Myton Garden Suburb (North of Gallows Hill/ West of Europa Way), Warwick

Lack of easy access to Warwick or Leamington via existing bridges and consequent traffic chaos such as we already have on this route.

Road congestion in this area is already unacceptable at peak times.
Further pressure on already strained local services.

Having moved back to the area and paid a significant price to purchase a house and to find 2700 houses (sites 2 & 3) being built on my back door step is quite simply alarming and unacceptable. The distribution of house numbers across all sites is disproportionate and should more evenly distributed with sites 2, 3 & 5 taking less burden on the housing plan moving forward. Site 8 for example can be increased significantly considering the size of the plot and land available.

The oak trees behind my property which have been there for a considerably time (WHICH MUST BE UNDER A preservation order) and other trees behind Aragon drive provide necessary noise reduction from the main road and provide attractive scenery. At all costs the natural habitat and the borders must be kept to preserve the little areas of beauty we have left in the town and to stop unwanted merging of communities and estates. Adequate parkland and playing fields also needs to be provided

How will the new schools for sites 2 & 3 be funded? as under current proposal plans, 1 new secondary and a 1 new primary school will be needed. Would it be not more sensible to reduce the proposed number of houses for sites 2 & 3 and extend the current secondary Myton school which has an excellent reputation and build an additional primary school.

With this increased property development comes increased pollution and transport chaos. Myton Road is already gridlocked at both ends during rush hour and the M40 turn off at Leamington is bumper to bumper in the morning and evening. Whatever plans are made you will not be able to put suitable highway infrastructure in place to cope with this increased number of houses.

I am not in total objection but am realistic as a nation we need more houses with life expectancy increasing but I think more sensible thinking is required around the distribution of sites for housing and the quantities at the sites around the district as I have have indicated.

Housing allocation here would be appropriate given the better transport links on this side of the urban area. The identification of the site as being appropriate is supported by its previous inclusion as a site in the Core Strategy Preferred Options.

Better road links and infrastructure.

As stated elsewhere the congestion in this area is horrendous and with the redevelopment of the Ford Foundry site this is only likely to get worse.

This is a huge amount of development which will destroy the area, not a "garden suburb" which is cynically used to imply it will be spacious and green. Housing sites 2 & 3 will be bought by people from out of town who value the location for rail/ motorway/ air links and form part of the global economy. It will do nothing to reduce local house prices. The amount of infrastructure required will make this a very urban environment quite unsuited to the historic entrance to this market town.

We have been advised to write to you re New Objections to the Core Strategy Plan.

We wish to object to the expansion plan to build 2700 new homes in the south of Warwick (P04 Distribution for Sites for Housing: Location 2 and 3).

There is likely to be considerable job creation towards Coventry (PO3 Broad Location of Growth). Therefore several extra thousand people per day will want to drive through Warwick morning and evening. That would lock up the highly congested Myton Road, Banbury Road and Europa Way at peak times and also the road layout of historic Warwick. (PO14: Transport).

The suggested improvement to the junction to the end of Myton Road and Banbury Road is redundant. The bottle neck of the narrow historic Avon bridge, constrained road layout and traffic calming in the Town centre, means such provision would not ease the current backlog along Myton Road at peak times. (PO14: Transport).

The most disturbing consequence of the proposed development of sites 2 and 3 is the danger to Public Health as a result of exposure to dangerously high Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) levels. The Warwick District Air Quality action plan 2008 identified the entire road network within Warwick town centre as exceeding maximum NO2 levels as set out in the Air Quality Regulations (England) (Wales) 2000. In 2012, air quality remains in breach of these regulations, and will become toxically high with the increased traffic volume resulting from the Local Plan preferred options. Please see weblink: http://aqma.defra.gov.uk/action-plans/WDC%20AQAP%202008.pdf. (PO12 Climate Change; PO14 Transport).

Current infrastructure including town centre rail stations, schools, GP surgeries, sewage, water, drainage are at capacity with the current population, and will not sustain the proposed increased numbers within the Myton proposed sites 2 and 3. (PO2 Community Infrastructure levy).

Warwick District population has increased by 12% since 2000, which is approximately 2x the rate of increase for Warwickshire; 2x the national average increase, and over 3x the increase for West Midlands. (PO1 Level of Growth).

Warwick has therefore already been subject to significant recent Urban Fringe development and population expansion, a large proportion of which is in South Warwick where the majority of further development is now proposed. (PO1 Level of Growth).

We wish to object specifically about the development zone 2 to the west of Europa Way. This area had been identified as an area of restraint at the time of planning the Warwick Technology Park. It was put forward as an untouchable green buffer zone to separate Warwick from Leamington Spa, to prevent the two towns becoming one urban sprawl.
Furthermore, the land West of Europa Way is rich agricultural land which has been under the careful stewardship of the Oken Trust and Henry VIII Trust. There are also wide green hedges providing habitats for many species including woodpeckers, buzzards, bats, foxes, the occasional deer, as well as newts, hedgehogs etc. (PO11 Historic environment, PO15 Green Infrastructure).

Development on the area of restraint threatens the local houses with flooding. At present, during heavy rain, the run off is slowed by the pasture and crops. It backs up by the Malins and is relieved into the Myton School playing fields. Property in Myton Crescent was flooded when development was carried out on the Trinity School site. Developing the Myton side of the site would threaten all of the houses south of Myton Road . (PO18 Flooding and Water).

We object to the fact that the area of restraint is one of the first to be developed under the proposals, and should with immediate effect be designated as the last site to be developed so as to protect this area until a viable alternative is found.

The further urban fringe development of Warwick is unsustainable with respect to saturated infrastructure, constrained historic town layout, and the existing Public Health danger that exists today as a consequence of high traffic volume.

Therefore further development should be concentrated in areas where road improvement is possible, air quality is not already in breach of regulation, access to A46, M40 and rail links are direct so commuting traffic is not funneled through Warwick's congested urban centre.

We also urge Warwick District council to consider the overwhelming number of objections received from Warwick residents at the last consultation 2 years ago.

Provided the Council can demonstrate that development is economically justified on the edge of town, this area represents a natural and organic growth opportunity and IS NOT GREEN BELT

Greenfield sites and open countryside should be protected at all costs. The road network on Europa Way and Myton Road already struggles with the current volume, frequently reaching gridlock, the new development on the former foundry site will only add to the problem.
Access from the South into Leamington Town by road, foot or bicycle is wholly inadequate, Princes Drive is dangerous for both pedestrians and cyclists and frequently long tailbacks occur at the roundabout. Access into central Leamington by the railway station is equally restrictive and unsuitable for pedestrians.
Air quality will further deteriorate and noise pollution will obviously increase.

This land has an existing 'Area of Restraint' on it. What use is that if you come along and say that it is now to built on.

The road system around the Myton Road/Europa Way/Princes Drive junction is at saturation point now at rush hour and school times. Adding all these homes plus the two new supermarkets around this junction will mean a complete deadlock. No matter how you improve Europa Way the traffic has to use Princes Drive to get into Leamington and the single lane under the railway bridge and use of Park Drive will create a horrendous situation.

The 2011 Census results indicate that growth over the last 10 years is significantly less than anticipated. Also the Preferred Option do not take account of all available brownfield land. Therefore the need to build on this rural site has not been sufficiently demonstated. Building on rural land should be avoided where at all possible.

Land north of Gallows Hill/west of Europa Way is a highly sustainable and logical location for meeting a significant share of the identified growth needs of the District, and its inclusion under policy PO4 as a strategic site allocation is fully supported.

While EWC and WCC (Physical Assets-Resources) support the allocation of land north of Gallows Hill/west of Europa Way, we wish to take this opportunity make the following comments about other aspects of the policy which relate specifically to this site:

* No. of dwellings. Based on our own detailed analysis of the site, we consider that the site can deliver in the order of 1,250 dwellings at an average density which is in line with the standards proposed in the Council's garden cities prospectus. An allocation of 1,250 dwellings was previously proposed for this site by the District Council in the Preferred Options version of the Core Strategy, and this quantum of housing we feel makes best use of the site and will help deliver much needed housing in a highly sustainable location.

* Phasing. We support the Council's decision to identify land north of Gallows Hill/west of Europa Way as a site allocation to be brought forward during Phases 1 and 2 of the plan. It is our clients' intention to bring development forward on the site as soon as practicable and, responding to market needs, to deliver as much development as possible within Phase 1. In the interest of ensuring that development is not unnecessarily hindered as a result of the proposed phasing, we consider that it would be helpful if clarification was provided on how development phases are to be interpreted, applied and, as necessary, monitored. If a phasing policy is introduced it should maximise flexibility so that sites can be brought forward and developed in line with market demand and infrastructure provision.

* Land Uses. We note that under Policy PO4 that the Council has proposed that all of the "strategic site" allocations (i.e. sites of 500+ dwellings) will also include a "full range of supporting uses" including employment. Neither the policy nor the stated justification for the preferred option explains why employment is considered a "supporting use" to each individual strategic housing site allocation. It is our assumption that, irrespective of the wider local land use context, WDC is calling for some employment on each site in the belief that doing so will deliver a mixed-use development, which itself is synonymous with improved sustainablility over dispersed land uses. However, mixed-use developments can be found in a range of locations, and vary significantly in terms of the scale, type, volume of activity generated by different uses and, ultimately, the benefits they offer.

With specific regard to land north of Gallows Hill/west of Europa Way we consider that simply by providing residential development within this part of Warwick, the result will be a more sustainable pattern of development through the creation of a better mix of land uses; the site is already surrounded by employment opportunities which are within easy walking /cycling distance including, but not limited to, Warwick Technology Park (WTP), Tachbrook Park, Spa Business Park and Heathcote Industrial Estate. Furthermore, having regard to the existing employment land supply within the District (78.91 hectares of B1, B2 and B8; AMR December 2011) we contend that there will not be the market for additional employment land in this part of the District, especially during the first phase of the Plan. This argument is reinforced by the recent decision to grant planning permission for housing on part of Tournament Fields, a site allocated for employment use and recognised by the Council as one of the District's most important employment opportunities currently available to meet future needs. If additional demand were to arise, we believe that there is already enough committed employment sites across the district including Warwick Gates/Gallagher Park and Tournament Fields, plus other better placed sites which could come forward (e.g. land immediately opposite WTC/ south of Gallows Hill).

* Garden cities. We acknowledge and broadly welcome the Council's commitment to bringing forward new sustainable development which accords with 'Garden City' principles.

There is not sufficient evidence to show that this rural site is needed for new housing. My representations in 7.1 and 7.2 cast significant doubt on the rural land needed for new housing.

As already stated in objection to PO4 [The possible negative impact your proposals will have on the Warwick Gates community.]

We have been advised to write to you re new objections to the Core Strategy Plan. Having studied the documentation we wish to object to the overall plan to build a further 8100 new homes in the Warwick district area and in particular the 2700 planned in the south of Warwick (P04 Distribution for Sites for Housing: Location 2 and 3).

The whole basis for the homes is population growth nationally. Imposing massive growth on an area with little expansion of employment would create greater numbers of people who would have to commute to work, much to the detriment of the area and a poor location of people. Warwick District has already seen much development recently, much of it to accommodate those moving from the urban areas of Coventry and Birmingham into a less dense area. Many of those still commute into Birmingham or London and if people are prepared to work in London and commute from the Warwick district this will do nothing to help keep the prices affordable for the locals who want to continue living here.

Warwick District population has in fact increased by 12% since 2000, which is approximately 2x the rate of increase for Warwickshire; 2x the national average increase, and over 3x the increase for West Midlands. (PO1 Level of Growth).

Warwick has therefore already been subject to significant recent Urban Fringe development and population expansion, a large proportion of which is in South Warwick where the majority of further development is now proposed. (PO1 Level of Growth).

As it stands, we wish to object specifically about the development zone 2 in the area of restraint to the west of Europa Way. This area was identified as an area of restraint at the time of the agreement of planning for the Warwick Technology Park. It was put forward as an untouchable green buffer zone to separate Warwick from Leamington Spa, to prevent the two towns becoming one urban sprawl.

There is likely to be considerable job creation towards Coventry (PO3 Broad Location of Growth), including up to 14,000 new jobs at the Coventry Gateway scheme. Therefore several extra thousand people per day will want to drive through Warwick, morning and evening, which would lock up the highly congested Myton Road, Banbury Road and Europa Way at peak times and also the road layout of historic Warwick. (PO14: Transport).

The suggested improvement to the junction to the end of Myton Road and Banbury Road is redundant. The bottle neck of the narrow historic Avon Bridge, constrained road layout and traffic


calming in the Town centre, means such provision would not ease the current backlog along Myton Road at peak times. (PO14: Transport).

The proposal to create a dual carriageway along Europa Way to alleviate the traffic queuing off and onto the M40 will have the opposite effect at the eastern end of Myton Road with the addition of Morrisons and the proposed trading estate and Aldi supermarket all exiting out onto the double roundabout system.

Development of this particular site will have a profound impact on the area where the roads are already gridlocked for a considerable period every day during school term, not to mention the excessive pollution that would be caused. It is currently possible to queue from the M40 into Leamington and the length of Myton Road in both directions with queues heading down the Banbury Road and Gallows Hill. Narrow side roads off Myton Road, in particular Myton Crescent, are blocked by parking making it difficult to negotiate these roads as the schools come out.

There is no capacity on these roads for another 1,500-2,000 cars to exit from this triangle at peak times and join the current traffic load plus, extra traffic from other proposed developments needing to use these routes at peak times. The access to Warwick and Leamington from the site would be queued back even at a fraction of the proposed development.

There is no capacity for extra cars at the stations in either Leamington or Warwick town centres for commuters. This means additional traffic driving through Warwick at peak times to Warwick Parkway.

Furthermore, the land West of Europa Way is an area of rich agricultural land which has been under the careful stewardship of the Oken and Henry VIII Trusts. There are wide green hedges providing habitats for many species including woodpeckers, buzzards, bats, foxes, the occasional deer, as well as newts, hedgehogs etc. (PO11 Historic environment, PO15 Green Infrastructure).

This is the type of area that should be being protected for recreation and education and healthy food to have a positive impact on the quality of people's lives with the traditional land-based activities such as agriculture, new tourism, leisure and recreational opportunities that require a countryside location. By building dwellings on this land, we will have no countryside left in the urban areas to make use of to support healthy lifestyles through ensuring sufficient land is made available to all for play, sport and recreation without travelling out of the area.

Development on the area of restraint threatens the local houses with flooding. At present, during heavy rain, the runoff is slowed by the pasture and crops. It backs up by the Malins and is relieved into the Myton School playing fields. At these times both ends of Myton Crescent become flooded with the current drainage system being unable to cope.

Property in Myton Crescent was flooded when development was carried out on the Trinity School site. Developing the Myton side of the site would threaten all of the houses south of Myton Road. (PO18 Flooding and Water).

The most disturbing consequence of the proposed development of sites 2 and 3 is the danger to Public Health as a result of exposure to dangerously high Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) levels. The Warwick District Air Quality action plan 2008 identified the entire road network within Warwick town centre as exceeding maximum NO2 levels as set out in the Air Quality Regulations (England) (Wales) 2000. In 2012, air quality remains in breach of these regulations, and will become toxically high with the increased traffic volume resulting from the Local Plan preferred options. Please see weblink: http://aqma.defra.gov.uk/action-plans/WDC%20AQAP%202008.pdf. (PO12 Climate Change; PO14 Transport).

It was pointed out at the public meeting in 2009 that the areas designated to phase 3 at that time may not be needed for development in the future so why is this area, the worst area for infrastructural needs and more importantly an area of restraint put into the first phase for building?

This should, with immediate effect, be designated as the last site to be developed so as to protect this area until a viable alternative is found.

The further urban fringe development of Warwick is unsustainable with respect to saturated infrastructure, constrained historic town layout, and the existing Public Health danger that exists today as a consequence of high traffic volume.

Current infrastructure including town centre rail stations, schools, GP surgeries, sewage, water, drainage are at capacity with the current population, and will not sustain the proposed increased numbers within the Myton proposed sites 2 and 3. (PO2 Community Infrastructure levy).

Numbers have reduced drastically in schools over the years with those such as Trinity and North Leamington moving to smaller sites and a number of primary schools having given over part of their accommodation for other uses whilst village schools have closed completely. This means that the schools in this area are oversubscribed, including Myton in whose catchment area the whole of that site would fall.

There are suggestions that schools would be expanded or new builds created but a new primary school was in the plans for Warwick Gates which never came into fruition.

The hospital is completely surrounded by housing and has no capacity for expansion so how will they cope with another 25,000 people based on the figures of 2007 with 71% in a traditional family set up with 1.8 children.

Why do district councils have to accommodate a certain amount of housing? Should the government not just be looking for appropriate sites for building? At that same meeting in 2009 the suggestion of a perfect site around Gaydon was mentioned for a new town but the response was "It's not in Warwick District". Not only would road improvement be possible where air quality is not already in breach of regulation but this site is perfect for links to the M40 and there is also a rail station already at Kings Sutton on the main Birmingham to London line so commuting traffic would not be funnelled through Warwick's congested urban centre. To build one whole new site would be more cost effective in the long run. There is also the possibility of more use being made of the land around Warwick Parkway, which is in Warwick District and again perfect for rail and road links to both Birmingham and London.

So what can be done to accommodate the Core Strategy?

How about looking at sites already within the towns and regeneration areas? The infrastructure is already in place and could take out a large number of the dwellings required. We know this would not be chosen as great big swathes are cheapest but not necessarily the best option.

Build student accommodation near Warwick University in Coventry and return the hundreds of dwellings (including Station House with over 200 student flats) in the South Town of Leamington to private affordable starter homes and family homes.

Villages could be given their communities back - expand them with affordable housing. Let those that grew up in the villages and wish to remain there, stay there. Let them support the village schools and shops, some of which have closed over the past few years due to lack of numbers or use.


The original Strategy stated that 90% of the population live in the urban areas and 10% in rural areas. The paper work shows that the whole of the 8,100 houses still required are to be built in the urban areas. This will take the figures to 95-96% living in urban areas compared to 3-4% in the rural areas as there appears to be no allocation of any of this building to take place in villages.

The 90% of the district's population currently living in the urban areas occupy 10% of the district's land whilst the other 10% of the area's population live within the remaining 90% of the land.

The Core Strategy stated that there should be limited development within and adjoining villages so that they can be protected and the character of the villages kept. This is also the case within the towns. It is not that long ago that Whitnash was a village but is now a town along with Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth. These towns want to remain separate towns. They do not want to become joined and eventually become part of Coventry as the way Edgebaston, Hall Green, Moseley and Sparkhill are to Birmingham.

Although the Core Strategy points out that the development will be directed towards the south of the urban area to avoid incursion into the West Midlands Green Belt area and hence becoming part of Coventry it is encouraging the joining of the towns of Leamington, Warwick and Whitnash, making it one urban sprawl.

It has been said that Warwick District in 2026 will be renowned for being "A mix of historic towns and villages set within an attractive rural landscape of open farmland and parklands, that have developed and grown in a way which has protected their individual characteristics and identities, ..." If this building work is allowed to go ahead as it stands, it will be far from that.

We also urge Warwick District Council to consider the overwhelming number of objections received from Warwick residents at the last consultation 2-3 years ago.

Scanned Letter

We wish to object to the expansion plan to build 2700 new homes in the south of Warwick (P04 Distribution for Sites for Housing: Location 2 and 3).

There is likely to be considerable job creation towards Coventry (P03 Broad Location of Growth). Therefore several extra thousand people per day will want to drive through Warwick morning and evening. That would lock up the highly congested Myton Road, Banbury Road and Europa Way at peak times and also the road layout of historic Warwick. (P0 14: Transport).

The suggested improvement to the junction to the end of Myton Road and Banbury Road is redundant. The bottle neck of the narrow historic Avon bridge, constrained road layout and traffic calming in the Town centre, means such provision would not ease the current backlog along Myton Road and Banbury Road at peak times. (P0 14: Transport).

Current infrastructure including town centre rail stations, schools, GP surgeries, sewage, water, drainage are at capacity with the current population, and will not sustain the proposed increased numbers within the Myton proposed sites 2 and 3. (P02 Community Infrastructure levy).

Warwick District population has increased by 12% since 2000, which is approximately 2x the rate of increase for Warwickshire; 2x the national average increase, and over 3x the increase for West Midlands. (P01 Level of Growth).

Warwick has therefore already been subject to significant recent Urban Fringe development and population expansion, a large proportion of which is in South Warwick where the majority of further development is now proposed. (P01 Level of Growth).

We wish to object specifically about the development zone 2 to the west of Europa Way. This area had been identified as an area of restraint at the time of planning the Warwick Technology Park. It was put forward as an untouchable green buffer zone to separate Warwick from Leamington Spa, to prevent the two towns becoming one urban sprawl. The view from Warwick Castle will be one of urban sprawl. Furthermore, the land West of Europa Way is rich agricultural land which has been under the careful stewardship of the Oken Trust and Henry VIII Trust. There are also wide green hedges providing habitats for many species including woodpeckers, buzzards, bats, foxes, the occasional deer, as well as newts, hedgehogs etc. (P01 1 Historic environment, P015Green Infrastructure). -


Development on the area of restraint threatens the local houses with flooding. At present, during heavy rain, the run off is slowed by the pasture and crops. It backs up by the Maims and is relieved into the Myton School playing fields. Property in Myton Crescent was flooded when development was carried out on the Trinity School site. Developing the Myton side of the site would threaten all of the houses south of Myton Road. (P018 Flooding and Water).

We object to the fact that the area of restraint is one of the first to be developed under the proposals, and should with immediate effect be designated as the last site to be developed so as to protect this area until a viable alternative is found.

The further urban fringe development of Warwick is unsustainable with respect to saturated infrastructure, constrained historic town layout, and the existing Public Health danger that exists today as a consequence of high traffic volume.

Therefore further development should be concentrated in areas where road improvement is possible, air quality is not already in breach of regulation, access to A46, M40 and rail links are direct so commuting traffic is not funneled through Warwick's congested urban centre.

We also urge Warwick District council to consider the overwhelming number of objections received from Warwick residents at the last consultation 2 years ago.

Scanned Letter

Scanned Response Form

Scanned Letter

Scanned Letter

Scanned Letter

We wish to object specifically about the development zone 2 to the west of Europa Way. This area had been identified as an area of restraint at the time of planning the Warwick Technology Park. It was put forward as an untouchable green buffer zone to separate Warwick from Leamington Spa, to prevent the two towns becoming one urban sprawl. Furthermore the land West of Europa Way is rich agricultural land which has been under the careful stewardship of the Oken Trust and Henry V111 Trust. There are also wide green hedges providing habitats for many species including woodpeckers, buzzards, bats, foxes, the occasional deer as well as newts, hedgehogs etc. (PO11 Historic environment, PO15 Green Infrastructure).

Development on the area of restraint threatens the local houses with flooding. At present, during heavy rain the run off is slowed by the pasture and crops. It backs up by the Malins and is relieved into the Myton School playing fields. Property in Myton Crescent was flooded when development was carried out on the Trinity School site. Developing the Myton side of the site would threaten all of the houses south of Myton Road. (PO18 Flooding and Water).

We object to the fact that the area of restraint is one of the first to be developed under the proposals, and should with immediate effect be designated as the last site to be developed so as to protect this area until a viable alternative is found.

Further urban fringe development of Warwick is unsustainable with respect to saturated infrastructure, constrained historic town layout and the existing Public Health danger that exists today as a consequence of high traffic volume.

Therefore further development should be concentrated in areas where road improvement is possible, air quality is not already in breach of regulation, access to A46 and M40 and rail links are direct so commuting traffic is not funneled through Warwick's congested urban centre.

We also urge Warwick District Council to consider the overwhelming number of objections received from Warwick residents at the last consultation 2 years ago.

As a resident of Warwick I wish to object to the expansion plan to build new homes in and around Warwick.

The infrastructure in the area cannot handle any increase in population.
All road leading into the town at peak times suffer long delays.
The river bridge by the Castle is the only river crossing, building more houses will create further traffic problems and increased pollution.

Since the 1960's Warwick populaton has increased dramatically with large estates being built on: The Woodleos, Myton Grange, Chase Meadow, Warwick Gates, Hampton Magna & Hatton Park plus many smaller developments. These developments have already caused problems with the traffic, pollution and flooding.

There is no justification in increasing the population in this area.

Warwick should remain a small and pleasent County town.

Please do not approve this over development.

I have various comments regarding the above and my first concern is the reliance on the integrity of the developers. When Chase Meadow was built it was a condition that an approach road would be constructed from Stratford Road to Aylesford School and this was delayed for 7 years.
Warwick is a compact town with limited points of access and from the south there is a reliance on the bridge over the river Avon. This bridge is of ancient construction and is not suitable for the volume of traffic it carries at the moment let alone the increased volume which will result from the development at Europa Way.
The St Johns area is affected by traffic pollution to the extent that it exceeds health guide lines. The increased traffic flow proposed both from the Leamington and Kenilworth direction will only make the situation worse.
The proposed developments 2 and 3 on the plan involves the construction 2700 houses and this is excessive for the fringe of a town the size of Warwick.
Serious consideration needs to be given to the road layout of the town and bearing in mind the number of old historic properties in Warwick it is difficult to envisage how an improvement can be implemented. Therefore any increase in traffic volume will seriously impact on the quality of life of the residents and detract from the attractiveness of the town for the visitors on which the town relies.

Towns, in 2012 more than any previous time, need to remain distinctive and identifiable as separate entities. This is the challenge facing Warwick and Leamington together with outlying villages such as Old Milverton and Radford Semele.

Failure to heed this policy will lead to the 'conurbation effect' which is visible at first hand throughout the urban area of the West Midlands where once separate and distinctive towns have been 'connected up' so that today many residents have no idea which of the villages and small towns they truly belong to ( eg are we in Moseley or Kings Heath. ) The very real outcome of development west of Europa Way is likely to be an amorphous mass of housing in place of the green wedge which currently and most appealingly exists between the two towns.

It would also be directly contrary to the Council's own statements and aims in para 9.11 and para 9.13 of the earlier District Local Plan 1996 - 2011.

This endorsed the desirability of protecting areas of restraint which 'preserve open wedges that separate particular elements of the urban form' eg the west of Europa way wedge which uniquely provides an open corridor between the south Leamington urban mass and south Warwick. It is part of a longer corridor which has historically separated the two towns and helped them to maintain their individual identities ie the Avon valley past Rock Mill, the Edmonscote meadows, the Grand Union and the farmland west of Europa Way.

In para 9.11 of its Local Plan the Council itself observed that 'it is important to protect the areas of restraint from development proposals that could alter (their) predominantly open character. Their value and importance lies in their contribution to the structure and character of the urban area, providing open areas in and around towns and preserving open wedges that separate (one urban area from the next)'.

It's difficult to see how this could be better put. This is precisely the nature of the land west of Europa way. It is currently good farmland and serves as a cordon separating the towns of Warwick and Leamington making it possible for them to retain distinctive identities and loyalties.

In both 2006 and 2010 the Council rejected a proposal to remove the designation from this land using these very arguments.

In para 9.12 the earlier Local Plan observed that Government policy accepted the importance of protecting open space that contributes to the character and attractiveness of the urban areas. There is no good reason why the concept of 'sustainable development' should override this. The two objectives can be and should be compatible. If an area has been identified as an area of restraint this is because there is good cause. The related Structure Plan made it clear that areas of restraint such as this had a fundamental role in making urban areas attractive places in which to live.

One of the attractions of our District is the distinctive characters of Warwick and Leamington. Merging the two in to one urban mass will put this distinction in jeopardy. This area of restraint serves the 'fundamental role' outlined above.

It will be no surprise therefore that at para 9.13 the Council observed that, in defining and implementing Areas of Restraint, consideration had been given to the need to protect sensitive areas so as to ensure that the character and the setting of (existing) settlements is safeguarded.

In recent times therefore the Council have given consideration to the character and appearance of this very area and concluded that it should continue to be protected by an area of restraint. In the short time since that exercise, the force and basis of the arguments in favour of it being designated an area of restraint cannot have changed.

It is not as if there is no alternative which would not require the destruction of this separation belt. There is still space on the western edge of Warwick where development would not link up with any other historic entity. This land may already be allocated to non residential purposes but another business park is hardly a priority when there is so much empty space in existing ones. Some parts have been rezoned already and there seems to be no reason why the remainder cannot be treated similarly. Looking at the example of the Warwick business park where commuters living outside the town are 'bussed' from the station by their employers and to which commuting traffic travels right through the town centre it does seem that any new jobs provided may not so much benefit people actually living in the two towns (including any new housing) but people choosing to commute from further afield.

River Crossings and Road Access to Leamington and Warwick

There is another concern relating to the river crossings and the impact of large scale development south of the river on the amount of traffic routinely using them. The rivers Avon and Leam serve as a barrier between the southern districts and both Leamington and Warwick town centres.

From any development off Europa Way there are only two effective corridors, both of which are already heavily used commuter routes leading in to Warwick and Leamington respectively from the M40. Warwick is served by one river crossing and Leamington by the Princes Road and Avenue Road bridges. However the latter effectively share the same corridor as access to them is through the 'funnel' of the Princes Road Railway Bridge and the section of Princes Road bounded by the new Morrisons superstore and the retail units opposite. (If, as has been mooted, a traffic light controlled crossing is placed here to link the two, it can be expected that this 'funnel' will have even greater repercussions for the flow of traffic).

This is the reason why the Myton Road has extended periods of congestion already as traffic heads along it for one of the two north-south corridors. Anyone who regularly uses the river crossings at peak hours on weekdays or in the middle of the day on a Saturday will be aware of the high density of current traffic. Europa way itself is one long queue from end to end in the morning and evening peaks. The Ford (now Morrisons roundabout) already causes traffic to back up on both sides (along the Myton and Old Warwick Roads) largely because of the flow of traffic from and to Europa Way. At the other end of Myton Road commuter traffic using the Banbury Road in both directions (north towards Warwick or south towards the Business park) causes a similar problem

It seems extremely unlikely that there is scope for more bridge points linking north and south of the river, so we are left with what we have and the associated traffic queues generating as they do unsatisfactory levels of noise and emissions.

The development of this land will only make matters, particularly along Europa way and the Myton Road, a great deal worse both for the residents of those localities and those commuting in.

Traffic
The plans are going to grid lock Warwick, which is already gridlocked every morning. Building homes to the south of the town will only increase the pressure on the Myton Road/Banbury Road and due to the ancient bridge which cannot be made any bigger and the fact that Warwick School and Myton School contribute greatly to the traffic problems - something which is much better when Warwick School are on holiday you'll note.

Your asking us to pass judgement on plans that aren't fully worked up, there is no guidance on where any new access roads may be (Myton Road, The Malins?), we have to assume, therefore we can't give our backing.

Your response that some of the traffic problems can't be solved is ludicrous and is turning a blind eye to the potential problems in the future - people will end up moving away from Warwick altogether - that may well solve your housing crisis...

Schools
So you build more houses south of the town and the people that live there need their children to go to to school, the catchment area is Myton School so does that mean you will also be expanding the school - there is no detail regarding this. As above, you'll add to the already congested traffic problems with more people dropping their children at school - yes they may be bike lanes and yes it may be within walking distance but unless you put double yellows all the way down the Myton Road then this will still not stop parents dropping off the children. Warwick School should also re think their current access points - they are responsible for a lot of the traffic problems.

Community
You talk about community but in our experience 'new estates' are a stepping stone, they don't build communities, most people move on after 3/5 years - Hatton Park is a very well laid out modern estate, and we enjoyed living there - but everyone in our road either moved or has moved since we left in 2009, how can this build a community?

I wish to respond to the Local Plan Preferred Options Summary. The paragraphs listed refer to the booklet, although I have read the full version.
PO1 Level of Growth
It is my understanding that during the last 12 years Warwick has undergone a large increase in population, indeed 12% since 2000, which is approximately twice the rate of increase for Warwickshire and twice the national average, and indeed three times the increase for the West Midlands. I would therefore strongly question the need for this level of growth and object to it.
PO3 Broad Location of Growth and PO 14 Transport
I object to the urban fringe development of sites 2 and 3. As no doubt you are aware Warwick has geographical limitations because of the river and the historical centre. Traffic from the Myton Road area is funnelled onto the Banbury Road Bridge and through the constricted town centre. The Preferred Options would necessitate that perhaps an extra thousand cars per day would need to cross Warwick in order to reach the A46. I foresee massive irresolvable problems with traffic by increasing the number of cars on roads which cannot be improved or widened. I have included photos from the past few weeks of occasions where traffic was excessive on the road (dated), and parking at Leamington train station was at capacity when I had arrived.
As a commuter, and resident in Warwick for the past 14 years, I have been shocked at the huge increase in traffic volume over that time period. The vast majority of new residents in the proposed new dwellings would also commute, since there are not 3000 new jobs in Warwick to sustain that influx, so will add intolerable and irresolvable strain on the saturated road networks in Leamington and Warwick at peak times. Therefore new dwellings need to be situated not in the central Myton area, but included in villages and developments such as Hatton Park where the transport networks will easily expand and support increased volume of cars and train commuters, without funnelling those increased traffic through the heart of Warwick town.
If new employment is being created in Coventry and Gaydon, the sustainable planning option would be to build dwellings there. Alternatively, local villages where there are good transport links and the potential to improve road access should be developed, rather than the urban fringe development of Warwick. Hatton Park has a station and easy access to the A46 and Barford has immediate access to the M40 and A46. Greenbelt should be acquired to support this growth as opposed to compromising the transport infrastructure, water and drainage utilities, and the unique historic character of the town.
PO11 Historic Environment PO15 Green Infrastructure
I object specifically to the development of zone 2, the area west of Europa Way. It was designated an area of restraint when building work on the Technology Park took place. The notion that the Myton area will be some sort of 'garden suburb' seems to be nonsense when you look at the number of buildings proposed and the impact on the environment. Rather, Warwick is currently a green suburb and as such our green spaces should be protected.

PO12 Climate Change
Warwick town centre road network is in breach of Nitrogen Dioxide levels. This problem has been in existence long before the Preferred Options have been set out (Warwick District Air Quality Action Plan 2008), and remains in breach of these regulations in May 2012. During the period of expansion and urban development that Warwick has already endured from 2000 to date, air quality has deteriorated further and the area of air quality in breach of regulations expanded to now encompass the entire town centre. Areas that have not endured the sustained development rates of Warwick do not show the same extent or progressive degradation of air quality. I object to the increased public health risk which adding more cars to the centre of Warwick at peak times will certainly contribute to.
I conclude by quoting your statement 'Your Views Matter'. I remember that approximately 3 years ago the Council received a large number of objections to plans which were very similar, and there was an enormous number of objections received about development zone 2. The current preferred options are a rehash of those previously rejected by the majority of south Warwick residents.