I oppose MM54 which proposes a third area of search for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme on land to the North of Milverton between the Blackdown roundabout and Northumberland Road. The area of search is identified on Policies Map 2 and is that area that was previously designated H44 when it was proposed to be allocated for residential development.
In Exam 183, with reference to Transport Policy TR5, The Planning Inspector states "Explain that two Areas of Search to the north are identified and briefly describe where they are (i.e. those on Policies Map for Submitted Plan)".
The areas of search included in the Submitted Plan, did not include the land designated as H44 but instead comprised areas shown on Policies Map 12 located to the east of the A452 in Blackdown and to the north around the Bericote roundabout.
The inclusion of a third area of search to the North of Milverton on H44 is not in accordance with the Planning Inspectors instructions in Exam 183. Therefore, it must be included in error and should be removed.
Further evidence for this error is apparent from the words used in MM54 which describe the areas of search of a North Leamington Park scheme as being "Two areas of search to the north of Warwick / Leamington are also identified on the Policies map - one just north of Leamington is located around the Milverton / Blackdown island area and the other, further to the north along the A452, is located in the vicinity of Bericote island." This description is consistent with the areas of search identified in the Submission Draft of the Local Plan in Policies Map 12.
In any event H44 is an inappropriate site for a Park and Ride scheme:
* It is on the wrong side of the A452 to encourage use by traffic traveling towards Leamington Spa
* It is too close to Leamington Spa to attract use, travellers will simply carry on into Leamington where there is plenty of on and off road parking available
* Major changes to the junction with the A452 will be required to facilitate the Park and Ride scheme
* The area of the Blackdown round about is already subject to significant traffic movements associated with the Nuffield Hospital (which has recently applied for planning permission to increase in size), Priors House (residential care scheme) and the Engineering Employees Federation conference centre
I was present (giving evidence) at the Public Examination hearing on 13 October that considered the development proposals for H44. Like many, I clearly recall officers from Warwick District Council agreeing to with draw the Park and Ride scheme from H44. As a consequence, the Public Examination did not hear all of the evidence as to why the proposals for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme make no sense and should be withdrawn. These reasons include:
* There is sufficient on and off street parking available in Leamington. Indeed, Warwick District Council is increasing capacity with the construction of a new multistore car park. Therefore, there is no demand for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme and experience shows that such schemes work best where there is limited "in town" parking such as in Oxford.
* There are no detailed feasibility studies which support the need for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme. A "desk top" exercise was performed in 2011, which was updated in 2015, on a site to the north of the Bericote roundabout. The current sites are all too close to Leamington and if a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme were to be feasible it would be better situated closer to the A46 (to take traffic from the A46) and to reduce traffic on the A452.
* The bus operator, Stagecoach, believes that for the scheme to be feasible significant improvements are required to the A452, including the introduction of dedicated bus lanes. There is no money available for these improvements and the proposal to make the A452 into a dual carriage way has been removed from the Local Plan. There is sufficient on and off street parking available in Leamington. Indeed, Warwick District Council is increasing capacity with the construction of a new multistore car park.
* Both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council will lose significant car parking revenues if such a scheme went ahead. Neither Authority is including such reductions in its financial budgets.
* The areas of search are very substantial. In the absence of firm feasibility studies to support the need for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme, the funds require to facilitate such a scheme the current proposals simply blight the properties surrounding or within the areas of search.
Therefore, although not part of MM54 I also object to the areas of search for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme to the East of the A452 in Blackdown and around the Bericote roundabout and request that these are also removed from the Draft Local Plan.