I have read the Local Area Plan, attended a public meeting, and an exhibition outlining what the new Myton Garden Suburb will look like.
I am writing to object strongly to the plan to allocate almost 3,500 homes on land in South Warwick. My understanding is that arguments about the unfairness of housing distribution (although self evident) will have no affect. Neither will objections on the grounds that the character of the two towns will be lost forever (although this is inevitable given the extent of the planned build.) And so I am objecting because I do not believe that the issues of pollution, flooding and traffic flow have been properly considered and I am not persuaded by the plans I have seen for mitigating these issues.
We have witnessed flooding from the farmlands between Europa Way and the cycle path onto the roads directly opposite, and are extremely concerned that the recently improved drainage system will not contain the run off from vast areas of new hard standing. How can you guarantee that our homes will not be at risk?
Traffic congestion will increase hugely - most houses in this area have more than one car and it is unrealistic and naïve to expect that people will cycle or rely on public transport (even if the proposals to increase public transport are upheld.) Plans to introduce new roundabouts and traffic lanes simply cannot solve the ultimate problem of the limitations imposed by the narrow bridge into Warwick at Bridge End and the rail bridge over Princes Drive into Leamington (recent changes at the top of Princes Drive already results in traffic backing up onto the Morrisons' roundabout, making it impossible to navigate.)
Finally, my understanding is that the local need is for fewer than 6,000 new houses by about 2030, but that the District Council proposes more than 12,000, 4,500 of them south of Warwick. The Local Area Plan seems to be grossly excessive.