HASTY residents across the district are being reminded it is not yet safe to use Tachbook Country Park.
Warwick District Council announced that while much work is happening behind the scenes in preparation for the development of the new 49-hectare (121 acres) country park between Leamington, Whitnash, Warwick and Bishop’s Tachbrook, the proposed area remains in private ownership and is currently unsuitable for public access.
Planning permission to create the new public space, which will be the largest in the district, was granted in November 2022 and the processes of land transfers, ecological and archaeological investigations and procurement are well under way, but ground conditions underfoot within the perimeter are unknown and potentially hazardous.
WDC’s Chief Executive, Chris Elliott said: “We fully appreciate the keenness, particularly of those living within close proximity to see the country park open to the public, however as a local authority we have a duty of care to keep our residents safe. It’s therefore important that we reinforce the message that by entering this land you are not only trespassing, but also at risk of coming to harm.”
The creation of the new country park is subject to a number of complex legal agreements and coordination with adjacent developers, landowners and utility providers as well as tying in with access to and from the new Oakley Grove School in Bishop’s Tachbrook. The project was dogged by delays getting to the planning stages.
In a simultaneous project WDC continues to work in partnership with Warwickshire County Council on plans which will see an end-to-end cycle route, between Warwick and Bishop’s Tachbrook, providing a traffic free access between the new housing developments and new schools.
WCC’s Strategic Director for Communities Mark Ryder added: “We have secured funding from the Government’s Active Travel Fund and developer contributions to create a new route between Europa Way and the new schools being built at Oakley Grove. Concept designs are being developed for this route with a view to construction taking place before the schools open. The route will form an important part of the expanding active travel network in Warwick and Leamington and supports the council’s ambition for cycling to be the go-to travel choice, particularly for short urban journeys.”
More information about Tachbrook Country Park can be found at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/Tachbrook
