Object

Preferred Options Consultation - Land at Stratford Road, Warwick

Representation ID: 67200

Received: 11/12/2014

Respondent: Mr Richard Fantom

Representation Summary:

Flooding likely to the site and the Water Treatment Plant.
Danger of drowning from the river.
Soil contamination from previous flooding of the Water Treatment Plant.
Access issues from the main road - badly sighted junction.
Access issues for emergency vehicles.
Air quality issues from M40.
Economic detriment to the Tournament Fields Business Park.

Full text:

I object to proposal to site pitches for 15 pitches for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation at Stratford Road, Warwick. First of all the site is most obviously destined to flood. One only needs to look at a map ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2585379,-1.6021904,785m/data=!3m1!1e3 ) to see the proximity to the River Avon. Any site can be protected from flooding by the use of flood defences but these would be a substantial additional cost to the site development. If/when flooding does occur the site would be contaminated by flooding of the Severn Trent treatment works. I think it would be very inappropriate to accommodate families, often with small children, next to river which has claimed lives in recent times. I know many people live near rivers but the settled community will have time to plan for safety measures rather than arrive on a site with a life-threatening hazard nearby. The proposed site is also currently in a "cordon sanitaire" for good reasons and it is likely that the site would need considerable and expensive testing and remedial action to remove any possible contamination for a site which will accommodate families, often with young children.
Access to the site is known to be poor - currently unsuitable for heavy vehicles and entirely unsuitable for emergency vehicles. The turn off from the Stratford Road is badly sighted and potentially dangerous for towing vehicles. Improving that junction would be very costly and may even be impossible. Further improvements to widen the track to allow vehicles to pass each other would also increase costs and may not be possible. I understand it would also necessitate a compulsory purchase of land to enhance access.
The site is less than 200m from the M40 motorway - day and night noise would be a difficulty for people using the site. Air quality will be poor - research shows that those who grow up less than 500m from a motorway have reduced lung capacity ( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/jan/26/pollution.transportintheuk ).
I also believe that there would be an economic disadvantage to the Tournament Fields business park as the presence of a Gypsy and Traveller site so close by may be a disincentive to businesses considering developing a new or existing business there.