Parish councillors have raised a series of concerns as they objected to plans to create a new traveller site on the outskirts of Warwick.

A part-retrospective application for the site along Henley Road near the M40 was submitted earlier this year after Warwick District Council (WDC) enforced a temporary stop notice for the development.

Building work had begun in May before planning permission was granted, and the local authority has since issued another stop notice.

If approved, the planning application by Philip Brown Associates Limited would see the field turned into a base for 12 families.

A number of objections have now been submitted by local residents, raising a range of issues - many not relating to planning issues.

And now Budbrooke Parish Council (BPC) has also submitted an application, labelling the plans as inappropriate use of the green belt.

"No exceptional circumstances have been provided that would outweigh the harm this development would cause to the openness of the countryside, the change of use and its impact on the green belt," the objection said.

Councillors also said the access to the site - onto a 50mph road - was not appropriate, particularly for caravans accessing the development.

They added: "There are no safe pedestrian/cycle routes from this site to any local amenity - in particular there is no safe route to educational, medical or retail services.

"BPC is concerned that any pedestrians walking on the highway on a 50mph road (where traffic often travels faster) would be at great danger - particularly children."

Planning documents submitted alongside the scheme concede the proposal "constitutes inappropriate development in the green belt".

But it said repurposing the site would actually "prevent urban sprawl "by keeping land permanently open" - as the green belt is designed to do.

"In this case the proposed development would involve some loss of openness in spatial terms but visually, would not be prominently located or obtrusive in the landscape," the application explained. 

"The caravan site would be substantially screened from public view and, the visual impact on openness would be limited."

One note of support has been put forward by a local resident.

Andrew Owen said: "I am all for supporting these family's set the site up properly and it will be great."

See the full application here.