Comment

Representation ID: 6915

Received: 24/09/2009

Respondent: Warwick Town Council

A further aspect, which is of great concern, is the intention within the Preferred Options to remove the green spaces which have served as historic boundaries within the areas south of the river. This has the effect of sundering historic identities and creating an area of urban sprawl. A preference difficult to accept, when elsewhere in the Development Plan Document landscape is identified as a key part of the environment, which provides a setting for towns and villages, and the Town Council would expect that the policy should apply in all the District.
Nor should the GOWM's directive that areas of restraint should be developed be accepted, when such a proposal is directly opposed to the views of the community. In this circumstances elected representatives must reflect the views and wishes of the electorate. Certainly when considering development elsewhere, the green space areas which distinguish and separate towns and villages has been recognised by the District as a very basic requirement which should be preserved and retained.
The scheduling of development is also an issue, and the Town Council and residents consider that development of all green field sites, including those in areas of restraint, should not be developed ahead of windfall and brown field sites. The Town Council therefore request that windfall and brown field sites should be developed ahead of green field sites and commence in 2011 and not as scheduled in the option strategy.
The Town Council calls on the District Council to retain the green space which distinguishes and separates the towns of Kenilworth, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick Whitnash and other areas of the District.
To avoid the serious detrimental impact on the environment, which would arise from locating the bulk of housing in close proximity to existing development, creating continuous urban sprawl.