MM54

I have grave concerns regarding the use of Park & Ride facilities. Leamington has a unique character in the West Midlands as a place to eat and/or shop and part of that appeal is the current, relative ease of parking. Shoppers/diners do not favour park & ride over in-town parking.
The proposed sites themselves are in green belt and impact flood management of the River Avon.
Experience suggests that park & ride systems rarely work as planned and there is a danger that an under utilised such facility becomes a magnate for fly tipping, illegal traveller sites, etc.

A park and ride anywhere in North Leamington simply does not make any sense and will not benefit anyone, except perhaps future development:

1. It's confused thinking which will hurt the local economy

Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.

Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will hurt Leamington town centre.

There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington, no one wants or will use Park and Ride.

2. It's not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up

It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.
It will increase commuting time and costs not reduce them
Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.
Commuters will probably park in the roads adjacent to Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts

3. The roads can't cope with Park and Ride

The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary.

There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.

4. It's in the wrong place

The the areas of search just blight the neighboring properties

If Park and Ride should ever prove necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452

The proposed park and ride locations near to the Blackdown roundabout will not ease the already over-congested A452 from Kenilworth and are too close to the centre of Leamington. Visitors to Leamington are more likely to use the side roads immediately to the North of the town centre to park their cars.

The Planning Inspector's required modifications to the Draft Local Plan instructs Warwick District Council to revert to the areas of search for a Park and Ride scheme included in a previous version of the Local Plan, known as the "Submitted Plan"did not include this site in Old Milverton


A park and ride anywhere in North Leamington simply does not make any sense and will not benefit anyone, except perhaps future development:

1. It's confused thinking which will hurt the local economy


* Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.

* Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will hurt Leamington town centre.

* There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington, no one wants or will use Park and Ride.

2. It's not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up

* It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.

* It will increase commuting time and costs not reduce them

* Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.

* Commuters are likely to park in the roads adjacent to Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts which are already heavily congested and already cause bottle necks at key commuting times where as a resident I already have difficult accessing my property.
3. The roads can't cope with Park and Ride

* The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary.

* There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.


4. It's unlikely to happen and in the wrong place

* The scheme is very unlikely to proceed and the areas of search just blight the neighbouring properties

* If Park and Ride should ever prove necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452

The Joint Parish Council has commissioned but awaits an independent critique of the park and ride proposals by transport consultants and will be submitting this as part of its representations therefore any fndings in the report should be shared as part of the consultation

The Planning Inspector's required modifications to the Draft Local Plan instructs Warwick District Council to revert to the areas of search for a Park and Ride scheme included in a previous version of the Local Plan, known as the "Submitted Plan", which did not include this site in Old Milverton.

A park and ride anywhere in North Leamington simply does not make any sense and will not benefit anyone, except perhaps future development:

1. It's confused thinking which will hurt the local economy

Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.

Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will hurt Leamington town centre.

There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington, no one wants or will use Park and Ride.

2. It's not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up

It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.
It will increase commuting time and costs not reduce them
Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.
Commuters will probably park in the roads adjacent to Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts

3. The roads can't cope with Park and Ride

The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary.

There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.

4. It's in the wrong place

The the areas of search just blight the neighboring properties

If Park and Ride should ever prove necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452

I object to the proposed Park and Ride Scheme either in OLD MILVERTON (from Northumberland Road to the Warwickshire Nuffield Hospital) or BLACKDOWN (near the Sandy Lane crossroad).

These areas are Green Belt land and there is no justification or supportable rationale for setting up a Park and Ride scheme on these sites.

There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington town centre, and so no demand for a Park and Ride scheme.

The proposed locations are so close to Leamington town centre they will not actually remove any traffic from the main access roads from the north into Leamington Spa.

I understand the Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary. However, there is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.

The scheme is very unlikely to proceed and the areas of search just blight the neighboring properties
If Park and Ride should ever prove necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452

The Old Milverton location proposed for a potential park and ride has just been confirmed as Green Belt so this scheme is contrary to that decision and will blight housing in the surrounding area. The fact that £6m is being spent on a new multi story car park in the town centre makes this scheme largely uneccasary.

Furthermore as the scheme will have no dedicated bus service into the town centre, congestion on the A425 from the A46 towards Leamington will remain or increase as traffic heads towards the proposed parking locations. Surely a better proposal would be to position the parking close to the A46 and run dedicated buses from there into Leamington which would potentially much reduce traffic congestion on that route.

I believe that this proposal will lead to an increase in the number of cars that will park in Northumberland Road and other nearby roads nearby. At times it is frankly dangerous to drive out of my property because it is impossible to see traffic in either direction.
This is not a true Park and Ride scheme but more of an out of town car park.

There is no justification for this project to proceed. It is also fair to say that there are suspicious aspects of this case and would also lead to a net detriment to the town and local community.
Furthermore, the proposal contradicts previous adjustments made to north Leamington and hence leads to a further set of questions to be raised.
I strongly object to any such development work to be done in this area.

​STOP THE NORTH LEAMINGTON PARK AND RIDE Scheme


We believe that the site in Old Milverton has been included in error because:



* At the Public Examination session on 13 October 2016 dealing with the proposed allocation of this land for residential and Park and Ride uses, we understood that Warwick District Council Officers agreed to remove it from the areas of search for a Park and Ride facility. If you were at the Public Examination and also understood this to be the case please say so in your response.



* The Planning Inspector's required modifications to the Draft Local Plan instructs Warwick District Council to revert to the areas of search for a Park and Ride scheme included in a previous version of the Local Plan, known as the "Submitted Plan", which did not include this site in Old Milverton.



A park and ride anywhere in North Leamington simply does not make any sense and will not benefit anyone, except perhaps future development:







1. It's confused thinking which will hurt the local economy

* Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.

* Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will hurt Leamington town centre.

* There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington, no one wants or will use Park and Ride.



2. It's not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up

* It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.

* It will increase commuting time and costs not reduce them

* Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.

* Commuters will probably park in the roads adjacent to Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts



3. The roads can't cope with Park and Ride

* The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary.

* There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.



4. It's unlikely to happen and in the wrong place

* The scheme is very unlikely to proceed and the areas of search just blight the neighbouring properties

* If Park and Ride should ever prove necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452

At the Public Examination session on 13 October 2016 dealing with the proposed allocation of this land for residential and Park and Ride uses, we understood that Warwick District Council Officers agreed to remove it from the areas of search for a Park and Ride facility. If you were at the Public Examination and also understood this to be the case please say so in your response.
The Planning Inspector's required modifications to the Draft Local Plan instructs Warwick District Council to revert to the areas of search for a Park and Ride scheme included in a previous version of the Local Plan, known as the "Submitted Plan", which did not include this site in Old Milverton.
A park and ride anywhere in North Leamington simply does not make any sense and will not benefit anyone, except perhaps future development:

1. It's confused thinking which will hurt the local economy
Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.
Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will hurt Leamington town centre.
There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington, no one wants or will use Park and Ride.
2. It's not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up
It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.
It will increase commuting time and costs not reduce them
Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.
Commuters will probably park in the roads adjacent to Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts
3. The roads can't cope with Park and Ride
The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary.
There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.
4. It's unlikely to happen and in the wrong place
The scheme is very unlikely to proceed and the areas of search just blight the neighboring properties
If Park and Ride should ever prove necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452
The Joint Parish Council has commissioned but awaits an independent critique of the park and ride proposals by transport consultants and will be submitting this as part of its representations.

I cannot see how this makes sense on any level. The DC is spending £Ms on a new car park In the north of Leamington Spa which will create 100s of car parking spaces right in the centre of town. There was a big debate on whether we needed this new structure so I cannot see why we need a park and ride on the outside of town, when no buses will be provided. Nonsensical!

I know of no park and ride that has been effective without a compelling/ alternative reason to use. For example Oxford where it is virtually compulsive, or Stratford, where until the Parkway railway station was located adjacent to th park and ride, it was hardly used.
Visitors will always want to park close to the town centre and will attempt to do this first, then find a space nearest to the town before using the park and ride as a last resort. All we will be left with is a black one opted area, little used, causing water run off and drainage problems, causing light pollution, and taking away more valuable green space from this beautiful part of Leamington.

I believe the location of the proposed park and ride at Old Milverton is in error as at the 13 October public meeting WDC agreed to remove it from the Plan.

We object to the North Leamington Park and Ride Scheme because:
1. It is inappropriate and irresponsible to have a "parking lot" of considerable size on Green Belt land. Valuable farm land and hedge rows should not be covered in concrete and lost forever. The "green lung" is needed wherever it still exists. This may be just "the tip of the ice berg" for wholesale development in the Green Belt.
2. Since Warwick District Council is building a new multi storey car park this new scheme is not needed.
3. Unless there are very frequent dedicated buses (which would add to traffic congestion on the A452) no one is going to use the Park and Ride, since it increases commuting time and cost.
4. Instead of helping the local economy, particularly Leamington town centre, it may drive business away.

Milverton / Blackdown Park and Ride -
1) Parking would blight an entry area of character to North Leamington for visitors and residents alike.
2) The A452 is not suitable for widening to include bus lanes which would be required to facilitate such a scheme successfully.
3) Focus should be placed on proposed town centre parking which would be strongly favoured by commuters and shoppers.
4) An rea so close to the town centre is not a sensible place for a park and ride scheme!

The site in Old Milverton appears to have been included in error because:
* At the Public Examination session on 13 October 2016 dealing with the proposed allocation of this land for residential and Park and Ride uses, I understood that Warwick District Council Officers agreed to remove it from the areas of search for a Park and Ride facility.

* The Planning Inspector's required modifications to the Draft Local Plan instructs Warwick District Council to revert to the areas of search for a Park and Ride scheme included in a previous version of the Local Plan, known as the "Submitted Plan", which did not include this site in Old Milverton.

A park and ride anywhere in North Leamington simply does not make any sense and will not benefit anyone at present

It is confused thinking which will hurt the local economy

* Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.

* Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will damage the effectiveness of Leamington town centre.

* There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington and no one wants or will use Park and Ride.


2. It is not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up

* It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.

* It will increase commuting time and costs, not reduce them

* Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.

3. The roads cannot cope with Park and Ride

* The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary- for which there is no room within the highway.

* There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.





4. It's unlikely to happen and in the wrong place

* The scheme is very unlikely to proceed and the areas of search just blight the neighbouring properties

* If Park and Ride should ever proved necessary or viable a site north of Chesford Bridge should be used to reduce traffic congestion on the A452

A park and ride will hurt the local economy driving shoppers away from leamington centre.

Car parking charges in the centre will increase as a result and will make people go elsewhere (reducing income to our community) and hinder those low incomes the opporunity to search for low costs as they won't be able to afford travel costs.

It will increase commuting time and costs - something our councils do not have. The money would be best spent elsewhere where it is needed and on those less fortunate. Park and ride only assists those with cars - more bus services are needed not services for the wealthy. Plus wealthy people are not going to use a bus service!!

There will be traffic congestion on the A452 which was acknowledged and noted that a dedicated bus lane is needed - this proposal was removed thus hurting people trying to access work on time. On the other hand having a dual carriageway would hurt leamington - we are a small town that thrives on community and locals - stop trying to make us bigger and ruin the essence of leamington spa.

This proposal was not part of the local plan considered by the inspector.
It is not a proper park and ride scheme as there will be no dedicated buses. The suggested areas are too close to the town centre for drivers to want to park and wait for an existing bus.
There will be an adverse impact on local roads from increased congestion.
Green belt land would be covered in tarmac.

The roads can't cope with a park and ride in this location. A park and ride is not needed in this area.

I profoundly object to the development of land adjacent to the Kenilworth Road north of Leamington between Northumberland Road and the Blackdown island, primarily because it is, and should remain, inviolable green belt land. It is essential 'green belt' lungs beneficial for good health to all residents of north Leamington and should remain as such.

I attended the Public Examination on 13/10/17 and understood that WDC said that the park and ride proposal for North Leamington was to be removed from Old Milverton. Has the proposal been included in error? In any case, tHe A452 road is narrow, the bus route and crossings unsuitable for a large increase in users resulting from a park and ride.

We object to the creation of a park and ride scheme in this location. It is not seem necessary for the following reasons:

* Warwick District Council acknowledges that to make Park and Ride work it will have to reduce available parking and increase car parking charges in Leamington BUT it is spending £6 million on a new multi storey car park which will increase available parking.
* Park and Ride will drive shoppers away and will hurt Leamington town centre.
* There is sufficient car parking available in Leamington, no one wants or will use Park and Ride.
2. It's not a proper Park and Ride scheme and the sums don't add up
* It will be a "virtual" service. No dedicated buses. A car park, where passengers leave their cars and catch existing bus services.
* It will increase commuting time and costs not reduce them
* Less parking in Leamington Town centre will significantly reduce car parking revenues to both Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council.
* Commuters will probably park in the roads adjacent to Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts
3. The roads can't cope with Park and Ride
* The Park and Ride operators (Stage Coach) say that dedicated bus lanes on the A452 are necessary.
* There is no money available to make the A452 into a dual carriage way and the proposal has been withdrawn from the Local Plan.
4. It's unlikely to happen and in the wrong place
* The scheme is very unlikely to proceed and the areas of search just blight the neighboring properties

At the public session on 13 Oct 2016, it was agreed that the Old Milverton area was to be removed from areas considered for park and ride. Indeed, the Planning Inspector's required modifications to the draft local plan instructs WDC to revert to the submitted plan, which does not include the site in Old Milverton.

This proposal runs contrary to WDCs own revised plan.
The plan for a park and ride north of Leamington is an expensive red herring.
Who will use it?
I live at the southerly end of Northumberland rd it takes 5 mins to walk to Leam centre (for me) 10 mins for slower people. It is free roadside parking and yet we have less than 10% parking outside. Why wait for buses?

PARK AND RIDE SCHEME IS NOT WARRANTED IN NORTH LEAMINGTON. LEAMINGTON HAS ENOUGH PARKING ALREADY. GREEN BELT LAND WILL BE RUINED FOREVER. THE COUNCIL SEEMS DETERMINED TO SPOIL THIS SMALL GREEN BELT AREA THAT SEPARATES LEAMINGTON FROM KENILWORTH AND TURN BOTH COMMUNITIES INTO ONE BIG URBAN SPRAWL

Having been present at the planning examination at the town hall in October 2016 we understood that the proposed park and ride scheme had been eliminated from the Local Plan.
It seems totally illogical to build a car park for the park and ride on a green field site which had been preserved as green field by the Inspector.
However a park and ride (park and catch the next bus as opposed to a dedicated bus service) is not necessary and would not operate effectively in such a location.

1. Old Milverton not included in the "Submitted Plan"for Park and Ride.
2. No planned dedicated buses and A452 traffic would not be reduced.Dedicated buses would need bus lanes in the A452- traffic chaos and no money available.
3.Greenbelt land being lost.
4. WDC already planning new multi-storey car park in Leamington Spa.
5.No current money available for Park and Ride scheme.
6.Parking income in Leamington Spa would be reduced.
7. Shoppers would be discouraged.
8. Park and Ride, as a concept, has proven a failure in the UK.

NO TO PARK AND RIDE
Leamington Spa does not need a Park and Ride. There are ample on road parking spaces and car parks. In fact a new £6 million multi storey car park is being built which will increase parking spaces considerably.
I understand that to make Park and Ride work Warwick District Council is proposing to reduce parking spaces in the town and to increase parking charges. This does not make sense. Why spend £6 million on a car park when you intend reducing parking spaces. increasing charges will keep shoppers away, including myself and will adversely affect the shops in the town and will reduce revenue for the Council.
Who do you think is going to park their car 1 1/2 miles outside the town centre and wait for a bus with maybe a baby or young children in tow? They would have to do the same on the return journey plus carrying their shopping. It would be easier and quicker to continue driving the last 1 1/2 miles into town and park there.
Few Park and Ride schemes work and to even think of using Green Belt land for this is wicked especially when there is no need for one. Park and Ride does not constitute "Exceptional Circumstances" to remove land from the Green Belt. If this scheme goes ahead it will fail, Green Belt land will have been destroyed and the Council will have more land to build houses. Is that the idea?
This proposal must be taken off the Local Plan. The areas of search are huge and are blighting the neighbouring properties. In fact the area of search in Blackdown includes several properties.