Tanworth in Arden Residents and Neighbourhood Watch Association

This is an extract from the Residents Association’s Regulation 19 representations on the South Warwickshire Local Plan.

The deadline for you to make comments is 8 September. You can write a letter or comment online at https://southwarwickshire.oc2.uk/document/168

Remember you have to challenge the draft plan because it is unlawful or unsound not because you don’t like it.

The website will try to get you to answer its prearranged questions. I suggest you choose the most relevant opportunity to comment and ignore the rest.

Do not repeat verbatim what I have written or copy/paste it. Put it in your own words. Although you are commenting on the SWLP website it will be read by the Planning Inspector.

“The proposal in the draft SWLP to remove Tanworth in Arden village and its much-valued Conservation area from the Green Belt is totally unjustifiable and consequently renders that part of the plan unsound.

The Arup Green Belt Reviews contain lots of subjective assertion regarding openness but very little evidence as to why removal of Tanworth is justified in terms of the revised 2026 NPPF GB3 para 1. Nor have any exceptional circumstances under GB1 been advanced.

Given its discrete location and its elevated position in totally unspoilt open countryside, Tanworth village should be cherished by the District Council – not singled out for harsh treatment. The draft document totally fails to make any case to justify its removal.

Such an act would not produce any appreciable planning gain in a beautiful village already 99% developed and otherwise largely protected.

On the contrary such a change of designation could harm the village’s unique setting by attracting unwelcome future development on its boundary.

The joining of the new Harrington development to the rest of the village could easily be achieved by a Built-Up Area Boundary Review or a revised NDP. No explanation has been forthcoming under GB1b as to why normal planning and development policies are thought inadequate.

We consider the draft plan unsound because it fails to consider other less harmful ways of solving any problems it has identified.”

(Source: Tom Ross)

Inspector Jake Kibblewhite of Warwickshire Police has written to the Association to apologise for the fact that there was no police presence at our AGM for the first time in over 40 years,

He has offered to attend our next meeting in person.

(Source: Tom Ross)

Many thanks to the residents who managed to make it to our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 8 April.

Our MP Manuela Perteghella and District Councillor Lynda Organ attended and answered questions from the 60 strong audience. Unfortunately, our County Councillor James Crocker had to attend another meeting in Henley.

For the first time in forty years Warwickshire Police were unable to field anyone on the night. Given that “Neighbourhood Watch” is part of our name that is to be very much regretted.

The challenges facing Tanworth over the Green Belt, a Conservation Area review, speeding in the village and along Broad Lane and a possible major development at Portway have never been greater.

(Source: Tom Ross)

Stratford District Council has increased the charge for the collection of green waste to £50 from 1 April 2026.

Details of how to purchase a 2026/7 sticker for your Green Bin can be found on the District Council website.

(Source: Stratford District Council)

Representations were made recently to Tanworth Parish Council regarding the shocking state of parking in the village centre. Among the suggestions was a Residents Parking Scheme with visitor parking time restricted.

Everyone is agreed that an already difficult situation is made worse when there are events in the School, the Church or the Village Hall. It is also accepted that parking is already under pressure because of the legitimate needs of the Bell and Tanworth Garage.

The Bellfield has also suffered for many years and the situation has only been made worse by the loss of the area near the lockup garages.

A small group of Parish Councillors, consisting of David Cowan, John Brougham and Tom Ross, met to discuss possible solutions.

The outcome was that, given the many downsides of parking restrictions in any part of the village, not least the cost and the effect on the Conservation Area, the Parish Council agreed at its meeting on 16 October not to ask Warwickshire County Council to progress such a scheme.

Councillors agreed that the only solution was to try to provide extra off street parking around the village. To this end the Council would approach Tanworth School to see if they could help more than they already do and to approach local landowners to see if any fields in the vicinity could be leased to provide more parking spaces on a regular basis.

Further details are available in the minutes of the Parish Council. The Clerk can be contacted on 703200.

(Source: Tom Ross)