KENILWORTH RESIDENTS are joining forces to fund a campaign, including legal action, expert input, leaflets and posters to stop the development of 750 more houses on Kenilworth Green Belt farmland. This will affect everyone in Kenilworth with no improved roads, schools or medical services planned and it's in sight of the Castle. On top of all the other houses built or planned around the town, we can't take any more. Please dig into your pockets (every fiver counts) so this can be fought effectively on behalf of the town.

Warwick District Council (which covers Kenilworth) is proposing to include an area South of Kenilworth which is currently open fields as a site for over 750 new houses (designated SG04/KEN1) as part of the South Warwickshire Local Plan. The area lies on both sides of Rouncil Lane behind Sovereign Close on one side and Rounds Hill on the other, and is an important area of Green Belt farmland on the edge of our town.

We need to protect these fields from development:

For our heritage: the area is part of the historic Forest of Arden and former deer park and development should not be allowed to protect the important views from and setting of Kenilworth Castle. New houses would be visible from the Castle & gardens.

For wildlife: to protect ancient woodland and hedgerows, full of important rare birds and species.

To avoid an unsustainable development: there is no adequate road and transport infrastructure here, insufficient GP or school capacity, and longstanding problems with sewage; putting 750 new houses here would put unmanageable pressure on already strained local infrastructure.

To maintain the Green Belt as an important community resource and buffer between Kenilworth and other towns and villages.

To protect the area for future generations: it is greatly valued by our whole community. Let's keep these precious fields open for our future.

The Save Our Fields Kenilworth Group is fighting the plan. We have already won major concessions from the Council regarding the consulation process, but we need funds to employ experts in Planning and Heritage to help us produce a response to the Section 19 consultation which is now underway. We have until the beginning of September to persuade the Council to remove SGO4/KEN1 from the plan before it goes forward to the Planning Inspectorate.

Experts cost money. A Barrister who is specialises in planning law provided guidance which helped us get the Council to agree to properly consider Section 19 representations, but his advice costs money - already £2,700 - which group members have paid. But more help will be needed from him. A Heritage expert has also been commissioned, but she will cost another £2-3,000. We need your help to pay for all this.

Please give what you can. Our target is attainable, but time is not on our side. Every £5 will help us get there and ensure everything possible is done to keep our Green Belt intact - once it's gone, it's gone for ever

See our website https://saveourfields.org.uk/#about where you can sign our petition and see lots more details, including a site plan. Also on Facebook and Instagram.

If there are any funds remaining after the local plan process (including examination hearings in front of the Inspector) have been completed, they will be donated to the Kenilworth Centre.