Housing leaflet fury (From Gazette Series)

Housing leaflet fury

THE PEOPLE of Berkeley have responded angrily to a leaflet, Berkeley Future, distributed in the town supporting the building of 300 houses.

The leaflet, compiled by Green Issues Communication on behalf of developers David Wilson Homes, outlines reasons why Berkeley people should support a large housing development in the town.

Berkeley Future claims there are many positive implications, including financial benefits to local traders, a boost to local transport and provision of houses for workers.

Residents, however, do not agree. Homeowner Leslie Strong told the Gazette that the arguments outlined in Berkeley Future were very shallow and lacking in credibility.

"They are also somewhat patronising, inferring that Berkeley is run down and doomed to extinction unless we support a massive expansion of the town," he said.

In November 2004, a government inspector recommended that 300 houses be built at Berkeley East but the proposal was rejected by Stroud District Council in May of this year.

The council disagreed that the town was a principal settlement suitable for major future development - a classification that no longer exists.

Yesterday, Peter Gilbert, planning strategy manager at Stroud District Council, said: "We believed that Berkeley should maintain its rural status.

"We did not see any reason why Berkeley was being singled out from other areas which had better facilities."

However, the proposed development of 300 houses is up for discussion again next month when the district council reassesses its Local Plan - the blueprint for development in the area.

James Garland, account manager at Green Issues Communication, said: "We have received 17 responses to the leaflet, 12 of them very much against the development but five were quite positive.

"The point of the exercise was to remind residents that yes, the district council had rejected the idea but David Wilson Homes still had an interest in the development."

Berkeley Castle Estate manager Andrew Jardine said the leaflet could mislead readers.

He claimed: "The leaflet contains both disingenuous and inaccurate comments that are misleading.

"To begin with David Wilson Homes used, without consent, an image of the castle which implies we are in favour of the development, which we are not.

"We are also not pleased with the implication that David Wilson Homes has had anything to do with Berkeley into the Future, a different project that a lot of local people, including the estate, have been involved with."

In defence, Mr Garland said: "The reasons listed as recommendations for the development are taken directly from the inspector's report and that is clearly labelled.

"As for the use of the castle image, it is the main image for Berkeley and is what you think of when you think of the town. It was in no way supposed to imply that the castle is in support of the development."

For the SDC, Mr Gilbert said it was unlikely that the council would change its mind over the Berkeley East development at next month's meeting.