We Need to Protect the Rainsbrook Valley say Rugby Lib Dems
Rugby Lib Dems believe that we need to protect the Rainsbrook Valley from more development and safeguard it for the future.
A recent planning application for 107 homes at Waldings Farm, Barby Lane was firmly rejected by the Planning Committee at Rugby Borough Council. The developer could still appeal that decision. The application was refused because of the adverse impact on the character and appearance of the Rainsbrook Valley, its location and that it would be visually intrusive to the open countryside. Both Cllr Jerry Roodhouse and Cllr Noreen New made objections to this application. Cllr Neil Sandison who sits on Planning Committee spoke at the planning meeting and said, "We felt officers had undervalued the high visual amenity of the area and its important recreational use."
What next?
The Government's policy as outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that if a council does not have a five year land supply it should go in favour of housing development when applications come in. Rugby has failed to deliver appropriate land supply for a number of years as have many other councils around the country. Rugby Borough Council is proposing in its Local Plan that we have 12,400 extra houses along with an extra 110 hectares of employment land with 732sqm allocated for convenience retail.
The majority of this extra housing will be all to the South West of Rugby in Bilton, Cawston and Dunchurch. The Local Plan also proposes a new village out towards Grandborough. Rugby Liberal Democrats are very concerned about the plans. We feel strongly that the emerging plan should designate the Rainsbrook Valley as countryside land. We think that the Valley should be preserved and used as a natural countryside park ensuring that no further developments can take place. This way we can keep this precious green space which everyone enjoys.
What are Rugby Lib Dems doing?
At a full Rugby Borough Council meeting, where this was discussed, Rugby Liberal Democrats expressed strong views about the proposed draft plan and called for the inclusion of key transport infrastructure enhancements and for a number of items including GP surgeries and extra facilities for St Cross. We also called for the draft plan to be brought back after the consultation to a Special Meeting of the Council prior to any submission to the Secretary of State. The original recommendations of the report had been delegated to Officers. The Conservative Group did not accept our amendment and it was then voted down. We did not support the final recommendations which saw both Conservative and Labour Councillors voting together.
What can you do?
If like us, you support our call for better cycle ways, roads and also better planning, for example homes for life, and you want to ensure that the Rainsbrook Valley is made into a protected Country Park then please make it known to Rugby Borough Council during the consultation period. A six week consultation period will now take place between Monday 26th September and Friday 11th November 2016.
Please respond to Rugby Borough Council telling them that no more development should take place unless we have the infrastructure first.
Join our campaign: contact info@rugbylibdems.org.uk