Proposed Sites for Gypsies and Travellers

I wish to register my objections to the proposed site GT04 Land at Harbury Lane, Fosse Way for Gypsies and Travellers. My comments and concerns are as follows:

1.Access to Local Amenities
There are no local amenities within a reasonable walking distance and there is no access to public transport on the Fosse Way. There is little capacity in local schools and health facilities. Walking to nearest health services and schools would require walk of around 45 minutes however this would be a highly dangerous thing to do given the surrounding road conditions and lack of pavements.

2. Travel
The roads surrounding the proposed site can at best be described as hazardous. There has been a noticeable increase in traffic due to the ongoing expansion of Jaguar LandRover, and the potential development of housing in close proximity to the site will further exacerbate this situation increasing the risk of accident. There have been a high number of minor and major accidents in recent years, and even with the siting of speed cameras, the road is used at high speed by a great many drivers which adds to the risk to pedestrians and cyclists incurred by the lack of pavements and bike paths.

3. Utilities
The proposed site has no mains gas, mains sewerage or drainage. Telecommunications are poor with low speed and unreliable internet access, and weak mobile signal coverage. Telecommunications companies continue to refuse to improve the infra- structure and any new residents would be subject to a growing 'digital divide'.

4. Environmental
There are a number of areas of high risk of flooding along the portion of Fosse Way and Harbury Lane in question. Land within the proposed area has flooded on a number of occasions in recent years. The impact on the local environment should be considered with the proposed site being in the direct sight line from the popular tourist attraction of Chesterton Windmill.

5. Consistency of selection criteria
It seems a strange anomaly to the consistent application of the site selection criteria that the neighbouring Barnwell Farm site (GT03) has not been named as one of the preferred sites, where the majority of reasons for the non-selection of this site are replicated in GT04 (namely the presence of gas pipes, access issues, distance to GP surgeries, schools, dentists, hospitals, shops, community facilities, road noise from Harbury Lane and Fosse Way) and any site would be subjected to the same odours emanating from the chicken farm.


I confirm I am over 17 years old. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.