HAVING read, in the Gazette, that there was no support from Stroud council for the proposed self-catering accommodation at the Lammastide Inn. I am very surprised.

Here at Brookend and New Brookend, the Lammastide is the hub of our local community.

The owners are extremely aware of the benefits of keeping our community running.

They open their doors on numerous occasions, such as the Macmillan coffee morning (which has helped to raise over £1000 over the last two years), rambling and cycle clubs use the Lammastide because of our area.

We also have a Christmas meal for all of the locals. On New Years Eve the Owners supply free food and entertainment.

In today’s climate we should be bending over backwards, to help keep our local pubs open, and save local jobs.

Also when reading Stroud council web pages, about the Berkeley Cluster, and with the redevelopment that’s proposed in Sharpness: Three hundred dwellings, and a leisure complex with a hotel, holiday lodges and a campsite.

Perhaps our local councillor Liz Ashton, can inform us as to where there is self-catering accommodation available now in Berkeley/Sharpness, as I don’t know of any.

And by saying that the accommodation at the Lammastide is not necessary. This surely is a contradiction. With the problem of cars parked on the corner, these cars belong to local residents, not patrons of the Lammastide.

We have friends come down here from Lancaster, at the moment they have to stay at hotels, but because of the price, they can’t stay for long. If there was self-catering at the Lammastide they could stay longer.

With Berkeley Castle now concentrating on weddings and Slimbridge Wetlands (which can attract up to 2600 visitors a day) there is a need for the self-catering at the Lammastide.

Stroud council must clearly agree with this, as they are proposing the development at Sharpness. Again it states on their web pages:

“Villages and hamlets may see small scale development in response to identified local needs, boosting their ability to remain sustainable and thriving communities.

"Across the area, small scale local businesses are encouraged, supported by farm diversification and including low-impact tourism related activities”.

Which is exactly what the owners of the Lammastide are trying to do.

Regarding the appearance. I’m sure this could discussed, and overcome.

I have never seen a big write up about a planning application being refused.