Housing sites consulation roadshow
MORE than 150 people turned out for an exhibition of the potential sites to fulfil the future housing needs of the Five Valleys and Severn Vale.
The residents and businesspeople went along to the Subscription Rooms to understand where the suggested 2,000 new homes could be built.
There was also a chance for people to express their opinion about the sites earmarked in the recently published Stroud District Council Your Future, Your Say consultation document.
The closing date for comments is not until Monday but some of the sites are already proving contentious.
Among them is the idea of allowing 1,000 new homes to be built in Thrupp, which is described as "environmental vandalism on a massive scale" by local ward district councillor Martin Whiteside.
"What is proposed would double the size of our small parish," said Coun Whiteside (Green, Thrupp).
Gardeners at Rodborough Glebe Allotments are also up in arms and have sent a letter protesting about the possibility of new houses being built there to the whole of the district council's planning committee.
"We are shocked and disturbed that such an idea should even be considered worthy of consultation," said allotment association chairman Bob Tiley.
"This is not a viable option and we would strongly oppose any development of the site."
In Eastington, Andrew Niblett – the editor of the community's newsletter – said the parish was again a target for massive development.
He said: "If 2,000 more new homes came to any part of Eastington, it and Stonehouse would merge together to be bigger than the principle town of Stroud."
A district council spokeswoman said just under half of the people who visited the exhibition favoured the option of concentrating new housing in Cam, Eastington or west of Stonehouse.
After the consultation closes a preferred option will be agreed by the council. That will then be subject to more public scrutiny before the final Core Strategy is agreed.
3 Comments
by dodger, Stonehouse
Friday, March 19 2010, 3:46PM
“Me again.
Well I've just completed my responses via the online consultation process.
It must surely be up for a prize in the most un-user friendly webpage ever created competition.
The programmer or whoever ever gave them their brief needs summary dismissal.
It's pathetic. A web desinger friend of mine had a look at it and just laughed.”
by dodger, Stonehouse
Friday, March 19 2010, 3:26PM
“' A district council spokeswoman said just under half of the people who visited the exhibition favoured the option of concentrating new housing in Cam, Eastington or west of Stonehouse.'
I bet they did, real dimbyism at work.
What percentage of of the visitors to the roadshow were from Stroud, in the majority I suspect.
Andrew Niblet sums it up accurately by stating that 2000 houses in the Stonehouse to Eastington area will create a new town much bigger than Stroud.
Well do that and in twenty years time all the new houses then going forward can be built in Stroud when the redundant town centre that by then no wone will be visiting will be bulldozed.
Building a massive new settlement close to the motorway, almost certainly without sufficenet facilities will just mean more business for Gloucester and Bristol.
A small number of houses built in each town/parish is the correct way to go.
Peter, you are correct, without debating past decisions, it's most certainly not the way to go forward.”
by Peter Ponting, Quedgeley
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 4:10PM
“People say the wheel always turns. 20 years ago the people of Stroud thought nothing of Stroud District Council allowing planning permission for the start of the decemation of Quedgeley. Now that option is out of their hands, SDC have to look at local sites to develop and increase their funding.
In Gloucester City we have an estimated 35,000 empty houses. The new developments at Kingsway are not selling, and the houses are being let to social housing groups. This is causing growing anti-social behaviour in the area. But still Gloucester City Council allows planning permission for new developments.
Now it is the turn of Stroud. Well all I can say is you started the ball rolling.”