Object

Representation ID: 6928

Received: 25/09/2009

Respondent: Bishops Tachbrook Parish Council

Town Centres
The Parish Council does not think that the Council has identified all reasonable options. Contrary to the approach taken in the development of the Preferred Option Paper for housing and employment land, there is no strategy provided as to how the town centres should evolve over the term. There is conflict between development of town centres to promote their vitality and viability and conservation desire to maintain the centres as they were. Conservation should be reserved for buildings or areas which are good examples of their kind and need refurbishment to keep them economically viable but not where to do so would impair the vitality and attractiveness that could otherwise be achieved. This is a particular problem in Leamington and Warwick which is made more difficult by the mixing of traffic with shops, arising from the town layout designed before the invention of motor vehicles. Resolving this issue needs a bold strategy to change current principles.
If 45,000 sq m is said to be required for office floorspace within or on the edge of Leamington town centre, has the need for the 4,500 or so jobs that would arise to fill that area been identified in terms of businesses looking to open or expand in this location? It could only work if adequate roads for the traffic generated and the parking that is essential for workers and customers is created to attract businesses into the town.
The Parish Council does not think that the Council has correctly determined the hierarchy of the town centres. The strategy for Leamington town centre needs to be clearer on its approach to dealing with the underperformance and should set out the options more clearly for sites for retail development. The underuse of shops in Leamington and Warwick may well arise from the introduction of internet shopping as well as impediments to customers from poor parking arrangements and charges. Before any ambitious plans are embarked on, customer satisfaction studies need to establish whether any new developments can be sustained.