CAMPAIGNERS have been protesting against proposals for a new housing development near Slimbridge.

The Wisloe Action Group (WAG) slammed plans for the Wisloe Green garden village - which could see 1,500 houses built between Slimbridge and the M5.

The protest took place last Friday, and had been organised to coincide with a public consultation about the plans due to be held in the village, but which was postponed due to Storm Eunice.

Last Friday's protest:

The development is part of Stroud District Council's plan to meet a government target of 12,800 more homes by 2040.

The project is being led by landowners Gloucestershire County Council and locally-based national education charity the Ernest Cook Trust.

Wisloe Action Group was formed by Slimbridge Parish residents in 2019 to be the community’s voice, in response to Stroud District Council’s (SDC) local plan review.

"The plans for a 1500 plus house site proposed by The Ernest Cook Trust (ECT), a countryside and farming education charity and Gloucestershire County Council are overwhelmingly opposed by local people," a spokesman for the group said.

Andy Davis of the Wisloe Action Group discusses alleged issues with the site:

"High quality land is a very scarce resource in the Stroud District," he continued.

"The majority is contained on this site. In an attempt to dismiss this Natural England land grading, the landowners commissioned a soil quality survey which “downgraded” it.

"This “new evidence”, which was accepted as fact by SDC without check or challenge, would result in less protection for the land.

"A year of constant pressure from WAG to investigate this anomaly eventually forced SDC to request another report. Surprise, surprise the land was confirmed as high quality and therefore should be protected.

"However, ECT and GCC deliberately chose not to release this information until the end of SDC’s consultation last summer, thus avoiding any public scrutiny.

"Clear factual evidence has been submitted by WAG to the independent planning inspectors who will review the overall plan and potential sites (this is just one).

"The proposed SDC plan is far from being a “done deal”."

"There are many significant and insurmountable issues with the proposed site. The landowners, working hand in glove with SDC planning team, continuously ignore factual evidence and feedback from the community and professional consultants in an attempt to force this unsuitable site through the local plan process.

"There are more suitable and sustainable proposed sites available which could be included in the plan to deliver a sound, sustainable and robust local plan for the Stroud District."

Andy Davis and campaigners at the protest

Commenting on the claims, a Stroud District Council spokesperson said: “Agricultural land quality (ie soil condition) is one of the environmental and amenity matters we have to consider when considering where new development should be located, along with landscape quality, flood risk, ecology and wider factors, such as proximity to transport corridors and access to local services and facilities.

"The council has published all of the information available on the sites being considered for development and has included land quality in comprehensive environmental assessments.

“Despite the soil evidence, Natural England has not objected to the site being considered for development and has acknowledged that agricultural land quality is rarely the deciding factor.

"Natural England points out that there are various mitigation measures that can be used when land is proposed for development, including using the best land for open space uses and for growing food (eg allotments/community orchards).

"Taking all environmental, social and economic evidence into consideration, Wisloe out performs many alternative locations for development.

“The council has been preparing the new local plan since 2017 and has engaged extensively with communities as the plan has evolved.

"The plan is currently subject to an independent examination where the council’s evidence and the views of objectors are subject to public scrutiny."

A spokesperson for the Wisloe project said: “We had hoped to welcome local people to our consultation event at Slimbridge AFC, to discuss the proposals for a sustainable new community at Wisloe.

“Regrettably, we were not able to speak directly with those who chose to protest, because the risk posed to people’s safety by the severe weather meant we had to postpone the event.

“Our masterplan represents a positive vision for the future of this community, addressing local housing need whilst recognising the impact it will have locally and finding ways to enhance biodiversity.

“Our website sets out the project team’s position with regards to the site, which we believe is suitable for development of the type we propose.

"This matter is, quite rightly, for the planning inspector to determine at a public examination into Stroud District Council’s local plan.

“Our consultation remains open online at wisloe.co.uk

We hope that as many local people as possible will share their feedback and look forward to welcoming them to our rescheduled event in Slimbridge on 18 March.

"It is important to us that everyone has an opportunity to help shape the plans.”

Photos and videos by Simon Pizzey