CASTLE HISTORY - part 10
The Future?
Weddington Church Fields before development
One final point to be made: Weddington village and its estate - in the past as now - was always as much about the green spaces in between the buildings as the buildings themselves. Whilst housing development has cut back on this greenery since the start of the twentieth century, this once rural hamlet is fortunate to have retained at least some of its meadows and fieldland.
If the historical account contained within this website tells us one thing, it is this: we should never take the land upon which we live for granted. A disturbing conclusion to this history is that, as ever, land is a valuable commodity - and more lucrative than historical or natural preservation. Several years ago, much of the remaining green belt around Weddington was threatened with housing development. After sustained residential opposition this proposal was quietly dropped by Warwickshire County Council.
However, in 2004 a piece of enabling work was done by the council to downgrade this open green field land from the status as “Area of Restraint”. This allowed any developer wishing to build on it to do so, given planning permission. Given this downgrading council planning permission would not be a problem. The report commissioned by the council where this downgrade was proposed stated:
“It would appear that although the open land in this area is serving as a pseudo green wedge, this is a result of chance, rather than due to any carefully thought out land management strategy. It is similarly hard to find evidence, other than providing a visual amenity value for the few residents fortunate enough to look upon it, that the area provides any public benefit e.g. there are no public rights of way in the area. Development at Weddington turns its back on the area”.
If the historical account contained within this website tells us one thing, it is this: we should never take the land upon which we live for granted. A disturbing conclusion to this history is that, as ever, land is a valuable commodity - and more lucrative than historical or natural preservation. Several years ago, much of the remaining green belt around Weddington was threatened with housing development. After sustained residential opposition this proposal was quietly dropped by Warwickshire County Council.
However, in 2004 a piece of enabling work was done by the council to downgrade this open green field land from the status as “Area of Restraint”. This allowed any developer wishing to build on it to do so, given planning permission. Given this downgrading council planning permission would not be a problem. The report commissioned by the council where this downgrade was proposed stated:
“It would appear that although the open land in this area is serving as a pseudo green wedge, this is a result of chance, rather than due to any carefully thought out land management strategy. It is similarly hard to find evidence, other than providing a visual amenity value for the few residents fortunate enough to look upon it, that the area provides any public benefit e.g. there are no public rights of way in the area. Development at Weddington turns its back on the area”.
Fields destroyed by development
In 2006, despite a certain amount of local opposition, this area was indeed downgraded, and in 2009 the borough council was told by the government that it had to build 10,800 more homes by 2026. Proposals were drafted to build thousands of new homes on Green Belt land in Nuneaton and Bedworth.
Despite these targets being repealed in 2011 and local communities apparently being given greater input under a new "Localism Plan," in 2011 the council - without public consultation - agreed a 5 year housing target of 7900 houses in the borough. Weddington Village once again came under threat from developers in March 2011, when Hallam Land Management announced plans to build 326 new houses on Church fields next to St James' historic Church in the village.
A local campaign was set up to oppose these plans called SWORD (Save Weddington: Oppose the Residential Development), with a website at www.saveweddington.org.uk.
Thanks to public support - and a petition of c4000 signatures - these plans were narrowly REFUSED by the Council Planning Committee on 17th August 2011. However, on 20th February 2012, following a public inquiry, the Planning Inspectorate APPROVED plans to build 326 houses on Weddington's Church Fields. This inquiry was fought by the SWORD campaign and the local Friends of the Earth, after the Council withdrew their opposition at the last minute.
In response, SWORD announced plans to register Weddington's Church Fields as a Village Green. However, this was refused and in May 2013 the Council announced that fields in Weddington and St Nicolas were earmarked for over 4000 new houses. Building commenced in 2014...
In January 2015 Nuneaton Council have confirmed that our suggestions for street names on the new housing development to reflect the area's heritage. Read more here.
Despite these targets being repealed in 2011 and local communities apparently being given greater input under a new "Localism Plan," in 2011 the council - without public consultation - agreed a 5 year housing target of 7900 houses in the borough. Weddington Village once again came under threat from developers in March 2011, when Hallam Land Management announced plans to build 326 new houses on Church fields next to St James' historic Church in the village.
A local campaign was set up to oppose these plans called SWORD (Save Weddington: Oppose the Residential Development), with a website at www.saveweddington.org.uk.
Thanks to public support - and a petition of c4000 signatures - these plans were narrowly REFUSED by the Council Planning Committee on 17th August 2011. However, on 20th February 2012, following a public inquiry, the Planning Inspectorate APPROVED plans to build 326 houses on Weddington's Church Fields. This inquiry was fought by the SWORD campaign and the local Friends of the Earth, after the Council withdrew their opposition at the last minute.
In response, SWORD announced plans to register Weddington's Church Fields as a Village Green. However, this was refused and in May 2013 the Council announced that fields in Weddington and St Nicolas were earmarked for over 4000 new houses. Building commenced in 2014...
In January 2015 Nuneaton Council have confirmed that our suggestions for street names on the new housing development to reflect the area's heritage. Read more here.
Signage for new houses on Church Fields
This, coupled with the recent housing estate built upon the site of the Fox and Crane (formerly The Grove) - and repeated attempts by the builders to demolish the building - makes for depressing reading (although the Grove building was saved and is now being renovated).
Tomorrow has indeed proved too late for much of Weddington's heritage. Much the same can be said for the heritage of this nation as a whole. It would be tragic indeed if we were to stand by and let yet more of our legacy slip away without question.
Tomorrow has indeed proved too late for much of Weddington's heritage. Much the same can be said for the heritage of this nation as a whole. It would be tragic indeed if we were to stand by and let yet more of our legacy slip away without question.