A PETITION has been launched in a bid to stop 150 homes and a school being built on land previously designated for a country park.
Developers AC Lloyd agreed to build a school between Whitnash and Bishops Tachbrook on land off Oakley Wood Road, near the Harbury Lane junction, if an extra 150 homes could also be put on the site.
The developers say the latest proposals would see the planned Tach Brook Country Park moved closer to Bishops Tachbrook.
Bishops Tachbrook parish councillor Ray Bullen says the area is already under enough pressure after being earmarked for some 5,000 homes under Warwick District Council’s local plan.
The coun has previously hit out at the plans, putting forward a motion to the the parish council to object to proposals for a secondary school, which was not seconded or voted on.
He said: “We accepted the new homes being built within and close to our parish boundary because we were promised a country park which would preserve the rural nature of our village and protect green space everyone enjoys.
“We are not prepared to accept any further destruction of our village and its countryside. The villagers who know about the revised plans are devastated.”
The petition calls for the 150 new homes to be scrapped and has so far gained more than 300 signatures.
Those in support also want the new primary and secondary school, sixth form and special education provision to be built on land closer to Harbury Lane, where it was originally planned to go.
But district council leader and ward councillor Andrew Day welcomed the plans.
He said more pupils could walk or cycle to school, and it would also mean a bigger country park as extra land would be available to compensate for the space taken up by the school and homes.
Coun Day told the Observer: “I welcome the application, it meets local need and I’m so pleased to see a new school within walking distance of the development.
“I am concerned about air quality, especially if we had all our schools on Myton Road, and this plan would mean people can walk to school using the park.
“It is never easy but I think this is a good application that covers all bases.”
And AC Lloyd managing director Des Wynne said the plans would benefit the community.
He said: “We have moved the location of the country park closer to Bishops Tachbrook which will mean more villagers will live closer to the public open spaces.
“The previous allocation for a secondary school behind Myton School was considered too small to cope with the level of new housing growth and this new location as well as providing more land for all the community facilities we have proposed, will reduce travel time in relation to the new housing developments.
“The land was only ever offered on the basis that there would be approval for an additional 150 homes with 40 per cent affordable housing.”
Visit www.bit.ly/BTachPetition to sign the petition or find out more.
