Please register this as my objection to the Draft Local Plan.
I have lived in Leek Wootton since November 1987 when my husband, I and our two children moved here from Kenilworth. Leek Wootton is a very special place to live and as I also work at the village school I know many of the families very well. The vast majority of people I have spoken to object to this plan.
I understand that more housing is needed nationally and that it is only fair that villages like Leek Wootton contribute to addressing this problem however it is the number of dwellings that Leek Wootton is expected to provide that I strongly object to. The target of 85 new dwellings which would increase the size of the village by over 22% is far too many and would be to the detriment of the current population of the village.
Several years ago members of the village community fought to retain the village school. A new school was built on the edge of the village with financial support from residents. The school has already expanded since it was built, but this proposed level of building in the village would necessitate further expansion of the school which is already at capacity. It would no longer be a small village school, something for which residents fought hard for.
We already have problems with sewage build up and flooding into the school building during heavy rain when the drainage system is at capacity. I also know that other residents have problems with the sewage system. Extra housing as proposed in the Draft Local Plan would put additional strain on the infrastructure of the village which is already struggling to cope.
Most of the preferred development areas, 1-4, would be accessed by a narrow lane, namely Woodcote Lane. This lane does not have a path running the entire length of the developed part. Anyone who walks down the lane needs to cross from one side of the lane to the other to access the path. The junction of Woodcote Lane with Warwick Road, better known to villagers as 'The Anchor Junction' is of particular concern. Exiting Woodcote Lane is particularly dangerous. There have been several accidents there, along with many 'near misses'. I understand it was because of these access problems that one of the proposed development areas, area 1, was not considered a suitable site for the new village school. These problems still exist. There has already been a huge increase in traffic along Woodcote Lane since I first moved here. Cars owned by my family and parked on Woodcote Lane have been damaged on several occasions by speeding vehicles. Many extremely large farm vehicles use the Lane too. Further increased traffic that would be generated by a proposed development of this size only has the potential for disaster.
Further to the above I would like to register my objection to any alteration of the settlement boundary.
I am extremely concerned about the uncertainty of the Police Headquarters site. Whilst area 4 covers the 'footprint' of the Police HQ, if land between area 4 and area 1 were to be built on at some point in the future this would be a massive increase in the number of dwellings which would totally alter the character of the village. If the status of the village were to change there would be the potential for more in-fill building within the village on small pockets of land which currently provide open space and homes for wildlife. Would the Recreation Ground survive?
In summary whilst I am resigned to some building in the village I firmly object to the proposed plan as it stands and to any alteration to the village boundary.
Please also register this as an objection from Wayne Baylis-Stranks for reasons given above.
being used for housing at some point in the future. If 85 dwellings are allowed to be built in the village as proposed and then the Police HQ site is also used for housing this could account for more dwelling
Increased traffic will also be detrimental to the quality of life of residents who currently live in Leek Wootton in addition to the dangers