Rugby campaign group produces leaflet to warn residents about controversial 5,000-home development

Rugby’s About Turn campaign group has leafleted Dunchurch and Thurlaston to warn them about the borough council’s latest plans for their area.

The town's local plan has set aside the area between Dunchurch and Cawston for a 5,000-house development - named South West Rugby.

And the borough council is now consulting on a masterplan for the area.

Richard Allanach, convenor for Rugby About Turn, was left frustrated when the council did not produce a leaflet to explain the masterplan to residents.

"We decided to fill the gap," he said.

The Council received more than 1,000 comments on its first consultation but Mr Allanach said these have been ignored when drawing up the new masterplan.

During the first consultation residents said they were concerned that Dunchurch should keep its village identity and that roads and new schools should be provided for the development.

Mr Allanach said: “The council’s Local Plan says there should be a significant buffer between Rugby and Dunchurch.

"But in places the borough council says this should be no more than 40 metres wide and half of this is to be taken up with a new spine road.

"Therefore in places the distance between the built up area of Dunchurch and Rugby will be no wider than the distance between the stumps on a cricket pitch.

"Worse, the council is not planning to provide any buffer at all between the eastern edge of its new development and the western edge of our town which runs along Alwyn Road.

“The county council says the new township should have its own secondary school but has not said when it will be built,” Mr Allanach added.

Residents have until 5pm on Thursday October 29 to respond to the consultation.

To respond, visit www.rugby.gov.uk/swrugbyVisit www.facebook.com/groups/rugbyaboutturn to learn more about the work of Rugby About Turn.