Gypsy and Travellers Consultation Officer

Objection from the trustees of Budbrooke Consolidated Charities to

Hampton on the Hill Site GTalt03
Budbrooke Consolidated Charities own the field adjacent to this site. It is slightly smaller and has agricultural usage. It is tenanted and generates a small income. There is no challenge on the basis of loss of income or prejudicial impact on the property.

The Charities objection is built on inappropriate green belt development and the general unsuitability of the site.

This site is within the green belt and there are no exceptional circumstances for the site to be used; it is very obvious from the main road, Hampton on the Hill being adjacent to the main Henley Road and the lane entering Hampton on the Hill village. It is visible through 'gappy hedges' from the outside looking in but would also affect the privacy of any occupants as they would be over looked from the road. The road, although subject to a 50mph restriction, is very fast and would be unsuitable for turning on and off the site by large vehicles with trailers attached.

In 2009 the following planning application was refused: W/09/0157 for Change of use of land to caravan site for occupation by gypsy family with associated operational development (utility room, septic tank, hard and soft landscaping and widen dropped kerbs) - Land at junction Hampton Road and Henley Road (A4189) Hampton on the Hill, Warwick

A key element for the refusal was on site access. The Highway Control Engineer
"I would now ask for a further condition to be imposed, in that no caravans/dwellings other than the caravans/dwellings as stated in the application shall be placed within the development."

The Highways Officer advised The Charities that they would be unlikely to get approval for making a new gated entrance to its field [which is the other side of a hedge to GTalt03] for occasional agricultural access, far less frequent that a Gypsy and Traveller site would generate. Clearly there is a contradiction in the advice given which would suggest that the district council applications are treated differently to those of other individuals and organisations. This is highly irregular and dubious.

Since 2009, there has been no improvement to the highway. Traffic has increased due to commuters from Chase Meadow development using the road to reach the A46/M40 Junction 15 [rather than navigating through Chase Meadow] and Warwick Parkway station.

In addition:
* The summary of preferred sites also states that the site here is flat; this is not the case as it overlooks and slopes down towards the town of Warwick, as outlined in the detailed report on W/09/0157
* There are no amenities near the site
* There are few services on site- no access to electricity, gas or sewage
* Running across the site there is a high voltage, low level electricity supply line on poles rather than pylons. This is a potential hazard to any unsupervised children. There have been arguments about residential accommodation being sited adjacent to them.
* A suggestion that if the access point was moved towards the brow of the hill is inappropriate, the whole site would become more conspicuous, and is also very contentious.
* The Warwick Parkway /Budbrooke School rush hour and school run traffic runs alongside the site making it hazardous to children living on site
* The FAQ states that if land is considered suitable for houses it is suitable for gypsies and travellers. So, where an application has been refused for development it should not be used for a gypsy and traveller site
* The additional hard standing will increase the risk of flooding in the area, there is already substantial runoff from the hill and in winter is a particular hazard when it freezes
* To maintain the site access and egress for maintenance/fire service access within 45 metres of a dwelling on the site should be a consideration given the combustibility of the dwellings and LPG storage and usage would be necessary
* The pond on the adjacent site is seasonal and unsuitable for the provision of water for fire fighting purposes
* The current access to the site is unsuitable for this purpose
* Budbrooke School is in Special Measures and all development has been halted
* Budbrooke Surgery has been closed to new patients for a number of years

The current status of the Local plan means that policies that applied at the time of the original refusal remain current; hence arguments in the proposal for GTAlt03 in respect to Very Special Circumstances cannot be justified as they contradict current policies.

Although the proposed site at Budbrooke Lodge, GT11, may be subject to flooding, it would be suitable with very little additional work. The new culvert on Stratford road at Fisher's Bridge will have substantially improved matters
The scheme involves widening the water course and demolishing and replacing the existing culverts beneath the A429 Stratford Road and Leafield Farm Access Road. The objective of the scheme is to reduce the risk of flooding on Stratford Road and nearby properties.
Warwickshire County Council Transport Projects 24th April 2013.

In all other considerations GT11 would be a far more suitable gypsy and traveller site being closer to amenities, mains services and is not in the green belt. It is also nearer to bus stops

[no.68]. Newburgh Primary School has been extended and Aylesford School has announced its intention to build an infant/junior school on site.

The counter arguments cited in the Plan seem to take account of individual and organisation 'personal' concerns [impact on the racecourse and Budbrooke Lodge, which is a private residence] when these are not relevant planning considerations.