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Friday 26 February 2016

New Proposal for 435-600 Homes at Westwood Heath

Update (26th February):
This report (covering all sites around Kenilworth) in the Kenilworth Weekly News:
http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/local-news/what-the-local-plan-means-for-kenilworth-1-7232556

Update (25th February): At the meeting of Warwick District Council on the 24 February 2016 the Council approved the proposed modifications to the Local Plan (as detailed below). It was agreed to undertake consultation on the modifications. Any concerns relating to the unsoundness and legal compliance of the proposed modifications, or seeking revisions should be made in writing through the formal consultation process, which is scheduled to start at 4.00pm on Friday 11 March 2016 until 4.45pm on Friday 22 April 2016.  Irrespective of any previous E-mails they may have sent, residents may want to participate in the public consultation, to ensure the Inspector is made aware of their concerns. Details of the consultation process and how to comment will be publicised and made available on the Council’s website, in due course, here:
http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/planning

The Coventry Telegraph (18th February) carried a report of new housing proposed, within Burton Green, on the land on the South side of Westwood Heath Road (around Lodge Farm):
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revealed-5000-homes-planned-green-10905505

The Warwick District Council website gives the details of the proposed modifications to the Local Plan, here:
http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20410/new_local_plan

Warwick District Council will consider the proposed modifications at a Full Council meeting on 24th February. If approved, consultation on the proposed modifications will commence during the week beginning 11th March, for a period of six weeks.

The details which affect Burton Green are outlined below.

The modifications include the provision of 425-600 homes at Westwood Heath, in the area shown hatched in yellow on the map below (H42). The area hatched in grey (S1) is earmarked for additional development in the longer term.

You can click on the map to enlarge it. You may need to click more than once to view the map at its original size:


The document gives these details for site H42 (the yellow area):
" New sites on the edge of Coventry. These sites allow the expansion of the City's Urban area in sustainable locations.  They help to meet housing needs of the City. They also offer opportunities for infrastructure improvements.
36 ha. 50% developable area at 35dph (dwellings per hectare). Total capacity approx. 600 dwellings. Capacity capped at 425 due to constraints imposed by strategic transport network.
Open Space (including allotments, playing fields, play facilities); Health Centre; Local centre and community facilities will be quantified in the context of the development of this allocation and the wider area over the long term; cycleways; bus facilities. 
Retail facilities: a convenience store of no more than 500 square metres gross floorspace. 
Site capacity is limited by the highways network in the area. WCC Strategic Transport study suggests no more than 425 dwellings can be delivered here without the need for a major highway scheme. Adjacent area therefore safeguarded for use beyond the current plan.

Even so, the site will require transport improvements including to the Stoneleigh junction on the A46.  
 
Current indications outline potential that secondary school places are available in the Coventry catchment area. There will be a requirement for primary school places that may provide the opportunity to rationalise existing small schools in the locality (further investigations will be required to establish the exact strategy). 
Health infrastructure requirements will be assessed as part of ongoing discussions with the Warwickshire and Coventry / Rugby CCGs."

Nowhere (as far as I can see) is the H42 site referred to as being part of the Parish of Burton Green, although it does, at present, lie within Burton Green. The H42 site is referred to as being an extension of the Urban area of Coventry. It is effectively an expansion of the Coventry City boundary. At some future constituency boundary review, it will inevitably be claimed that it 'makes sense' for the people living in this new part of Westwood to become part of Coventry.

The role of Burton Green as a designated 'growth village' within the WDC Local Plan centres wholly on the Burrow Hill Nursery site (site H24). The additional 435 homes at Westwood are, presumably, not considered to be part of Burton Green.


Cromwell Lane Development (Coventry Local Plan)

New building off Cromwell Lane, within the Coventry boundary, which is part of the Coventry Local Plan, is a separate development and is detailed here:
http://burtongreen.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/coventry-local-plan.html


Burrow Hill Nursery Development (WDC Local Plan)

The proposed development of 90 homes at the Burrow Hill Nursery site in Burton Green, designated WDC site H24,  is essentially unchanged. The amendment documents include these comments:
"3.74ha. Some constraints (landscape), but infrastructure requirements reduced — village hall proposed elsewhere. 67% developable area at 35dph. School place planning catered for within the wider Kenilworth solution (Southcrest Farm)."
Southcrest Farm is in Glasshouse Lane, Kenilworth, and is a proposed site for a secondary school, 6th form centre, and possible primary school.

Police Appeal for Witnesses

This appeal is carried by the Kenilworth Weekly News. The original report is here.

Warwickshire Police would like to speak to an elderly couple they believe witnessed a woman being pulled out of her car by a man in Burton Green on Saturday January 30.

The woman, who is in her twenties, was driving down Cromwell Lane at around 3pm when her car was forced from the road by a man driving another vehicle. He then tried to pull the woman from her car.

Police believe there was an elderly couple walking their dog nearby who may have witnessed the incident, and would like to speak to them as soon as possible.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 90 of Friday February 12.

Wednesday 3 February 2016

Berkswell Scout House Appeal

Please Help Us Reach Our Fundraising Target For The New Berkswell Scout House

The old Berkswell Scout House was built in the 1960s and has high upkeep costs and so sadly it needs to be demolished.  The old building also does not meet disability requirements and is too small for the numbers of young people who want to join.

The Scouts Executive Committee made up entirely of volunteers have been looking at how they could fund a new Scout House which is going to cost in the region of £390,000.

Planning permission for the new building has been granted by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.  We have already raised £260,000 in cash, in kind and as pledges of the £390,000 required.  The remaining £140,000 needs to be raised by our target date of summer 2016.

How you can help?

1. You could “buy a brick” from as little as £60.  All you need to do is go online (http://berkswellscouts.org.uk/downloads/bricks_leaflet.pdf) to purchase a brick and you can add your name and message (or memory) on the wall inside the building.  You can also pick up a form from the Library in Balsall Common  or John Taylor & Sons Butchers in Balsall Common and return your cheque payment with your completed form
OR from
Deirdre [brick coordinator] 28 Hodgetts Lane, forms in her porch.

2. You could forward this email to family and friends and ask if they would consider sponsoring a brick.

3. You could contact David Stableforth, Chairman of the Fundraising Committee  on 01676 533279 if you have any further ideas on how we can successfully reach this fundraising target.

We hope you are able to help either by buying a brick or making suggestions on how we can raise raise the additional funding needed.

Thank you
David Stableforth
Chairman of the Berkswell (53rd Coventry) Scouts Appeals Committee

BG residents who are also members of the appeals committee: Mandy Morris, Judith Applegarth, Deirdre Vernon, present and ex-parents of the group.











You can also download the form above from:
http://berkswellscouts.org.uk/downloads/bricks_leaflet.pdf

Monday 1 February 2016

Capella Academy of Dance

For further details, see their website http://www.capellaacademy.co.uk/
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CapellaAcademy/

Volunteers for Computer Users' Support Group

We would like to gather a team of volunteers to assist us with a proposed new group.

We are not running a course and not teaching, just giving support and building confidence in the use of computers/tablets for the non users, the timid users, and to swap knowledge, skills and experience.

If you are interested in supporting this group, please come along to the Village Hall Green Room, 
Wednesday 10th February at 3.30pm.

If you are interested & unable to attend please get in touch  [didvernon@me.com]

Deirdre & Adrian