I refer to the above consultation on the draft Local Plan which commenced in 2011. Sites are now being considered as preferred options in a high risk flood plain, at which a number of properties have been flooded, when other sites at risk of flooding have been dropped. The Planning Department have previously been provided with photographs of flooding and the impact of flooding at these sites.

In the initial consultation undertaken by your Council, 57 respondents were against
Development and only 5 in favour. Those in favour being either developers or landowners wanting to develop their land. How can you call this process consultation, when the outcome of such consultation is totally disregarded?

Any proposals for affordable housing should meet the statutory criteria for affordable housing and should be pursued through the Rural Housing Trust and not under the control of developers, landowners and/or local charities.

Why have decisions been made to include sites as preferred options in a high risk flood plain, without the Environment Agency being consulted?

The restricted culvert under the canal at site 1 and also the restricted culvert under the Old Warwick Road, create bottlenecks and have resulted in flooding. Will the Highway Authority accept responsibility for flooding if development is permitted, but the culvert under the Old Warwick Road is left as it is at present.

The proposed development is over intensive and will affect the character of the surrounding area, including watercourses and listed buildings, and will clearly impact on such buildings and the local street scene as well as being detrimental to the amenities of adjoining residents.

The proposed access/egress points of sites 1, 2 and 6 on the Old Warwick Road, are at the foot of a hill, on a bend and at a point where traffic does speed, and also adjoin, or are opposite listed buildings.

Allowing a development of this magnitude in the area does not take into account the lack of available public transport. Any younger people taking up residence in the area will need to rely on cars to travel to work, bearing in mind, there is very little chance of local employment.

The time for emergency services to reach the area is a minimum of 10/15 minutes and is probably in reality, a lot longer. This will impact on the elderly requiring emergency hospital treatment.

There is a legal challenge by a number of parish and town councils over the housing quota put forward by Warwick District Council. If this challenge is successful, it would bring into serious question, the whole of the Local Plan put forward by Warwick District Council. By not awaiting the outcome of this challenge, I think Warwick District Council could be seen as negligent in trying to steam roller through what could turn out to be a flawed Local Plan.

If there is any development proposed in the local plan for the parish of Rowington, other identified sites which are not in a high risk flood plain and which would equally serve the local community should also be considered for development.

Any proposed development should be infill and not backfill.

It is felt that there is insufficient local infrastructure, in particular, the sewage system which in a number of areas, still combines both storm water and foul water.

Settlement Boundaries Consultation

It is sad that you feel it necessary to alter the village settlement boundaries. A few years ago, Rowington Parish Council undertook a poll of local residents in Rowington (Kingswood) who by a substantial majority voted for no changes to be made to parish boundaries, since they all had ties and attachments to Rowington and not Lapworth, and more recently by local residents responding to the Boundary Consultation process undertaken by your Council. Please leave Rowington out of the village settlement boundary.