MP helps keep the "ball rolling" (From Gazette Series)

MP helps keep the "ball rolling"

MP GEOFFREY Clifton-Brown has this week joined the fight to overturn Stroud District Council's plan to build 50 new houses in Kingswood.

The Conservative MP for the Cotswolds said: "It really is totally unsuitable. "This whole situation is a classic example of the government's suburbanisation of the country side."

Residents in Kingswood have been fiercely campaigning against Stroud District Council's Local Plan, which authorised the 50-house build, since last November when the development was agreed.

Kingswood parish councillors this week welcomed their MP's support,

Cllr David Rockey said: "It's good to know something is being done. The ball is rolling and we are being listened to."

Cllr Norman Ward said: "We have raised our main objections with Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and it is good he is taking our case forward."

Campaigners have been lobbying the district council about the development on the grounds that Kingswood does not have the infrastructure to support such an increase in population.

Mr Clifton-Brown told the Gazette that the concerns of the Kingswood people were valid but said the district council was not to blame.

He said: "Stroud District Council is not the villain.

"The deputy Prime Minister has set out this high density strategy and Stroud District council has no choice but to follow it.

"I think Stroud District Council would prefer 25 houses but have to say 50."

Mr Clifton-Brown added that he will be taking the matter to the deputy Prime Minister John Prescott himself but admitted reversing the decision will not be easy.

"There is long battle ahead which I think is principally with the government. The government just does not understand the needs of the rural areas," he said.

District councillors supported the controversial development last autumn because of its coinciding with Renishaw's new premises at Newmills which will create 500 jobs.