Balsall Common already faces a wide range of infrastructure challenges resulting from previous development. The scale of the proposals can only worsen this situation and a holistic impact assessment and strategic approach to infrastructure development is required.

Village schools are at capacity and the main Kenilworth road is subject to high levels of congestion. Increasingly residential roads are being used as rat runs to avoid such congestion with consequent danger to residents.

Medical facilities are difficult to access and village shopping centre is crowded and outdated.

The absence of reliable high frequency public transport will mean that cars will still provide the main means of transportation and new housing will impose further pressure on existing road infrastructure.

Car parking provision is also a major issue within the village and will require upgrading. Many of the new houses will not be within walking distance of the station and in the absence of alternative transport options, it is likely that cars will be used to drive to the station. The station car park is already at capacity and frequently 30 to 40 overflow cars can be seen parked on Hall Meadow Road. An obvious solution for additional car park provision would seem to be the remaining site within the Riddings Hill development area. However this appears to be designated for new home development as well.

Reference is made to a potential bypass line should this be required by HS2. I understand that HS2 submissions do not envisage sufficient additional traffic to justify a bypass.

Is it an intention to build a bypass as this seems to be the main reason for arguing that Barratts Farm has a defenceable green belt boundary.

It is also flawed to build a bypass along this line as it would transfer through traffic onto the already congested Hall Meadow road, thereby merely transferring the problem of congestion rather than solving it. I would contend better options lie to the west of the village which again could form a defenceable green belt boundary and allowing more balanced village development.

Consideration should also be given to linking existing green spaces / sporting provision such as the Lant Trust grounds to maintain green access links across the village and to prevent the new build area being isolated from the rest of the community. This could be achieved by the closure of Meeting House Lane by the existing Catholic Church.

Landscaping and green space buffering will also be required to preserve the amenity for existing residents, many of whom back onto open fields at present

Infrastructure improvements will need to be delivered well in advance of any new build given the existing situation. to assist this it is critical that any council funds obtained from the development ( sale of land or new build premia) must also be retained solely for the benefit of Balsall Common given the size of the infrastructure challenge.

Meeting House Lane is a rural location with no pavements on its southern section (a route used by many school children and parents when walking to school. Speeding traffic is already a challenge and any new access from the Barratts Farm development could introduce a significant number of new car journies destroying the nature of the lane for ever.

The junction between Meeting House Lane and Kelsey Lane is already dangerous with its partly blind corner. Significant additional traffic would require significant upgrade of this junction.

Further traffic on the lane could also serve to further isolate the new community from the existing village.