• Home
• |
• News
• |
• Sport
• |
• Comment
• |
• Entertainment
• |
• Property News

• Property
• |
• Jobs
• |
• Motors
• |
• Family Notices
• |
• Free Ads
• |
• Archive Search
• |
• Local Directory
• |
• Business Bid

• Horoscopes
• Competitions
• |
• TV Guide
• |
• Charities
• |
• Local Links
• |
• Motoring
• |
• About Solihull
• |
• About Us
• |
• Contact

Marina protest is gathering support

VILLAGERS campaigning against plans to build an 18-acre marina in the tiny village of Lowsonford are continuing to gather support.
GJP Marina Developments Limited and the Deaner family hae submitted a planning application to Warwick District Council to build the 100-berth marina alongside the Stratford Canal - just 150 yards from the Village Hall.
A protest group - Lowsonford Anti Marina Action Group (LAMAG) - has been set up to 'vigorously' oppose the scheme which they believe will 'change the character of our rustic English village forever'.
Lownsonford is a small village with just 75 houses.
But campaigners are calling on as many people as possible to join the battle and stop the developers from ruining the village.
As well as room for 100 boats the marina would have parking for 31 cars, various offices and a facilities building.
The site would be around 200 yards from the canal bridge that is the main entrance to the village from nearby Shrewley and would sprawl across 18 acres.
The action group is objecting to the proposal on several key issues:
* Inappropriate in scale for this rural location.
* Creating a precedent that could almost certainly lead to other facilities being developed on the site.
* Damaging the environment and the tranquillity of the village.
* Causing major upheaval during construction.
* The nearest roads of any size being over two miles away.
* Creating new risks to walkers, horse riders and cyclists.
* Disturbing and possibly damaging badgers, bats and other wildlife habitats.
* Leading to a potential drop in house prices.
* Potential danger to children through an increase in traffic travelling through the village.
Tudor Evans, chairman of LAMAG, said it was vital that anyone objecting to the development made sure their feelings were known when a planning application is finally submitted.
"This Marina will change the face of the village forever and cannot be allowed to happem," he added.
"It will damage Lownsonford, its residents, its wildlife and its visitors and once it is done there will be no going back."
A packed-out public meeting last week saw emotions run high as the developers unveiled the plans for the first time.
"The village hall was full to bursting and this huge turnout without exception, constructively and on occasions passionately, demonstrated their opposition to this proposal of unwanted development," added Mr Evans.
In a statement on its website: www.lowsonfordwharf.co.uk - the Deaner family thanked villagers for attending the meeting and promised that once its planning application has been submitted it would provide a link so residents could see detailed plans.
The statement continued: "We understand that there is significant opposition to our project but we can only reiterate that our motivation is for the long term viability of Poundley End Farm.
"Of course this project will benefit our family in the main but there will be some benefits to the village.
"We totally respect your right to oppose through the planning process channels and we hope you can respect our right to apply for planning."
* What do you think? Write to or e-mail the editor at the usual addresses which can be found on page 8.

• | More
• «Back
• «Home
• Contact the Editor about this story

• 

  An outline of the plans. s

• 

  <b>Lowsonford Anti Marina Action Group (LAMAG) chairman Tudor Evans at the site of the proposed marina. 05.010.040.SOL.DJ Picture by Dan James</b>

• 

  <b>Lowsonford Anti Marina Action Group (LAMAG) chairman Tudor Evans at the site of the proposed marina. 05.010.040.SOL.DJ Picture by Dan James</b>

• 

  An outline of the plans. s