Rift fears as council refuses permission for A444 development

CONCERNS OVER SUITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ‘SHOEHORNED’ SCHEME

A POTENTIAL rift between Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough and Coventry City Councils has been exposed as a “shoehorned” proposal for a mixed use development on the A444 was refused in Coventry.

The controversial plans have been approved in Nuneaton, where the majority of the affected land lies.

The whole project by L&Q Estates involves the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of up to 73 dwellings and up to 55,750 sqm of employment and commercial floor space. It would be built on farmland on the corner of the A444 and the B4113 Pickards Way, which joins via a roundabout to Longford Island and J3 of the M6 motorway.

There has been huge opposition to the proposal by Coventry chiefs and residents alike, with three petitions objecting to the plans receiving a combined 564 signatures. A total of 38 letters of objection have also been received, citing traffic, air, light and noise pollution, as well as traffic congestion, as concerns.

These raised concerns about the scale of the development and its 24/7 operation, traffic, congestion, air quality, and the loss to existing residents of an open green space and rich wildlife. The plans were considered last month when a decision was deferred until after a site visit by committee members this morning.

At Thursday’s meeting, councillors Gavin Lloyd and Catherine Miks both commented on the lack of space for vehicles at the site, which they approached from Old Farm Lane, which is a residential section.

Councillor Catherine Miks said: “I was quite shocked today. How is it suitable? How have we even considered this to go forward?”

Council leader George Duggins said: “This shoehorned proposal, like Cinderella’s stepsister’s foot, crammed into the glass slipper, will never be a thing of beauty.”

Michael Fell, secretary of Longford Community Action for Neighbourhood, said: “[It’s] the wrong proposal in the wrong place and should never have come forward. [Nuneaton and Bedworth Council] will have all the benefits from this development, whereas we shall be suffering from the consequences of it.”

Planning officer Liam D’onofrio pointed out the environmental health departments of both Coventry and Nuneaton had carried out tests which assured the air quality would not be compromised. There have been no objections raised by public bodies, including Highways England and the Environment Agency.

As a limited amount of the land falls under Coventry City Council’s planning jurisdiction, the committee has limited influence, but voted against the officer’s recommendations to accept the proposal, six votes to one. Committee members then voted six-to-one to refuse the proposal, citing suitability and sustainability of local highway infrastructure and access to the development.

This shoehorned proposal, like Cinderella’s stepsister’s foot, crammed into the glass slipper, will never be a thing of beauty Cllr George Duggins