CAMPAIGNERS in Kingswood near Wotton-under-Edge have united to fight plans for 61 new homes which they fear could lead to hundreds more. 

Persimmon Homes has submitted an application for land off Wickwar Road to Stroud District Council. 

With several other developments in the pipeline, members of action group Keep Kingswood a Village are preparing for another battle.

Patricia Broadfoot, the chairman of KKAV, which formed several years ago to prevent unsustainable development, led a meeting in Kingswood Village Hall to discuss a strategy for fighting the latest plans.

“This is a David and Goliath battle – but we know that in the end David won,” said Professor Broadfoot at the meeting. 

“But it’s also a bit like the Battle of Britain – and we haven’t yet seen off Crest Nicholson and Gladman [other developers] on the eastern front. 

“Everybody in this room needs to write a letter of objection. If we don’t get the same number of objection letters as we have with previous developments, we are leaving Stroud to fight with their hands behind their back.

“We can really strengthen the local authority and make sure they turn it down."

KKAV discussed key concerns over the Persimmon Homes plans and says the area earmarked for development is not included in the district council's Local
Plan, as well as the potential to create road traffic accidents due to its awkward location.  

The majority of fears, however, relate to an inadequacy of space in the village to accommodate a much larger population, with many pointing out that Kingswood Primary School is full and roads are blocked at peak times. 

Adrian Dann, of Hillesley Road, said: “The primary school is full, the roads get blocked at peak times and the walk to Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School is dangerous. 

“Everyone is using computer models to calculate road capacity and risks, but they do not reflect how Kingswood operates.” 

Ian Richardson, of Orchard Walk, added: “I feel that the whole character of Kingswood village is being destroyed by the relentless expansion of housing. Enough is enough.”

The biggest fear, however, is not simply that the application may go through – but rather that it is only the initial phase of a much larger project. 

Member of the group David Rockey said: “Having looked at the plan we believe this may be one phase of an enormous number of houses. 

“They own the adjacent land already and we know what they’ve done that kind of thing historically. It could be another 3/400 homes.

“We now need to focus on coming up with ideas we can bring to the council. An idea for an objection based on material planning considerations is worth gold dust.” 

Persimmon Homes declined to comment on the objections when contacted by the Gazette.

The district council is not holding a development control committee this month due to the local elections, but it is likely the Persimmon plans will go before the committee in the next few months.