Growth not based on robust evidence

On April 23 Warwick District Council will meet to vote on a draft new Local Plan. Last week I attended a Local Plan Forum which looked at progress to date.

Ahead of the meeting Chris Elliott, the chief executive, had emailed councillors with advice – that they listen rather than speak at the forum so as to avoid risk of “pre-determination” by expressing views ahead of the council decision.

In the event, a wide range of questions and views were exchanged and I thank Cllr Mobbs for his open and constructive chairing of the forum. However, I was struck by his closing remark that he was “for growth” in the Local Plan.

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That comment reminds me that the initial consultation in 2011 asked all of us what level of growth we wished the council to plan for. By a large majority the local residents asked for low growth, but the council said no you’ve got it wrong and we are going for higher growth.

Ever since, the council’s consultation papers have been ramping up the numbers. Last December the Leamington Society submitted detailed analysis which demonstrated the very wide range and uncertainty of the projections for local employment and housing over the plan period. A wide range from which the council has been very selective in its choice.

I suggest that the leader’s closing statement to the recent forum does indeed capture the spirit in which our council has made a choice – a predetermination – towards high levels of growth and housing which is not based on a robust evidence base.

Richard Ashworth, Chairman, Leamington Society