Leamington Town Councils Proposed Response to 'Options for Growth'

4.16.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Jul 2008

Cllr Bill Gifford leader of Leamington Town Council has included the councils proposed response to the District Council's 'Options for Growth' consultation. We welcome your thoughts on the proposals.

1. RLSTC believes that allotment land should be excluded from any option because of its enormous amenity and ecological value.

2. RLSTC considers that the green belt to the north of Leamington Spa (between the towns of Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth) should not be included in any option because of the great value of this particular green belt in providing a clear definition between the towns of Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth.

3. RLSTC urges WDC to take full account of the ecological value of residential gardens and would strongly advocate that such gardens should not normally be considered for development.

4. RLSTC is very aware of the need for much more social rented housing in areas close to Leamington Spa. For this reason if there was to be substantial residential expansion in any of the villages then there must be good public transport links to Leamington Spa.

5. RLSTC strongly holds the view that it is very important to maintain the separate nature of the individual towns and villages of Warwick District.

6. RLSTC considers that if land immediately to the south of Coventry was chosen for residential development then there should also be some residential development close to Leamington Spa so as to meet the housing needs of Leamington residents.

7. RLSTC would ask WDC to look carefully at reallocating some of the land currently zoned for employment use and see if it would not be better zoned for residential use. A good example of land that should be considered is the derelict industrial land at Queensway.

8. RLSTC considers that future residential development should be family houses not flats.