Thickthorn

In general I support the policies set out in the revised strategy booklet "Local Plan Helping Shape the District".

I am pleased to set that the 2012 proposals put for extensive building in the green belt north of Warwick and Leamington have been dropped. Going ahead with it would have made a nonsense of national and local policies on green belt land.

I wish to make the following observations on particular sections of the booklet;-

Paragraphs 4.1.6 -4.1.9

This section contains a major logical flaw. Paragraph 4.1.6 argues that the District cannot achieve economic growth rates in line with national forecasts without inward migration. The following paragraphs go on to forecast how many dwellings will be required to sustain this level of economic growth. However it is impossible for every planning authority to achieve the level set out in the national forecast. Some areas will be above the average, and an approximately equal number will be below it.

The policies in paragraphs 4.1.6 to 4.1.9 appear to be based on the principle of "beggar my neighbour". Apparently Warwick District Council aims to achieve the national forecasts for economic growth by stripping other areas of their populations of working age.

Warwick District Council should be aiming to achieve for it citizens extra wealth and wellbeing per head of population. Simply importing extra people does necessarily do this. In fact it can result in the reverse through pressure that it puts on the environment and the infrastructure.

Map 6: Thickthorn

I accept that some green belt land at Kenilworth will have to be designated as a development site in order to enable the town to grow, and regard Thickthorn as the most suitable area. I also support the statements in paragraph 5.4.23 regarding the need for new employment land as part of the development.
Although there is a commitment to the provision of open space in this area, no hectares are given. Kenilworth as a whole has less publicly accessible open space per head of population than the level recommended by the WDC's SPD on Open Spaces. Provision in southern Kenilworth is particularly poor. Therefore the amount of publicly accessible open space at Thicktorn/Glasshouse lane should not only meet the needs of the new development but also address the shortfall in the south of the town. The land north of Rocky Lane would be suitable for this purpose.


Section 5.6.4

I fully support the policies regarding the Kenilworth to Leamington Spa (K2L) cycleway and the provision of a shared foot/cycleway alongside the Warwick Road between Leek Wootton and Kenilworth St Johns Gyratory.

In general I support the policies set out in the revised strategy booklet "Local Plan Helping Shape the District".

I am pleased to set that the 2012 proposals put for extensive building in the green belt north of Warwick and Leamington have been dropped. Going ahead with it would have made a nonsense of national and local policies on green belt land.

I wish to make the following observations on particular sections of the booklet;-

Paragraphs 4.1.6 -4.1.9

This section contains a major logical flaw. Paragraph 4.1.6 argues that the District cannot achieve economic growth rates in line with national forecasts without inward migration. The following paragraphs go on to forecast how many dwellings will be required to sustain this level of economic growth. However it is impossible for every planning authority to achieve the level set out in the national forecast. Some areas will be above the average, and an approximately equal number will be below it.

The policies in paragraphs 4.1.6 to 4.1.9 appear to be based on the principle of "beggar my neighbour". Apparently Warwick District Council aims to achieve the national forecasts for economic growth by stripping other areas of their populations of working age.

Warwick District Council should be aiming to achieve for it citizens extra wealth and wellbeing per head of population. Simply importing extra people does necessarily do this. In fact it can result in the reverse through pressure that it puts on the environment and the infrastructure.

Map 6: Thickthorn

I accept that some green belt land at Kenilworth will have to be designated as a development site in order to enable the town to grow, and regard Thickthorn as the most suitable area. I also support the statements in paragraph 5.4.23 regarding the need for new employment land as part of the development.
Although there is a commitment to the provision of open space in this area, no hectares are given. Kenilworth as a whole has less publicly accessible open space per head of population than the level recommended by the WDC's SPD on Open Spaces. Provision in southern Kenilworth is particularly poor. Therefore the amount of publicly accessible open space at Thicktorn/Glasshouse lane should not only meet the needs of the new development but also address the shortfall in the south of the town. The land north of Rocky Lane would be suitable for this purpose.


Section 5.6.4

I fully support the policies regarding the Kenilworth to Leamington Spa (K2L) cycleway and the provision of a shared foot/cycleway alongside the Warwick Road between Leek Wootton and Kenilworth St Johns Gyratory.

Effect on the town of Warwick of the Revised Development Strategy

I am writing on behalf of my wife and myself to express our grave concern with regard to the Warwick District Local Plan, in response to the Consultation which closes on 29 July 2013. We have attended a number of meetings held by WDC and other interested parties over the past two years. At these meetings, virtually all present have been equally concerned by the extent to which the current Plan will have a detrimental affect on the lives of Warwick residents and will inevitably have an irreversibly damaging effect on the environment surrounding and within the historic town, causing harm to its residents, its buildings and its tourism industry. We find it inexplicable that WDC has continued to ignore the views of its residents and businesses and has persisted with what seems to be the least justifiable and most damaging of all the options available to it.

Land to the south-and south east of Warwick (Site 6)

The most serious problem with the Plan seems to be caused by the excessively high concentration of housing planned to the south-east of Warwick on what is currently agricultural land and rural 'green space'. I note that of the 12,300 homes planned in total, sites have been allocated at present for 6,630 homes, with 3,195 of these in this south-east area. Clearly this number would increase very significantly as the overall number is built up to 12,300 and the impact in Warwick of this degree of development will be compounded by that also intended by the Stratford District.

I understand that WDC has failed to identify any 'exceptional circumstances' that would enable it to build on Green Belt land to the north of Warwick and has therefore concentrated the planned development to the south-east, on this green 'Area of Restraint'. Whereas I would not advocate building on Green Belt land, the Green Belt was put in place to prevent urban sprawl from the West Midlands encroaching into the area and not because of Warwick's own potential plans. The Area of Restraint to the south is therefore equally important to the protection of Warwick's rural setting, and should be afforded the same level of protection as the Green Belt.

Projected housing need

There is no rational reason for planning so high a number of new homes as 12,300 at the present time. I understand that the actual needs of the local people over the 15-year time period have been calculated as around 5,300 homes - much less than half of that figure. There is presently no housing shortage and no demand for additional business premises, as is demonstrated by planned business developments that have not come to fruition and by, for example, the number of vacant premises on the Technology Park and other business sites in the area.

Such a quantity of extra housing would depress prices and attract incoming population, not for any reason that would have an economic advantage to the area, but simply because Warwick has the advantage of being a pleasant place to live. If all these houses are built then people will come for their own benefit, not Warwick's. It has been increasingly obvious that the town's infrastructure simply cannot support such a large increase in population and some of the issues it would raise have no clear solution, as will be noted below.

Whereas the housing demand may change in the future, a 15-year forecast, from any current projection, is unlikely to be realistic. I think we can be certain that similar forecasts made in 1998 for a period of time up to the present day would have been hopelessly wrong due to the unforeseeable degree of intervening economic and social changes. There is no reason to believe that today's estimates will be any more reliable. If a far more restrained Local Plan were put in place there is ample time, over the next decade, to make any adjustments that might prove necessary should an actual demand, from either the housing or the business sector, manifest itself.

Transport and road infrastructure

Such out-of-town developments will clearly be car-dependent, and this is where the greatest issues lie. Even if good public transport were to be provided, which seems unlikely on a commercial basis, the modern preference is always to use a car, as is evidenced by Warwick's existing problems with traffic congestion. The development to the immediate south-east of Warwick alone is likely to add 10,000 cars to Warwick's roads in due course, increased by those planned under the proposed Stratford Plan. This is an intolerable number that the local infrastructure cannot possibly accommodate.

The road enhancements planned cannot solve this problem and will only add to congestion, both in the town itself and on its outskirts. The extra lanes planned at the Myton Road/Banbury Road junction would clearly be disastrous for the town. This junction is already horrifically overcrowded, as can already be seen at any busy time. The vast majority of the traffic from Myton Road currently turns right into Warwick; likewise the vast majority of that from the Banbury Road travels straight on into Warwick. All of this traffic is immediately funnelled over the narrow, weight-restricted Avon bridge, which provides an insurmountable obstacle to traffic flow. Any additional traffic that does manage to cross the bridge will just make the present congestion in Smith Street, The Butts and Jury Street/High Street worse than ever. Creating extra lanes and introducing traffic control at that junction may shorten the length of the queues leading towards the town, but the result will be that as well as the added congestion in the town itself, traffic density on the roads immediately surrounding Warwick will certainly be far worse than at present.

Creating new business premises as a part of the new development will only make matters worse. Whereas it may be convenient to assume that incoming population in the area south-east of Warwick might also work in that area, examination of other developments, such as the Technology Park, demonstrate that this simply is not the case. The Technology Park attracts staff from all directions over at least a 30-mile radius, and many of these people travel through Warwick to get to work. Examination of the work-related travel of many people living in the Warwick area will show the reverse pattern; that many of them work outside Warwick, often on the opposite side of the town. These commuters form a significant part of the 80% of traffic that passes straight through Warwick and causes the present congestion. There is no reason to believe that people living or working in the proposed new development to the south-east would show any different patterns of travel, and Warwick will just grind to a halt. I can only imagine what effect a town that is constantly grid-locked with traffic will have on Warwick's tourism industry.

All in all, these major issues surrounding the impact of traffic in and around Warwick cause the Local Plan to fail on all three criteria for sustainability - environmental, economic and social. In these circumstances, WDC should consider a revised, and far less damaging, approach.

Air quality and pollution

I have been horrified to learn during the course of development of the Local Plan that car exhaust pollution in Warwick town centre is already higher than is legally permitted. It would seem irresponsible of WDC to contemplate developments that will make the situation worse without having any means of addressing this problem. Surely the Health and Safety of Warwick's residents and visitors should be WDC's primary concern and is a legal obligation? Bringing larger amounts of traffic closer to the town due to the road enhancements can only extend the pollution problem over a greater area. Close to Site (6), the first to suffer will be our younger generation whose schools and playing fields are immediately adjacent to the main roads.

As well as the poor air quality, pollution due to traffic noise and vibration are an increasing problem within the town. Living in Bridge End, the traffic noise has become very noticeably worse over the (almost) 25 years I have been a Warwick resident. This situation must be far worse for people actually living on the main roads or in the town centre where, as well as the noise, vibration from the traffic will be a significant factor. Not only are the people living in Warwick affected, but our historic buildings are being damaged. Any further increase in traffic would clearly make the situation intolerable and once again this will have a significantly adverse affect on tourism.

Health infrastructure

As well as the road system and traffic, such a significantly increased population will put additional strain on other infrastructure. A primary concern is whether health and hospital services will be able to cope. In particular, Warwick Hospital's (already stressed) A&E services will need to cope with a much larger population over a greater catchment area. Those needing the existing Warwick hospital from Site (6) will need to enter and cross the town by the existing congested route over the Avon bridge. As well as Warwick's own plans, the ambitious plans that I understand Stratford District Council is forming for its own large developments, just outside Warwick District, will also need to be supported by Warwick's A&E department. I have seen no evidence that this joint impact has been taken into account when considering the sustainability of WDC's plans.

As a retired person I should like to see Warwick preserved for future generations to enjoy, both for its residents and for visitors to the town. This does not necessarily mean that it should remain unchanged, but all development should be in keeping with its status as an historic county town - on a scale with, and in harmony with, its setting and environment. I fear that WDC's current Local Plan does not achieve this in any way and would urge that full consideration be given to the points raised above, with a view to producing a sustainable Plan more in keeping with the needs of the town and its residents, rather than the development aspirations of those less directly affected by the proposals as currently planned.

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KENILWORTH ACTION PLAN NOTES
Kenilworth lies within the jurisdiction of Warwick District Council which is required by Government to put in place a Local Plan to govern its development for the next 15 years. This plan must make provision for the amount of housing and employment land which will be required during that period and where it will be sited. The plan will not only deal with these issues but also the infrastructure and facilities that will be required to service them and how such developments will benefit and complement the area.
The plan will deal with the District as a whole and must also take into account the needs of neighbouring authorities in the sub region. Further the Plan will require to be examined and approved at a Public Enquiry by a Government Inspector. This enquiry will require robust evidence to show that what is proposed is sufficient to meet the needs of the District and its sustainability in the view of the Government or it will fail. These requirements affect all parts of the District including Kenilworth and have been borne in mind by the Town Council in drafting its Action Plan.
Kenilworth was a medieval settlement attached to the Augustinian Abbey and Castle both of which were nationally prominent until the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the Civil War when the Abbey and the Castle respectively were ruined. These two historical features still govern the character of the Town in the form of the Abbey Fields and the Castle ruins and it is the Town Council's intention to ensure that the character that these features have engendered is preserved.
The population of the Town has grown over the last 50 years by something of the order of 140% but despite this it has been able to preserve the intimacy, image and character of a small market town.
Kenilworth is a Town that supports a variety of community projects including two Cricket Clubs, Rugby and association football clubs, two theatres together with numerous charitable organisations and voluntary associations together with Church communities representing a variety of faiths. Further all of our Schools are of a very good standard at all levels. All of these assets are bound in a reasonably tight community which sees the Town as an important entity which we wish to preserve.
It is with this in mind that the Council has approached the Action Plan. Our view is that the Local Plan is not only about the number of houses that will be allowed or the amount of Industrial land allotted but how these will be developed and what effect they will have on the existing structure and character of the Town.
It is our view that this development must complement and preserve that which exists. This will require infrastructure that will connect those developments to the town and complement what we have. The Plan's object should be not only to preserve current facilities but to improve them in order to provide for the new developments. It should ensure that the Town continues to enjoy improved facilities and that those existing are not degraded.
Our object is to ensure that the new developments become part of our community and thus enhance it.
Funding for many of the projects or improvements that are required could and should be financed by the large sums that will be generated by the developments that will be allowed by the Local Plan. This funding should be used to improve the Town which has attracted the development as it will be necessary to keep services and facilities at their current level for the Town and its new residents.
In relation to this Action Plan we have found it necessary to consider a number of areas in detail in the first instance and then how these will be integrated into the Plan as a whole and their effect on the adjoining areas and the infrastructure and services.
In regard to those areas which merit particular mention in our plan we have the advantage of a recent consultation which has gathered opinions from over 1800 respondents as well as comments from owners of some of the areas affected and other organisations.
The following areas and subjects amongst others will need detailed consideration:-
The Abbey Fields
The Abbey Fields is in many respects the heart of the Town and is an essential part of its history and character. As a result any development within the Fields should be viewed very critically. As an ancient monument it has protection and has for many years only seen an evolution of existing uses. It was on this basis that the swimming pool was allowed because it fell within the footprint of that which had existed since the turn of the previous century
A) Swimming Pool.

The Swimming pool has recently been renovated and is an important asset of the Town and has the advantage of an out door pool. We feel that both of these should be preserved as the main pool is well used and together with the outdoor pool provides excellent exercise facilities which can be and are used by people of all ages.

B) Children's Play Area
The Children's Play Area has been relocated onto the bowling green which has been redundant for many years. This now provides a secure area for this feature and being fenced facilitates the exclusion of dogs from the area. The existing Pavilion is in our view an important feature in the Fields and should be found an alternative use such as a shelter for the users of the play area, provided that this can be achieved without any breach of safety for the play area
C) Picnic Area
Some of the site of the Old Play area is not now needed for the new scheme and should be converted into a picnic area. This area adjacent to the Play area and the Swimming Pool will complement these facilities and also the ancient Barn which houses the Abbey Museum.
D) Tennis Courts
We propose that the existing surface of the tennis courts be replaced with a more modern self-draining surface so as to allow for greater usage of this existing facility in the interests of providing more facilities for sport and the health giving exercise that flows from it.
 
E) Performing Arts

The relocation of the Play area may also allow one of the standings formerly used by the play equipment to be used as hard standing for the Bands and other entertainments that play and appear from time to time in the Fields. This will again enhance the picnic area and other facilities in the Fields. Otherwise an alternative site should be found.

F) Car Park

The refurbishment of the car park surface is already approved but we would wish it to be included in our plan. It is important that careful drainage arrangements are made and maintained on a regular basis so as to improve the drainage in the meadow below the car park and ensure it is not made worse by any run off.

Great care must be taken to comply with the requirements of English Heritage in respect of any works to ensure no damage occurs to the Ancient Monument of the Abbey beneath this area.
It is also essential that the landscaping of the car park is dealt with sympathetically in order to preserve the character of the Fields and that in particular that any trees that are removed are replaced.

This car park is not only essential for visitors to St Nicholas Church and the Abbey Fields but also to certain local residents and businesses which have no parking facilities. In those circumstances it is essential that there is a regime of charging which makes allowance for this as otherwise there is a danger that local streets will become congested and businesses will suffer.

G) The Lime Walk

The works to the car park are also necessary for the protection of the Lime Walk and part of the plan must be the protection of the Lime Walk trees from the compaction around their roots. The compaction resulting from parking has caused damage to these important trees and already shortened their life span. The plan for this area of the Fields should provide for the replacement of the trees in the Walk during the next 20 years.

H) Annual Fair

Traditionally this has taken place on the meadow adjacent to Bridge Street. This area is within the flood plain and as such this has presented a problem from time to time. It is suggested that this problem could be alleviated on a permanent basis by relocating the fair and other similar events to the area of the fields below Abbey Hill and adjacent to Forrest Road /Borrowell Lane. The entrance from that side should be improved to allow for easier access although it should remain gated as at present to allow for control of this use.


I) Cycle Access
The Town Council wishes to encourage more cycling within the Town as this not only leads to improvement in health but also less congestion on the roads and car parks. However we feel that it
Is necessary to separate cyclists from pedestrians in the same way we would wish to see cyclists
separated from vehicular traffic where possible. As a result we would not wish the pedestrian path ways in the Abbey Fields to be used for cycling.
We would propose that as an alternative a separate cycleway be constructed which would run from the bridge in Bridge Street along the side of the Brook to the Swimming Pool and then connect to a new cycle path running along side the existing path to Brookside Avenue. This would connect the cycle paths running up Bridge Street Bridge from the University through the Fields to Borrowell Lane and thence into the Town Centre or the cycle path into the Castle Farm. This new route would avoid the barrier that Abbey Fields creates at the moment and at the same time would provide separation between pedestrians and cyclists which we believe to be essential for the enjoyment of the Fields.

Castle Farm Sports Complex

A) Extend Sports Offering

The complex together with the fields does offer a valuable benefit to the Town for exercise sport and recreation and we would wish to extend that offering as part of the plan. This would however require the acquisition of further adjacent land in order to meet those wishes.

B) Use with Sports Clubs

The Rugby Club and Wardens Cricket Club have indicated a wish to relocate from their existing sites in order to provide additional facilities for their large memberships. This is something that the Town Council would support in order to increase their facilities which are so beneficial particularly for the younger members of our community.

However, their relocation creates a double problem as there is no land for their relocation without loss of further green belt and the possible loss to the Town of their relocating elsewhere. This could be solved by them being accommodated in this area on the west side of the Town and adjacent to the Castle Farm complex. We would then have the benefit of providing an area catering for a multiplicity of sports.

With the concentration of these sporting facilities in this area there would be an opportunity to increase the cooperation that already exists for sharing pitches when available and appropriate. We would also envisage that there would be opportunities to develop joint facilities that could be used by all which might otherwise not be available or practical for a club on its own.
We would envisage that an area set aside in this way for all sports could provide a Running track and other such facilities. Further the provision of this area would leave a large area of open space. The Clubs would obviously wish to restrict access to their pitches and we think that in these circumstances it would be essential that an area around their sites should be acquired as public open space to allow for existing footpaths and general recreation. Our support for the relocations of the Clubs which are in the green belt would be on the basis that no development of their current sites would be allowed until alternative site for their relocation had been agreed and approved.



Relocation within the Green Belt

During our consultation three possible new locations were suggested for relocation of the Clubs. These were in Glasshouse Lane, Warwick Road and Castle Farm. We would only be prepared to support Castle Farm.

The other two would be unacceptable as they will be on green belt land and will present a further temptation to build on that land in the future. They would be a further incursion into the green belt in sensitive areas without defendable boundaries once opened up. The Castle Farm site however would be protected by the Castle on the west side and also by public open space which should be provided as a result of these arrangements with WDC.


C) Access

This is an important issue as the concentrated use would lead to greater use of the current access point at Fishponds Road. This could be alleviated by the use of the current access together with new access points at Farm Road and John O Gaunt Road. This would need careful planning to avoid undue nuisance from traffic congestion and could perhaps be dealt with by and in and out one way system

Open Space
A) At Thickthorn

The new development will be of a size that will require the provision of open space if it is to meet the District's own standards and also the requirements of the Garden Suburbs Policy which the District intends to apply to all developments and which in the view of the Town Council is essential.

B) Extension to Castle Farm

As mentioned previously it will be necessary to acquire additional land over and above that for use by the Sports Clubs in order to allow for the continuance of existing footpaths and general recreation.

C) Crackley Triangle

This area is not in the green belt at the present time because of we believe of an error in the last Local Plan which intended that it should be included in the Green Belt. It lies in the very sensitive Crackley Gap which is the only defence against coalescence with Coventry. Further the prospect of the development of HS2 will be a further breach of this sensitive area and will further degrade the green belt in this area.
Whilst we are aware there are proposals for its development we do not think that these are feasible because there is no viable vehicular access.
This site would be an ideal acquisition for Open Space. Adjacent to the Green Way and the Common it would be an area which could be added to the open space that the Town needs and with this use access would not cause any problem.



D) The Common

The Common is a valuable asset for the Town and should be preserved in its natural state and protected from any further incursions and any attempts to make it a more formal area resisted.
The Castle
1) Improve connection with the Town
It is essential that safe pedestrian access is made between the Castle and the Town and the Abbey Fields to avoid the separation that occurs at the present time. This could be achieved by the provision of a footpath from the main car park entrance in the direction of the town. Further the provision of a pedestrian refuge adjacent to the Ford could provide a connection to a new walk way through the Castle grounds and thus avoid the entrance way to the car park.
These proposals would provide visitors with access to the Town in one direction and would open up the Ancient Monument of the Abbey in the other. The latter would also provide visitors and residents easier access from the Castle to the beauty of the Abbey Fields which many visitors do not see because of the lack of access.
2) The Mere
The reintroduction of the ancient Mere around the Castle is a project that has been under consideration for many years and has always been supported by the Town Council. It is a project that would not only enhance the Castle but would provide a Tourist attraction not only for Kenilworth but for the District and the region. Further, it could be used to control the flooding that occurs in The Ford, Abbey Fields and the whole of the valley.
The preliminary study carried out by Warwick University Business School suggested a number of ways in which this could be developed and the uses that would be necessary to make the project viable. This required the development of a hotel or some similar development consistent with a rural setting.
Any such project would require very careful consideration bearing in mind the huge cost that is likely to be incurred and also its effects on the local area.
It is also apparent from our survey that the developments that would be required to fund this project would not be acceptable to our respondents having regard to the effect on the area around this important Monument and the developments in the green belt that would be necessary.
This is a view that the Council shares as there would be a large incursion into the green belt which would be inappropriate in the sensitive area of the Castle which is an important national Ancient Monument.
Consideration should be given to the project on the basis of the provision of a nature park surrounding the Castle ,which would protect and enhance the current uses in this area, and a mere that could be developed on a scale that was acceptable in financial terms without the need for large intrusive developments. This would provide a valuable addition to the open space within the Town together with the equally valuable drainage advantages that could be obtained from it
The Civic Centre
It has been an objective of the Town Council and the District to have a Civic Centre at Smalley Place and this was one of the objectives consulted on locally at the beginning of the refurbishment of the Town Centre and which is still in progress.

a) Theatre

There is room between Jubilee House and the Library for the provision of a Theatre which could not only provide a new home for the Talisman Theatre Company but also an occasional cinema and meeting hall. We would expect that arrangements could be made to allow the Company to have access to the Theatre in order to be able to run their normal programme and allow space in the calendar for occasional cinema and meetings when not being used as a theatre. This would enable them to have a new and modern theatre to replace their current home, which is much in need of refurbishment at a cost below its replacement costs. Further, the other uses would allow the subsidy of this project because of the alternate uses for the public good.

b) Clinic
It was the original aim when purchasing Jubilee House to re-house the PCT Clinic on the ground floor and thus provide a modern facility for the Clinic patients and the staff in place of the current facility which is in need of replacement. This has stalled because of the reorganisation of the Health Service but whatever the change in the structure of the Health Service, we assume and expect that a clinic will still be provided and as such the original resiting of the clinic in this way would be a beneficial move for all concerned and would allow for the development of the clinic site.
c) Medical services

The town has two Doctors Partnerships serving the Community, who, we believe, with extra staffing will be sufficient to serve the enlarged Community. Whilst we are sure they will wish to remain independent, the relocation of the Clinic would provide an opportunity for them to relocate to a site adjacent to the Clinic. This would give them the opportunity to share such services as are acceptable and appropriate to them. It would also enable them to provide additional services in partnership with the Clinic to the community that may not be feasible separately.

This proposal is one that the Council would support but is obviously one that would have to acceptable to the parties concerned. In this respect there would, we believe, be a case for assistance to be given by the Local Authorities and the NHS to support this proposal which would have considerable benefit to the Community and be in keeping with the present policy of using all NHS services in cooperation to increase the service available.

d) Other Uses

A business case and survey is being conducted by the District on the Civic Centre site which will no
doubt considers all of the above suggestions and others relating to the remainder of the site. We would wish to support this and remain involved as in previous efforts to reach the goal of a full Civic Centre bringing together the various services that our Community needs.

Community Facilities

The Town has the benefit of The Kenilworth Centre which has recently been taken over and is now being run by a Charity. This charity has been supported by significant funding from the Town Council for the first three years in order to give the project stability until it is able to become self funding in that period. There is no doubt that this facility is extremely important to the Community and must be preserved and its work expanded.

Adjacent to it, the Senior Citizens Club is nearing completion and it is hoped that the Club will within the next twelve months take occupation of the premises and thus release their temporary accommodation at Jubilee House. This purpose built accommodation for senior citizens will allow for an improved service to this part of our Community having regard to its situation in the centre of the Town.

The Club has always hosted other Societies and we would hope that not only would this continue but be expanded to become a centre for all older persons within the town including for instance the Waverley Day Centre. Whilst that would be a matter for the two Societies we feel that a move of this nature would enhance the facilities provided for Senior citizens as a whole and help to ensure the continued viability of this service. This new facility together with the Kenilworth Centre would thus become a hub for assistance to the community.
Abbey End
There is a plan in existence for Abbey End which accords with the Town centre Plan. This was consulted on widely in the Town and agreed upon some years ago. We would like to see the completion of this. The Shopping Area has developed well to date but unfortunately the development of the rear of the shops and restaurants that was envisaged has never been completed. This should be encouraged with the current Tenants and Owners in order to present a more pleasing and attractive aspect to the car park and encourage entrance to those businesses direct from the car park.
This in our view has become even more essential with the development of the Kenilworth Centre, The Senior Citizens Club and also the redevelopment of Wilton Court. These three important new developments provide a new opportunity to Abbey End as effectively a new street front has been created on the other side of the car park and there is an opportunity for the shopping centre to benefit from it.
Talisman Square
Similarly there is in existence a plan for the completion of Talisman Square which accords with the Town Centre Plan. We would hope to see the completion of that development as a further contribution to the refurbishment of the Town Centre.
Station Road/Warwick Road
Semi Pedestrianisation of Station Road
It was decided when the new plans for the Town Centre were adopted, that the eventual aim was to make the Warwick Road end of Station Road from the car park entrance onwards, pedestrian friendly by the use of block paving and the slowing of traffic so as to allow a mix of vehicles and pedestrians, in a manner similar to West Street in Warwick. This plan met with mixed reaction in our survey and if advanced should receive further consideration as o it feasibility
Warwick Road
It is similarly essential that we put in hand measures to make the pavements in Warwick Road more user friendly. We do not believe there is room for the pavements to be widened without the provision of a one way system which would not be acceptable. The management of the footpaths could however be improved by limiting the number of A boards which appear to proliferate year by year and there should be restrictions on their positioning. There should also be a more careful positioning of the planters, which we feel must be retained. Careful management of the footpath furniture should be used to ensure that the pavements are kept as clear as possible.
Town Centre Shop Fronts
The Kenilworth Society produced a helpful Guidance document concerning shop fronts in the Town Centre. Whilst we would not wish to incorporate this without further consideration, this is a matter which should be given detailed consideration in order to improve the street scene and to give some conformity to the main shopping centre. We would wish at a later stage to agree a similar policy for implementation for the future and as part of the guidance for new developments
Car Parking in Town Centre
The Town car parks are already well used and on many occasions are completely full. With the advent of possibly 1000 more cars at Thickthorn or on new developments, we envisage that there will be insufficient parking in the Town centre. We would wish to take advantage of the new development to increase the viability of the Town Centre and thus it is essential that not only is there easy access to the Town but also more parking provision is made available.
The location of the existing car parks does not lend themselves to multi-storey parking as they are close to residential development. In this situation we feel that the only reasonable option would be to redevelop Square West in a similar fashion to the Waitrose car park with the first floor being semi sunk so the second tier would not be a high level. This would also allow for Pay on Foot parking which we believe would encourage shoppers to stay longer.
Like wise a similar method of construction could be considered in Abbey End Car Park where it could take advantage of the gradient that exists.
The Rail Station
Re-establishment of the Station on its original site at the junction of Priory Road and Waverley Road has been a desire of the Town Council for many years and has been discussed on many occasions. Kenilworth is the largest Town in the Country without the benefit of a railway station and the addition of a further 3000 in population make the provision of a station essential. The necessary land for the provision of Platforms and car parking are in place and in the ownership of the County Council. Further, its business case for this development is strengthened by the additional development proposed by the plan and the recent announcement of government support is welcomed.
It will be necessary however, for this development to have regard for the Traffic that will be generated in this area by reopening of the station. It will also be necessary to make provision for a connection with the local bus routes and thus provide a public transport network which would bear in mind the needs of the
Town and Warwick University which could benefit from the reintroduction of this service
The Fire Station
The provision of a fire station has been established as essential for the Town and confirmed recently after careful evaluation and consultation by the WCC. However, the station is not full time and is not ideally situated in School Lane which is a narrow residential street.
The allocation of employment land at Thickthorn presents an option for the establishment of a full time Fire Station near the Thickthorn junction. This location next to the by- pass would allow for easy access to Leamington and Warwick. It is also ideally placed to serve the new proposed developments at Baginton and Stoneleigh Park and the large area of the University now situated in the County thus benefitting the whole Distinct. The Town would also benefit from having a full time station within its boundaries.
This would also allow for the development of the existing site at School Lane for housing which would be a more appropriate use for that site as well as being of benefit to the public purse.
Allotments
Beehive Hill
There are insufficient sites to meet demand as there are currently some 150/200 applicants on the waiting list. This has to some extent resulted in the more efficient use of some of the sites by offering half plots which are sufficient for most users. We feel that in these circumstances that the area allotted in Beehive Hill should be increased by a similar number of similar size plots to those now existing.
Thickthorn
If the new development proceeds consideration should be given to a provision for allotment land
Thickthorn Estate Development
This development will provide for Employment land as well as housing and facilities. It is a large area and may take several years to complete. For the benefit of the Town and also those who will come to live in this area, it is the view of the Council that this area should have a defined plan to cover all of the infrastructure and the development and that this overall plan should be a prerequisite to its removal from the green belt for this purpose.. Having regard to its size it may well be that the work will be carried out by a number of builders and in such circumstances it is so essential that there be an overall plan is put into effect. Only in this way can the Town Council's objective of preserving the Town's Character be ensured.
We are convinced that if this estate is developed in the light of an overall plan it will be a better place to live and work in as well as an asset to the Town rather than a liability. An overall plan will avoid several parts being bolted together and thus losing the atmosphere of a Garden Suburb which is the District's wish for all its developments.
Kenilworth in many respects has the character of a garden suburb not only on the private estates but in the areas of the Council accommodation with adequate space allowed for a pleasant setting for residents. We feel it is essential that this is carried on through the new developments.
The overall plan must therefore address:-
a) Road Layout
The layout of the original roads is an essential component for the proposed scheme. This should take into account the pressures that will accrue from the development use as a whole when complete. There should be a spine road through the estate which is able to cope with through traffic as well as that for the estate. This should be used to alleviate traffic through the town which is already congested by traffic using roads constructed before the increase in the use of the motor car.
This road could be used for traffic accessing the east of the Town from the Leamington direction and thus avoid the town centre. Likewise, access from the estate or from the east of the Town can also avoid the Town centre and thus ease congestion. The construction of this road should be a pre condition for commencement of work on the site as a whole in order to keep construction traffic out of the Town as the roads are too narrow and congested to bear any further burden. Bearing these requirements in mind, it should be of a width that will allow for its being a through route as well as access to the new development. Further, it should be landscaped to provide a pleasing environment and access to the town.

b) House layout
It is the stated desire of the Local Plan that all development shall be carried out on the principles of the District Council's Garden Suburbs Policy. Our desire is that the new development shall be required to be in accordance with this policy. This type of plan is essential for it to be in keeping with the character of the town which we are anxious to protect. We also wish to ensure that the new estate becomes part of the town and benefits it, as well as benefiting from it. If this can be achieved, then the number of houses which are to be constructed will be more acceptable and be accepted as less of a problem. We wish the development to compliment the character of the Town, and thus become part of it. This can be achieved only by careful planning.

c) Business layout
The positioning of the employment land is an extremely important feature of this development. At present it is shown adjacent to Warwick Road which could have a detrimental effect on this important and pleasant entrance to the town. We suggest this area to be located along the Highway boundary. This would still have the advantage of easy access to the highway junction and further it would serve as a barrier to noise from the Highway. The noise from the A46 is considerable and the employment units could form a noise barrier which would be an advantage to the proposed housing and also that which already exists in adjoining areas.

The employment land should not in our view, allow for industrial use as this would be inappropriate in this area. It should be limited to Business Park /office type use and no retail out of town shopping should be allowed or envisaged. The introduction of any out of Town shopping provision would be devastating to our small town centre.

d) Open Space
In keeping with the character of the Town and also the Garden Suburb principle, there will be a need for open spaces in an area of this magnitude and provision must be made for this so that there is an opportunity for children and adults to have room to breathe. The current District suggestion that approximately 45% of the site should be occupied by open spaces and similar uses would appear to us to be reasonable and attainable in relation to the proper development of this site.

e) School
Having regard to the number of houses suggested the provision of a primary school for the new population would appear to be essential. This should be situated on the estate and should be located so that safe access can be easily being gained on foot. Such access should be encouraged in order to promote health and also prevent additional car movements and congestion. This should form part of the overall plan. There will also be a knock on effect on the need for Secondary School places which is estimated to be over 100. This in its turn will affect Kenilworth School.

f) Community Safety

The overall plan should also allow for Community safety to be taken into account. This should not only be from the point of view of safety in relation to the construction of the buildings but also affect the lay out of the estate from the point of view of criminal activity and road safety. Whilst this is a requirement, it is frequently overlooked. We would hope that this would form a significant feature in the development of the area so as to benefit those living there in the future and the Town as a whole as part of its community.

G) Roads

Connections

The access to and egress from the development needs very careful consideration as it could cause extreme congestion. We would have thought that a new island at the Leamington Road end of the entrances road would be the preferred option. This island would allow traffic to flow more easily than a set of traffic lights.

We believe that it would also allow for a slip road to be constructed from the new development to access the A46 and thus allow a filter of traffic from the estate directly to the highway slip road without entering either this island or the main junction island. This would spread the traffic and also allow access through the estate from eastern Kenilworth without gaining access through St Johns.
Likewise the access into Dalehouse Lane /Glasshouse Lane would require another island which would provide easier access than the provision of traffic lights.
H) Routes
The estate will require a spine road and this could be used to benefit the development by separating the employment element from residential. It should also be used to spread traffic into and out of the Town as previously indicated. It will also need to be constructed in a way that reduces the speed of traffic using it for that purpose. This would hopefully be attained by its shape rather than speed humps or similar methods. It is essential that this is borne in mind in the design of the road as other wise there is a danger of excessive speeds and the danger that flows from it.

J) Rocky Lane

It has been the Councils view that development of this area should stop at Rocky Lane in order to have a clear and defensible boundary to the incursion into the green belt that this proposal makes. Further this tree lined road is an important local feature that should be retained especially as it gives access to the countryside. The preservation of Rocky Lane and its character is essential, in the view of the Town Council, as part of the conservation of the character of the area. It should be preserved and allocated as a Local Wild life Site.

K) Thickthorn Ancient Wood and Glasshouse Spinney
The wood and also the Spinney running along Glasshouse Lane and Rockey Lane are important features of the area and should also be preserved by being allocated as local Wildlife Sites. They should also be protected by a 50 metre buffer. Not only is this important from the point of view of conservation, but it will also serve to soften the effects of the proposed development and also preserve the character of the area and its charm.

L) Boundary of the Development

It has become apparent that using Rocky Lane as a boundary would not accommodate the amount of housing and employment land that would be ultimately expected for the Town and that extra land will be needed to the north of the Lane. The need for a barrier still remains however and the Council would propose that this should be in the form of a Public Open Space dedicated to the District Council along the Northern boundary of the proposed developable area. This would not only form a barrier against further encroachment to the North but provide further open space which could accommodate areas for use by Local organisations such as the Scouts.

M) Green Belt

The Council has always been concerned by the possibility of encroachment into the green belt running along the town side of the A46. Once encroachment is allowed in this area there is a danger for it to continue along the highway to the District Boundaries and thus mean coalescence with Coventry. This is particularly sensitive because the gap between the Town and Coventry in the Crackley Gap is only a field's width in places. Whilst the District is not even proposing this at this time it is felt that this danger should be emphasised in order to confirm the need for a barrier such as we suggest.

Other matters that may need to be covered further by the Plan

a) Cycling elsewhere in the Town other than Abbey Fields

The provision of cycle ways throughout the Town would be the ideal solution but it is difficult to see how these could be provided as the existing roads are mostly either inadequate or only just adequate for current use. The use of pavements for joint use by pedestrians and cyclists is not acceptable in the Town Councils view within its boundaries. However, in rural areas where there is little pedestrian traffic we could accept that this would be a reasonable proposition .The suggestion that the pavements between Kenilworth and Leamington and Leek Wotton be used on a joint basis would not seem unreasonable.

Scout & Guide Provision
B] Scouts and Guides
Provision will need to be made for the Scouts & Guides if significant changes are made to Castle Farm then they are essential. Further ideally with the extension of the Town to the east we should consider additional space for these organisation and similar groups.

C) The New Developments

These fall within the Parish of St.John's Church. The Church has indicated that it wishes to be involved and help with the provision of community facilities. We would be supportive of this offer by the Church as it already has facilities available within easy reach of the area and we would hope that this would be developed.

D) Kenilworth School and Sports College

It has become apparent from our consultation that the School is experiencing considerable difficulties as a result of being located on two separate sites and an amalgamation would be beneficial. Further, the additional demand from the new development will increase the problems it is experiencing.

It would not be possible for the Sixth Form to be relocated to Leyes Lane and it is therefore likely that the school will need to be relocated to a site where both parts can be accommodated together with the additional intake expected.

This would obviously be beneficial to the School and in view of its sport facilities and culture perhaps this would provide an opportunity to locate in the area agreed for the sports clubs
With the emphasis that is placed on Sport at the School this would give further impetus to providing a sporting area where partnerships could be formed to increase the availability of sporting facilities to all of the Clubs and an increase in the Sporting offering available to the town.
E) HS2
Although only a short section of the safeguarded area of the proposed route of High Speed is within the town boundary (from the A46 to Finham Brook) the route passing through the Crackley Gap and on to Burton Green will have a dramatic affect on the town. Only a small number of residents and the Golf Club will be directly affected but both the construction phase and the completed railway will potentially affect thousands of homes. The environment in the Crackley gap will be devastated by the diversion of the Canley Brook and will take years to recover. The Town Council remains opposed to the scheme, which will be of no benefit to the town, but is working with HS2 to attempt to mitigate the e3ffects on the town should the railway be built

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