Meeting and council opposes marina plan

LAPWORTH Parish Council members last night (Mon Nov 30) objected to a marina for Hockley Heath after a heated public meeting.

It urged Warwick District Council to reject the application, for land adjoining Sands Farm, right, over issues such as use of Green Belt and access.

Earlier, GJP Marina Developments Ltd explained its plans to about 80 people.

Many voiced objections to the scheme. More than 100 have written letters to opposition to the council. Read them here.

They included Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council leader Ken Meeson, who wrote:
“The development would mean the loss of valuable Green Belt and therefore impact on the local environment for my constituents.”

Two supported it. Karen Varga, of Alcester, Warwickshire said: “I own a narrow boat, and tried to live on it, but was hounded off the water by not being able to find a mooring.”

Mrs. S. D. Cooper, of Stratford Road in Hockley Heath, said: “I think it will bring new life to the village, and extra trade to our shops, pubs and restaurants.

“This will ensure that we keep our amenities, rather than becoming a dying village, like so many others.”

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning committee is set to consider two marina applications for Knowle on December 9. The Hockley Heath application will be decided in private as a “delegated” decision.

Click here for marina stories.

Hockley Heath marina meeting tomorrow

A PUBLIC meeting will be held tomorrow night over plans to build a marina at Hockley Heath.

The developers behind the scheme, for land adjoining Sands Farm, have been invited to the meeting at Lapworth Village Hall, Old Warwick Road at 7.30pm.

People will have the opportunity to give their comments and ask questions.

Lapworth Parish Council will then consider its view on the plan, which it will give to Warwick District Council, which makes the final decision.

It is one of three marina plans for the area with two others planned off the Warwick Road and Jacobean Lane in Knowle. Click here for more.

These are set to be decided by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning committee on December 9.

Letters mostly objecting to the Hockley Heath plan have been placed on WDC’s website.

Many are duplicate letters which state: “It is inappropriate for the Green Belt, it will dominate the rural landscape, it will be destructive to wildlife habitat and it will cause unnecessary congestion to the Stratford Canal.”

Read the letters here.

Consultation to close on Hockley Heath marina

OFFICIAL consultation closes today on a controversial plan for a marina in Hockley Heath. Click here for more information.

Meriden MP Caroline Spelman has opposed the plan. Read more here.