GL11 group on deadline (From Gazette Series)

GL11 group on deadline

CAM Parish Council has set a mid-February deadline for community group GL11 to come up with a concrete plan for involvement in the Chapel Street development.

The deadline was set to keep the new momentum of the six-year-old project going after agreement had almost been reached with Stroud District Council on the plans, drawn up by Cheltenham Builders.

But all parties have agreed to hold back for a period after GL11 showed an interest in the project as it feels it needs to expand from the current base in Fairmead.

The group has proposed in theory to share the council building with the parish council.

Cllr John Hudson said: "I have been very impressed with what they (GL11) have achieved in Cam. It would be good to involve them but we have to put a time limit on the discussions."

It was agreed to set GL11 a deadline of ten weeks from the time of the meeting to show it has a workable plan so overall discussions can proceed without any more delays.

However, councillors pressed for financial safeguards to be woven into the agreement with GL11 should one be reached and also emphasised that they should make sure that the building would be big enough for everyone's needs.

Cllr David Winsor said: "They (GL11, supported by Gloucestershire County Council) have not got a lot of money so we need to make sure that we do not lose money on this as they could pull out later on.

"But the way that they were talking I also feel that they could get bigger and I think they could push us out of our own office."

Cllr Bert Elliott agreed: "We must make sure that the building is big enough for everyone."

Overall though, councillors felt that. if the project was managed in the right way, involvement of GL11 would be beneficial.

Cllr Miranda Clifton was most positive about the potential of GL11's involvement, although she also mentioned the need to secure against financial loss.

She said: "This could bring in a lively community facility, which is what some of us have wanted for the council building all the long."

At the end of the ten-week period the council will review the situation and will extend the time limit if an agreement is close to being reached.

Either way, the council will look to press on by March next year as the project nears its seventh year on the drawing board.