Minutes of Community Meeting

Minutes of Community Meeting

Thursday 19th January 2017

Barford St Peters School

Welcome and Objective – Chairman – Edward Kirkby

Edward Kirkby opened the meeting by outlining the aims and objectives of the community meeting.

1.To raise awareness of the two planning applications, a) 135 homes proposed by Gladman adjacent to Sandy Way. b) The sand and gravel excavation south of the village.

2.Where we are in the planning process.

3.Assistance with your responses to the proposals.

4.Agree the next steps.

Actions

1.Completion of the attendance form so that attendees can be contacted in the future.

2.Recording of attendees at these meetings count

3.What we will want people to do – eg, raise money for expertise and consultancy

4.Volunteers

Roger Braithwaite – Provided an overview and stage of process for the Gladman housing.

Roger Braithwaite reminded the attendees of other projects that the village have fought over the years and their success.

-Sinking the M40 link-road near the village

-By pass

-Save the school

-Barford House

-Travellers site

-King George V Field

-Neighbourhood plan

Roger Braithwaite explained the neighbourhood plan and the boundaries around the village. Barford has been allocated as a growth village however it has been suggested only 80 houses over the next 15 years, yet these have already been exceeded.

The A429 is already a busy road and should the Sand and Gravel proposition go ahead it is suggested that every 4 and a half minutes a heavy goods truck will be joining that road.

Roger Braithwaite showed the images of the Wellesbourne road on the morning of the 19th January and the amount of cars already parked on the road due to the overflow carparking at the Barford Exchange. Gladman are proposing to have the entrance to the new development opposite the current site of the garage on Wellesbourne road which would cause chaos.

In 1997 there was a similar fight over the sand and gravel site and was won at an appeal because of the best agricultural land in Warwickshire. Surely this is important now?

Gladmans pride themselves in finding chinks in local plans to find a way to push forward with their proposals.

A couple of people from the floor highlighted the difficulty of returning agricultural land to the original state.

One suggestion from the floor was to negotiate, perhaps to accept the sand and gravel proposal and the additional homes and have a road built from the A429 taking some of the traffic straight to the M40.

Peter Phillips indicated the new Local plan would be likely to be in force by July 2017.

Wendy Barlow – Objections to Mineral Sites: 4 & 5

Wendy reminded the audience that since the last discussion in 1997 the land still remains the best and most versatile and nothing since then has changed.

Wendy has suggested that if a consultant were to be employed, they could put a proposal together of the other sites in Warwickshire that may be more appropriate to excavate for Sand and Gravel, one that is not so close to a residential area.

Wendy reiterated that the traffic on the A429 has not been considered and a traffic survey would be needed. According to the last traffic survey 2007 – 2013 the traffic through the village has increased by 30%. It would be interesting to see how much it has increased over the last few years.

Jamie Dewhurst – Agricultural Land

Jamie Dewhurst is the Managing Director of G A Growers and is currently managing the land opposite the proposed site and this has been excavated for sand and gravel years ago. Jamie explained the problems of farming the land now and the repercussions of farming the land after it has been reinstated back to Agricultural land. The land drainage is no longer free flowing, tractors get stuck in pockets of sinking land. Jamie expressed his concern that the land at the proposed site will not be reinstated to its original state.

Dr Malcolm Eykyn – Implications on Health

Dr Malcolm Eykyn explained the implications of risk to health

Increase of traffic to the roads through the village and on the A429. There have been numerous accidents on the A429.
Noise of vehicles and heavy plant machinery.
Dust from the excavation.

Dr Malcolm Evkyn explained that the dust particles are so small that cannot be seen. Also the prevailing winds are South West and the dust will be directed towards the Barford.

Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.

James Hawkesford – Chartered Surveyor – Impact on House prices

James reiterated that Barford is a very popular village because of its location so close to the M40, ideal for commuters. However having a sand and gravel site next to the village could possibly affect market rates in the short term.

Questions

Government requires that each County extracts its minerals locally. Can we provide a solution and is there an alternative? Perhaps to employ a minerals planner to investigate other sites.

Although the proposal for the additional housing is next to Barford it falls into the boundaries of Wasperton and none of the residents of Wasperton have a received the booklet from Gladmans.

Andy Steel explained to the audience how to complete the Form 20 to raise the objections against the Mineral excavation. Andy also reminded the attendees to complete a form for each site 4 and 5. Also each member of the household can register their views, increasing the number of objections.

Andy Steel reminded everyone that the Gladmans would like a response to their proposal by 26th January 2017. Please can those responding please copy Alan Rhead and Peter Phillips ()

Further information on both the Sand and Gravel and Gladmans proposal can be found on the BRA website as well as the neighbourhood plan.