Dear Warwick District Council,

I would like to object to the proposed Gypsy and Traveller site on Stratford Road, Warwick.

I was very disappointed that Warwick District Council did not send any representatives to the public meeting on Thursday the 4th of December at Aylesford School. I also feel that the two month consultation period is unfair because it is not long enough and has not given local residents enough time to react and consider the effect of a traveller site on the local community. The 'drop in' centre slots organised by the council were scheduled at inconvenient times for working residents.

LOCAL ECONOMY
My first objection is that I don't think that local economy has been properly considered.

As the UK has just started to recovery from the recession then it is likely that businesses will want to be situated on Tournament Fields (opposite the proposed site) which would be great for Warwick's local economy but no business is going to want to situate itself opposite a potentially growing Traveller and Gypsy site. Given that the Tournament Fields business park remains largely undeveloped after the long recession the negative effect on future demand if a Gypsy and Traveller site is opened opposite to it.

Stratford road is the main tourist route into Warwick for visitors of Warwick Castle and the race course, it seems ridiculous to place a gypsy site so close to this entry into the town. For instance if there are problems with larger amounts of travellers arriving than pitches are available or they simply attend a relatives christening, birthday or wedding then it is likely that they are going to park up on the grass verges around the site or on Tournament Fields business park. Numerous Travellers/Gypsies have parked up on the grass verges near in Aylesford School on Tapping Way road the last few years when visiting a horse show. This is not what we want tourists and visitors to remember about their trip to Warwick.

FLOOD RISK
My second objection is the high risk of flooding

When buying my house I completed the searches though the environment agency to ascertain whether there were flood plains near Chase Meadows estate. And it quite clearly states that the areas near the river have a large flood risk.

The fact that the site is on a designated flood plain within flood zones 2 and 3 the government's own guidelines on planning Gypsy and Traveller sites states that 'Caravan sites for permanent residence are considered "highly vulnerable" and should not be permitted in areas where there is a high probability that flooding will occur (Zone 3 areas)'. I find this point is ridiculous that you are even considering letting people live in a highly vulnerable area especially when young children and animals are likely to live on the site.

The overall expenditure to minimise the risk will cost the council tax payer a large amount of money and can the council prove the risk has been eliminated once the work is completed.

QUALITY OF AIR, SOIL AND WATER
My third objection is the overall quality of the Air, Soil and Water

The Council's own Sustainability Assessment identified this as an area of significant concern (flagged as red) with a 'potential major negative effect'.
The site is situated very close to a sewage works and a noisy motorway which will cause issues with the quality of the Air, Water and Soil and therefore is not an ideal place for a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site, particularly one where children will spend most of their time playing outside.

The government's own guidelines on planning Gypsy and Traveller sites state that:
'It is essential to ensure that the location of a site will provide a safe environment for the residents.
Sites should not be situated near refuse sites, industrial processes or other hazardous places, as this will obviously have a detrimental effect on the general health and well-being of the residents and pose particular safety risks for young children. All prospective site locations should be considered carefully before any decision is taken to proceed, to ensure that the health and safety of prospective residents are not at risk'.

ACCESS
My forth objection is the access to the site

Unless Severn Trent Water are willing to provide access to the site across their land then the current narrow farm track leading to the site from Longbridge would be totally inadequate. The farm track would therefore appear to be totally unsuitable for the size of trailers the travellers will need.

Accessing the site from Longbridge would place the main entrance to the site next to 'Longbridge Manor' a Grade 2 listed building which is located on a dangerous bend in the road with poor visibility for Motorists.

Again as mentioned in my first objection there is a problem if visiting Travellers Park up on the grass verges of Stratford road.