Where will it all end? (From Gazette Series)

Where will it all end?

MORE than 60 people turned up at a public meeting this week to voice their fears that their village could be altered forever if 50 more houses are built.

The residents of Kingswood, near Wotton-under-Edge cited flooding, parking problems, traffic chaos and over-burdened services as reasons why the houses should not be built.

They also feared that if houses were allowed on the Chesnut Park site another 30 would almost certainly follow on neighbouring land.

A government inspector has recommended that 50 houses be built on land at Chestnut Park as part of Stroud District Council's Local Plan.

Kingswood Parish Council had successfully lobbied Stroud District Council to have the number of houses proposed reduced from 50 to 25 but the inspector reinstated the original allocation.

Comments on the modifications to the Local Plan are currently invited as part of the public consultation process, which ends on Monday (July 25).

At a public meeting organised by Kingswood Parish Council on Thursday (July 14) more than 60 people told councillors why the houses should not be built.

Ruth Jarvis, who lives at Chestnut Park, said: "I had to dig a hole in my garden and I dug down a foot and reached the water table. Over the winter my garden flooded and there is a drainage issue that has been going on for a number of years. It is a major issue.

Pat Harty, of the High Street, said: "I am sure that some people have noticed that there is a link between the two sides of the site, making it a U-shape. If this goes ahead they have every right to create an infill and build on that middle section without any problem at all."

Jenny Barratt, of Somerset Close, said: "I would put money on it that the land in the middle will be developed. If they are saying they can develop the land now, ten years down the line there will be another 30 homes there. I have no doubt about it."

Ron Frost, of Charfield Road, said: "My chief concern is the amount of traffic. I am the longest resident in Charfield Road so I have seen tremendous changes.

"At the time I came here we would see a car going past every 20 minutes. Now, between 8.30 and 7.30 in the morning, I have got a job to get on to the road because the traffic is going continuously and most drivers don't take any notice of the 30mph signs.

"If we have 50 houses built we are going to get about two or three cars per house. That is going to be a lot more traffic past my house and all those in Charfield Road."

David Hatton, of Wotton Road, said: "I think we are beginning to see a strong agreement that these houses should not be built here. If we are going to make this work everybody has to get one of the forms and write down their own stories of why it should not go ahead."

Council chairman and district council representative for Kingswood Cllr Paul Hemming said: "The more responses there are, the more they are going to know that we want Kingswood to stay as it is."