Sites for Gypsies and Travellers - Preferred Options for Sites
Site GTalt03 Henley Road / Hampton Road

We wish to make our objections known regarding the above application. This objection is consistent with us having previously objected to all applications for development on this site, all of which were refused and even resulted in an injunction being taken out to prevent further development. For this reason, it seems wholly inappropriate to reconsider an application by the very authoritative body responsible for its original refusals, namely Warwick District Council. No circumstances have changed since the original refusal was made.

In addition to our overall objection, significant other reasons should be considered.

The suggested site is in an area of Green Belt - The Government's 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' (2012) states that traveller sites should only be approved within the green belt if 'very special circumstances' can be demonstrated. Subsequent Government guidance has confirmed that unmet need for traveller sites is unlikely to be sufficient to meet the 'very special circumstances' threshold to justify development within the green belt.

Access - The Planning Inspector who refused application W09/0157 concluded that occupation of the site by just a single family would have an unacceptable impact on highway safety if accessed from Henley Road. In the light of this, how can the site be considered as even potentially suitable for 15 pitches?

Sustainability - Hampton-on-the-Hill is not identified within either the adopted Warwick District Local Plan (2006) or within the draft Village Housing Options consultation as a sustainable location for any new residential development. If the Council considers that it is not a sustainable location for new market housing, then it cannot be considered as sustainable for a traveller site.

Visual impact - The land lies in an elevated position on an important gateway approach to Warwick. The hedgerow to Henley Road is insufficient to prevent significant views into the site. The only way to partially screen the site would be to have extensive close-boarded boundary fencing which would have a highly urbanising effect in this prominent location.

Power lines - The site is crossed by a 33kV power line. We understand that this would need to be attended to as it proposes a significant risk in the development of a site of this nature.

Noise - The detailed assessment of the site carried out by the District Council's own consultant highlights that there is the potential for occupants to be exposed to high levels of noise and poor air quality due to the proximity to the A4189.

Surface water flooding - We understand a WDC report also states that surface water flooding within parts of the site would pose a risk to caravans which are considered to be particularly sensitive to flooding risk.

On the basis of the points identified above, we ask that this site should therefore be re-classified as a 'red' site which is unsuitable for further consideration.