CAM residents were protesting in July 2007 against proposed plans to knock down a local shop to build a three-storey block of flats.

The owner of the Summerhayes Stores in The Crescent was seeking planning permission to build a block of 12 flats in the hope of selling it to a developer.

But local people were concerned that the building would not be in keeping with other properties on the street and that extra traffic would be dangerous.

More than 20 residents turned up to a site visit of Stroud District Council’s development control committee.

Resident Pam Cox said: “This sort of development is completely out of character with the surroundings.

“We are not opposed to re-development but we would rather see a smaller building or another shop.”

However shop owner Shetal Shah said that trade had been lost after very few residents used the shop since Tesco was built nearby.

“We did try to sell it as a shop but nobody wanted to buy it,” said Mrs Shah.

“What the residents do not realise is that with a shop there will be more problems with access.

“If there were 12 flats there would probably be only 12 cars, but with a shop would be delivery lorries.”