What a legacy for the future

The current development to extend the Sydenham area on to land that is actually part of Whitnash will mean that the urban part of the town will be bounded on three sides by developments over which it has no control. Furthermore, access to an attractive brook, nature reserve and well-used network of bridleways and footpaths on Whitnash’s doorstep will eventually be inhibited by the new development. WDC has made much of the importance of the natural and historical environment in its planning processes but seems to ignore them when under pressure from the county council and developers who own much of the land in question.

In the last 30 years, Whitnash has borne more than its fair share of new houses and this made sense when many of the new residents worked at the Automotive Products plant on Tachbrook Road. The situation is entirely different now and Whitnash will be disadvantaged by this new development, gaining absolutely nothing from it in return. To add insult to injury, there is a proposal that this land should be transferred from Whitnash to Leamington. What a pity that the local big-wigs have to take their inspiration from Putin and his takeover of Crimea. It appears that the planners have not realised that much of this low lying land is shrouded by mist on wintry mornings and what is more, downwind of the railway line so that diesel exhaust fumes will tend to concentrate there.

This is not the only proposed development in Whitnash, one off Golf Lane having already been approved and increased in size by a quarter since the initial application. These houses will be built on the only remaining ridge and furrow farmland close to the urban area.

What a legacy for the future! The amount of farmland taken for the new developments has already been questioned and it is to be hoped that the forthcoming consultation will promote reconsideration of the plan and perhaps modification to it.

Barry Bolland, Whitnash