Groups insist on ‘better’ Local Plan

Representatives of Whitnash Town Council. Bishops Tachbrook parish Council, Warwick Town Council, the Whitnash Society, Warwick Society, the Objects Group of Myton residents, The Save Warwick group of Bridge End residents, rural villages and other interested people met on Monday night to discuss their concerns over land earmarked by Warwick District Council for thousands of houses to be built over the next 15 years.

Speaking on behalf of the campaigners, James Mackay of the Warwick Society, said: “We are working togetehr to insist on a better plan for Warwick and the district and have firmly agreed on some objectives.

So far 4,500 of the houses are being proposed just south of Warwick, Leamington and Whitnash.

“We want the right amount of new housing to meet local needs and not to encourage a surplus in migration which matches employment growth and is affordable for local people.

“We want the green settings of our towns and their historic environment to be protected and to make sure that the necessary infrastructure is provided and is funded by the developments.

“A sustainable transport strategy is needed to make people less dependent on the car instead of making congestion and air quality much worse.

“A better plan is essential for the people, businesses and environment of Warwick and its surrounding area.”

Mr Mackay said there are concerns that the council is still pressing on with its plans despite the large number of objections.

He addded; “We’re optimistic that more councillors are beginning to realise that the plan has got to change.

“A lack of trasnpraceny about the council’s proposals and actions is a problem but we hope to get beyond that and have a much more open discussion about the issues.”