MM54

I attended the Public Examination session on 13 October 2016 and understood that Warwick District Council Officers agreed to remove Old Milverton from the areas of search for a Park and Ride facility.

I would like to question: -
1) The justification for a Park & Ride facility?
2) Location at the boundary of North Leamington residential area?
3) Change of use of prime Green Belt land that is currently used for exporting crops to Germany & Israel?
4) Ability of the A452 and surrounding roads to support expected growth?

Dear Sir

Whilst I applaud the removal of H44 area in Old Milverton for residential development, I oppose MM54 due to an error whereby this site is proposed in the 2017 modifications to be used for a Park & Ride.

Two areas of search for P&R sites north of Leamington were identified on the 2016 Local Plan map. Clearly, the areas did not include the land identified as H44 and is contrary to the Inspector's reference to two areas of search with regard to Transport Policy TR5 in examination 183.

WDC confirmed that the P&R was under consideration. Buses would leave A452 Blackdown roundabout, travel along Old Milverton Lane and turn left onto a newly constructed road leading to the P&R. The exit would turn left onto A452 to avoid the danger of crossing the busy, narrow A452.

I was a speaker, sitting near the front at the Public Examination Hearing on 13 Oct. 2016, where I recall, as do others, the P&R scheme was raised and WDC agreed to remove it from the Local Plan, without public consultation evidence and examination.

A P&R in this area does not make sense and is neither viable, nor desirable. It is too close to Leamington to be useful. The easy option for those who do not use the many car parks and off road parking spaces in Leamington, is to park on the wide, spacious roads south of area H44 and walk or bus into Leamington. They are unlikely to take a circuitous route into a P&R area on the wrong side of the road for entering Leamington.

Businesses near to H44 site, are adequately provide with about 1000 parking places in all. Little consideration has been given to the effect on drainage and wildlife habitat of vast tarmac areas. Another road and large car park for which there is no justification is totally unacceptable. I wrote extensively on P&R in my response to the Inspector 30Aug. 2016.

With reference to the addition of a P&R in this area, traffic near Blackdown roundabout needs dispersing, not encouraging. Old Milverton Lane near the roundabout carries a large number of vehicles primarily associated with Woodland Grange Management Centre, Priors House Care Home, Nuffield Hospital and the through traffic.

Future known developments in the area should be taken into consideration.

Nuffield Hospital is increasing its day patient numbers, which will increase the number of car users. Large buses weaving through this traffic every 15 minutes, to locate the P&R slip road will add to the confusion, dangers, noise and fumes.

Jephson House, (currently providing 63 parking places), on the north east corner of Blackdown roundabout, plans extensive residential adding significantly to traffic numbers. Nearby on A452, Cranford House complex accommodates about 100 cars, which currently have difficulty turning right onto A452. A dual carriageway is not practical and could create more problems.

Householders and hospital patients nearby need consideration. A P&R would ruin their environment with more traffic noise, fumes and lights, and the rural houses nearby would be seriously blighted.

The P&R scheme would be self-defeating, drawing traffic from other roads onto the local busy roads, necessitating major changes to the A452 junction.

Traffic travelling in this area needs to be dispersed where possible to avoid Blackdown roundabout area, and not used to excess, as would be by the P&R scheme Outlets are restricted due to the River Avon and its flood planes to the west, plus Milverton residential developments and to the immediate east, Stoneleigh Road by inbuilt problems.

An upgrade and cycleway to Bericote Road and Westhill Road, which have open land to the east side. This would provide greater opportunity for use of Leicester Lane, Lillington Road, Cubbington Road and roads to the east to help disperse traffic away from A452.

An alternative area of search just off the A46 would address the district's bigger picture of people travelling to Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick and the University, has a greater potential to be viable, desirable and functional than Blackdown's areas of search which would have limited potential use whilst also not contributing to Leamington's business needs.

WDC's consultants have used an updated model from 2011 on an imaginary roundabout near the A46 to make a desktop estimate of the potential use of the proposed P&R which would not even be in use until well after 2018. I question the reliability of the results relating to this P&R at an estimated cost of £3million CIL money, which could be put to better use where really needed.

The proposals for sites at Bericote/Milverton islands on the A452 is not acceptable as this is a very narrow area of greenbelt which should be protected.