Objections mount for Shrewley green belt plans

The application by Alan Beaumont of Greenfingers Nursery in Claverdon to relocate to the Five Ways Road and Stoney Lane junction in the village of Shrewley was submitted recently but has proved to be unpopular with people in the area.

Over 60 objections have already been made on the Warwick District Council website and an action group called Save Out Rural Environment (SORE) has been formed by local residents.

On Monday Shrewley Parish Council met and discussed the proposal before unanimously voting against the plans.

Chairman of the parish council Robert Wesbury said: “There have been over 60 letters of objection and I understand there are still significant numbers that haven’t yet made it to the website.

“We are going to object because we think it is an inappropriate development in the green belt.

“They want to remove trees which we are very much against, and we’re concerned about the ecological impact. I’m worried about the wildlife - I know of Barn Owls over the site and none of that has been mentioned.

“We are also concerned about the visual impact that a development of this size would have and we do know that there have been a number of flooding issues there and it’s difficult to see how this would make it anything but worse.

“And finally we do have concerns about the increase in traffic with large vehicles coming down a road that has already got problems with speeding and accidents.”

One member of the public said at the meeting: “There’s so many inconsistencies in the application. For example they only look at river flooding, but heavy rain is the issue. It’s just not factual.”

If approved by the district council it would see the nine-acre field, currently used for sheep grazing, filled by the nursery which would be around 20 feet high.

Cllr Helen Jones said: “I didn’t think the drawings they did reflected the visual impact. It’s not in character at all and there’s no way they can say that it is.”

Environmental consultants Enzygo have not identified a flood risk at the site, but the county council highways authority has objected to the plans.

Full details can be seen online.