Allotments may be spared - but Leamington's greenbelt could suffer
Leamington allotments could be saved, but open fields lost if a property developer's plans go ahead.
Taylor Wimpey contacted the Courier this week to announce it is interested in building homes on land in Old Miverton.
The 'greenfield' site stretching beyond Beverley Road and Northumberland Road has been earmarked for potential development by Warwick District Council.
It was included in one of five 'options for growth' drawn up to meet the government target of more than 10,800 new homes for the district between now and 2026.
But the plan has provoked anger from residents and allotment-holders who fear their plots will be swamped.
Now, Taylor Wimpey has denied the gardeners will lose their land.
A spokesman said: "We are one of many companies making representations to the district and are in the very early stages of the planning process.
"We wish to reassure residents and allotment holders that if our proposals are given the green light, the number of active allotments in this location will remain the same and possibly even increase to serve the additional homes that could be built in this location.
"We believe the site is ideally placed to support the future sustainable growth of Leamington and we wish to make clear that if our proposals to build here are given the go ahead we will undertake thorough consultation with the community."
But Stanley Anthony - Milverton allotmenteer and member of the BLAST campaign to stop development on Leamington allotments - is unconvinced.
He said: "We need more precise details, this is very vague. We don't really know what Taylor Wimpey's position is.
"They would still need to build access roads through the allotments and some of the plots would be lost.
"We are against them building on the green belt around us. This option received the most objections from residents so it is strange they still want to build here."
The district council was due to reveal its preferred option for development this month, but that has been put back until June.
Coun Bill Gifford (Milverton, Lib Dem) said: "I'm glad that Taylor Wimpey are considering flora and fauna and that most of the allotments would be safe, but I'm surprised they are doing it at this stage when that land may remain as greenbelt.
"I don't think this it good news, it is saying that they have an interest in substantial development on the green belt which I am not in favour of."
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Weather for Leamington
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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