele Parish Council made representation in July 2012 based on the previous Consultation which completed June 2013. They stated that their preferred location for new housing was on the east side of Radford Semele (i.e. Sites 2 & 3). As WDC did not engage with the Parish Council in deciding on site 1 as the preferred site and rejecting the other sites, it seems that correct procedure was not followed with regard to Radford Semele. The process and methodology makes it very clear that WDC should have engaged to obtain the Parish Council's view and has not done so.
Furthermore, in reviewing and rejecting sites 2 and 3 the council have stated that there would be an issue around visibility from the roads. This is because the parcel of land being considered by WDC is far greater in size than the actual proposed sites for development. Of course, this large area of land named in the environmental report as RS03 and RS04 can be viewed from the Fosse Way but Site 2 and 3 are a small part of this whole area and are not visible from the Fosse Way at all because of the naturally rolling hills and vegetation along the edge of the fields. The view of the Parish Council is that a small development on either side of the A425 at sites 2 and 3 would have least impact on the residents of Radford Semele. I agree with the view of the Parish Council on this issue.