Look elsewhere for new scout building

Having followed with interest the developing debate in the Courier Postbag, I attended the public meeting last week, at Warwick Court House to listen to a presentation on the proposals for the new scouting facility given by the scout leader, Neil Pitchford. He gave a detailed description of the scouting movement and indicated that three other sites had been considered by the Warwick District Council (WDC), but he has not been told where they are!

It became apparent during the discussion that all of the people from Myton Road fully supported and respected the work of the scouting movement but could not understand why such a large building was proposed by the WDC on Myton Fields which are very popular for visitors to Warwick, particularly during the summer months. Car parking was considered by those present to be a major problem as no consideration seemed to have been given in the proposals in front of us.

Chairman of WDC, Cllr Michael Doody, fortunately offered to call a meeting of interested parties to discuss the problems including the location of the three other sites considered by the WDC.

I also spoke to Cllr Sue Gallagher who insisted car parking at the proposed site is not a problem on Myton Fields even during the winter months. Many Warwickians will have seen cars bogged down even in autumn storms! Scout car parking will displace many visitors spaces during the summer.

The new proposals would surely mean the Myton Fields being open full time and it is noted in last week’s Courier that WDC is looking for a travellers’ site in the area!

When asked why the existing premises cannot be re-built I was told that the storm water sewer underneath the existing precludes this alternative being considered.

Why then was the former Warwick District Depot in The Saltisford built on or immediately adjacent to the Gog Brook underneath those buildings and subsequently replaced by new office blocks now occupied by the Warwickshire County Council, still over or immediately adjacent to Gog Brook?

Surely it is worth exploring building adjacent to the existing site and demolishing the old building when the new is occupied and thus freeing up the land over the storm water sewer which is such a major matter of concern to the planners at this time. - Tony Atkins, Coventry Road, Warwick.