WHAT DO YOU THINK?
We'd like to hear your views.Send us your comments by simply clicking on this email:
This is what I think

Whitnash
Coun Bernard Kirton (Ind, Whitnash) spearheaded a campaign to stop development on fields between Whitnash and Radford Semele when the district council drew up its current development plan.

He said: "It would be absolutely scandalous to start building on green field sites in this district when developers are allowed to hold on to industrial land and factories that stay derelict for years.

"The government needs to give councils power to make compulsory purchase orders on places like this so we can make proper use of places such as the Queensway.

"There are indications that sites we fought to keep as greenbelt in the last plan could be built on.

"This makes a mockery of the democratic planning process - you give people confidence they have been listened to then Whitehall says you will build more homes."

Barford
Parish council chairman John Murphy said: "There is not a lot of space in the village for more development and we haven't got the facilities for it. We have a very full school and the sewage system is already overloaded."

Milverton
Coun Bill Gifford (Lib Dem, Milverton) said: "The green belt around Milverton is particularly valuable to the community. It is allotment land and also acts as a separation between the three towns. It shouldn't be considered for housing at all."

Milverton allotment holder Anthony Stanley said: "My wife and I have held a plot since 1972 and are basically self-sufficient in terms of fruit and vegetables.

"All the plots on the allotment are used and we have a waiting list. It's very important to preserve them, they are green territory among the houses."

Radford Semele
Coun Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele), who is also responsible for housing, said: "The district can just about find space for 10,800 homes, but the government is now looking to increase the level for the West Midlands by 25 per cent.

"For this amount of housing you need money for facilities. Ministers have said the developers would pay for this in advance, but the developers might have a different idea. By putting this money up front and providing 40 per cent affordable housing ,they are not going to make a profit."

"In the past Radford Semele could take more houses but the developers always want to build on the fields between Radford, Sydenham and Whitnash. But that would result in joining them together and Radford losing its identity. Building along the Fosse or towards it would be better."

Lillington
Coun Eithne Goode (Lib Dem, Leamington Manor) said: "I wouldn't like to see green fields developed, but there is a distinction between green fields and green belt. I think the benefit to wildlife and residents is greater from keeping gardens than some green belt land, which is not particularly beneficial except that it divides one area from another.