Company listens to scouts (From Gazette Series)

Company listens to scouts

THE stand-off between 1st Dursley Scout Group and the developers of the former Bymacks site looks set to reach a welcome conclusion.

A spokesman for Crest Nicholson, the building firm developing the area, announced this week that its plans had been "changed to take into account the Scout group's views."

The revelation follows a dispute that saw Scout leaders accuse the firm of putting the safety of young children at risk at a meeting of Dursley Town Council last month.

Scout group chairman Paul Denney raised fears that "unsavoury" characters could buy flats in two three-storey buildings overlooking the Scout hut on Long Street. The flats would form part of a wider development of the site.

Mr Denney also said the development would affect emergency access to the site and reduce the group's amenity area.

A statement from Crest Nicholson this week, however, revealed that negotiations between the parties had been successful.

It said: "We have now provided a bigger amenities area with steps leading to the hut and have addressed their worries about people overlooking the site.

"Access is no longer an issue either as a footpath has been provided and we are in negotiations with them over the upkeep of a specified amenities area."

The company has provided the Scouts with five parking spaces with direct access to the hut.

It has also restructured the flats so their windows do not overlook the area - except for frosted bathroom windows.

In response, Mr Denney told the Gazette: "Having spoken to the company at some length it looks like our concerns have been addressed.

"I think there had been a breakdown in communications before - it had all come as a shock to us. We didn't have a chance to speak to them."

Dursley Town Council's planning committee gave its approval to the development at a meeting last Tuesday, specifying that access to the Scout hut should be clear.

Cllr Anne-Marie Rutter, chairman of the committee, said she hoped a compromise had been reached and plans would now go ahead successfully.

The development will now go to Stroud District Council's planning chiefs for approval.

Mr Denney added: "Our campaign to improve the plans seems to have worked - there were issues that needed to be addressed.

"It looks like it's coming to a close now."