I wish to register my objection to the proposed residential site proposed in the consultation for Hill Wootton and the removal of the hamlet from the Green Belt.

SUMMARY
* The site specifically proposed for development has already been rejected a number of times for planning permission.
* Traffic and access to the site and the rest of the hamlet are dangerous
* Hill Wootton is NOT well served by public transport
* The infrastructure in the hamlet is poor
* The impact on wildlife does not appear to have been assessed
* The impact on the environment to the people living in the hamlet will be damaged
* Annex 6 of the consultation document itself says not to develop the proposed plot of land.
* Hill Wootton should NOT be removed from the Green Belt

IN DETAIL

Hill Wootton is a unique hamlet with aspirational housing situated along unlit roads with poor access to main transport routes


1) The site has been rejected by planning officers in 1974, 1986 and on appeal in 1987. There has been no significant change in the area around the site since then, other than increased traffic and access problems described below. In the absence of any positive reasons for planning to be reconsidered, then the notion of building on the already rejected site should be rejected.

2) Traffic and access to the planned site are dangerous. The site is on a dangerous bend the adjacent to my house (Hill Farm). Hill Wootton Road is a busy rat run between Leamington and Warwick. The bend has been the site of numerous accidents since I have been in Hill Wootton (just over two years). This has included a car hitting the telegraph pole, leaving me without telephone and internet access, and cars hitting the hedge. Additionally turning right off Hill Wootton Road into the lane where access is suggested is dangerous. This is on a blind bend and I regularly see near misses (despite the often ignored new 30 mph speed limit). There is a lot more traffic now than in 1987, so this is worse than when the site was originally rejected

The lane where access is suggested is additionally used by large farm machinery, horse boxes, horses and dog walkers. The presence of traffic inhibits access for this farm machinery and is a danger to other users.

3) In contrast to the opinion in the planning document that has been published, there is no public transport within easy reach. I was somewhat surprised that Hill Wootton allegedly has good transport links. This is not true. The nearest bus stops are over 1200 metres away down an unlit lane, with no footpath and crossing the B4115 at a junction where there have been accidents and indeed a death in the past.

4) I would query whether the hamlet has adequate infrastructure to cope with additional housing. The drainage and sewers seem to struggle with the flow produced by the existing residents. Some residents do not even have the luxury of access to a sewer. There is no gas supply, which results in the use of oil for heating by many. This is hardly suitable for low cost housing. The only resources we have in the hamlet is a post box and a notice board.

5) There appears to have been no environmental impact assessment on the loss of the field. This is used by barn owls, foxes and bats for hunting suggesting that this is an important wildlife resource for the area.

6) The loss of the field would also have an impact on the nature of the village and surrounding buildings, both listed and more recent structures. The field acts as an important buffer in the hamlet between the hamlet and the railway, A46 and beyond.

7) Annex 6 of the Site Appraisal Matrix says in essence not to develop this site. The Council themselves are saying it is not suitable, so why continue to consider it?

8) The Plan removes much of the hamlet from the Green Belt. This should not happen. The removal of the hamlet from the green belt will open up much of the hamlet to development, risking destroying the unique character of the hamlet. I am not adverse to a limited number of dwellings being developed in the hamlet, however, these should be in keeping with the character of the hamlet so should be subject by the stricter planning constraints currently imposed on the area.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter.