Dispute over site name (From Gazette Series)

Dispute over site name

THE DEVELOPER of the former Lister Petter site, St Modwen Developments, has named the site Delkin Village - much to the displeasure of one of the councils involved.

Meeting last week, Cam Parish Council dismissed the name as "absolutely appalling".

As well as disliking the name Delkin, councillors also thought that calling it a village ran the risk of turning the development into a separate settlement rather than the beneficial extension of Cam and Dursley that it is supposed to be.

Chairman Cllr Dennis Andrewartha said: "I believe that the Delkin Village name is absolutely appalling."

Dursley historian David Evans told the Gazette that the name did in fact have a local connection, even if it was a little known one.

Mr Evans said: "The Delkin is the name of a small stream that runs through the Dursley valley."

However, St Modwen has admitted that for now the Delkin Village name is something of a working title, subject to a more detailed consultation.

Development surveyor Rupert Joseland, said: "We decided that the project needed a name that had a link to the area it is in. As the Delkin stream runs through the site we gave the development that name for now."

At the Cam council's meeting Cllr Margaret Nolder suggested that the new development should not be viewed as a separate entity.

She said: "Everything possible should be done to make the Lister development part of the existing village."

Councillors also agreed that it would be unfortunate to lose the name of Lister from the development as it was so well known in the area.

Added Cllr Andrewartha: "We must emphasise to the developers that we wish to retain the name of Lister."

Overall though, the parish council remains firmly in favour of the development in spite of their reservations about the name.

Cllr Andrewartha said: "This is an opportunity to create facilities here that most people have on their doorstep nowadays. At the moment the people of Cam and Dursley have to travel 15 or 20 miles for such facilities."

Both Cam Parish Council and Dursley Town Council, which also met last week, resolved to continue their joint parish meetings they have started over the Delkin Village development. Dursley councillors passed no comment on the new name, which is being used on websites by St Modwen and land-owner South-West Regional Development Agency.