Councillors have expressed their disappointment that plans to create a new country park in the district are taking so long, but have assured residents that work is continuing behind the scenes to create the much-anticipated public facility.

A planning application for the 121-acre Tachbrook Country Park was submitted in March and Warwick District Council said it is hoped that the planning committee will discuss it later this year.

In the meantime district officers have been working with developers, ecologists, landscape architects and Warwickshire County Council to make sure everything is in place for work to start should planning permission be granted.

The scheme is further complicated as it needs to tie in with separate applications for the new schools and homes at Oakley Grove in Bishop's Tachbrook.

Cllr Alan Rhead, portfolio holder for climate change, said: "We are disappointed that the planning application process for the country park is taking longer than anticipated.

"It is however important that we take considerable care to balance the wide-ranging requirements of all stakeholders and ensure that the land is in the right condition for the successful development of an accessible and sustainable green space for our growing communities."

If approved, the country park will be operated by WDC under an 'in perpetuity' land use agreement, to be granted by Bishop's Tachbrook Parish Council.

Cllr Sean Deeley, chair of the Tachbrook Country Park Steering Board, added: "As a parish councillor I am acutely aware of the strong desire of residents, to see the Country Park in Bishop's Tachbrook open to the public.

"As mentioned above, many unforeseeable issues have arisen across the three interdependent and concurrent projects.

"The steering board is grateful to the key stakeholders, county council, land owners, developers and utility providers, for their continued mutual co-operation, which will be essential to ensure that the country park is opened as soon as possible."

Read more about the country park plans here.

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