AT LAST, common sense prevails!

It was wonderful news to learn that the latest planning application for five luxury houses on Dursley’s Stinchcombe Hill escarpment has finally been refused by the Stroud District Council planners.

John Chaplin, the senior planning officer has advised the landowners’ agents, Mark Snooks Planning, that “With the previous applications and lack of pre-app. engagement with us, I am not looking for revisions or further negotiations at this late stage and I will look to determine the application as currently submitted”.

Many thanks to everyone in the local community for their contributions, objections and stalwart support for the campaign to Defend Dursley’s Green Escarpment; and to Dursley Town Council; Neil Carmichael MP; the Dursley Gazette, and the national environmental organisations for their open and continued support.

It has been a long battle since August 2013 and DDGE remain vigilant.

The proposed ‘Off Hardings Drive’ site is just one example of the many ‘green buffer zones’ that can be seen throughout the magnificent valleys of Dursley and Uley.

These are open-space backdrops that allow the ancient woodlands and the wildlife to breath and thrive, and if retained as farmland, will also protect the bordering treeline and public footpaths from the effects of invasive urban development.

Our open spaces, countryside vistas and ancient woodlands are precious and irreplaceable and one of the key quality-of-life reasons that more and more people choose to live and visit this unique area of the Cotswolds.

If you would like to help protect our countryside for the future, there is now an opportunity to sign a simple on-line petition for the proposed new Cotswolds National Park at: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/177496.

The National Parks organisation is more powerful and influential than the ANOB and it would help to secure the natural environmental qualities of the Cotswolds for future generations.

The National Parks website at: nationalparks.gov.uk describes the advantages and benefits of achieving status and I believe it will require your help to motivate and spread the word verbally; through emails and all possible social media networks.