Land north of Milverton: - I am resident in Blackdown, not in Old Milverton, so I am not defending my own back yard. I am however writing as a former chairman of the Old Milverton and Blackdown Parish Council; and during my twelve years in that role I saw a growing community spirit take hold in Old Milverton, growing it into a village of character. (You are not likely to find many other villages with a "go slow" sign at both village entrances that feature a woman with a child and a duck). I believe that such village communities are increasingly rare, and that the people who promote such community spirit are an endangered species. If only they were newts, they could certainly claim protection against their village habitat being swallowed up into the Leamington conurbation.

As I understand it, the requirement is to provide a very large number of houses for people who are expected to be working in Coventry. I also understand that there are parts of the Green Belt nearer to Coventry than that at Old Milverton, which are less highly rated. If so, then it seems wholly contrary for a range of obvious reasons (submitted by the Parish Council) to cover a large area of highly rated green belt with houses whose occupants will be expected to travel ten miles each way, more or less, to get to work every day. The area in question should be allowed to retain its valuable green belt status.