PLANS for a housing development and large public car park in Wotton-under-Edge received a mixed response at a public consultation.
Colburn Homes showcased their plans for 10-homes and a 96-space car park behind the fire station in Wotton at the town’s civic centre last Friday.
Managing director at Colburn Martin Evans said he felt the event was mostly positive – estimating a 60-40 split between supporters and objectors who on the day.
“It went well and was reasonably positive. We’re currently analysing the questionnaires we handed out on the day and I would say there are more for than against,” Mr Evans told the Gazette.
“All the issues raised by people were things we were already aware of, such as the design of the homes and the impact the development could have on highways.”
Mr Evans added that Colburn would now seek consultation reports from involved agencies like highways to move towards submission of a planning application to Stroud District Council.
Tracey Jotcham, of Wotton, was just one of the 70 people that went to look over the plans at the civic centre. She, as with the majority of others on the day, preferred the traditional design over the contemporary.
She said: “Looking at the traditional design, I could live with that, but the picture only shows the front so I have no idea what it looks like from the back.
“I am disappointed that there are no affordable homes on the site for young people. They’re all three or four bedroom and will cost around £350,000.”
One Wotton woman, who did not wish to be named, warned of the traffic issues the development had the potential to create on well-used Symn Lane and nearby roads.
“I believe any more traffic on Symn Lane will bring the roads of Wotton to a standstill,” she said.
“We already have witnessed standstill traffic on Symn Lane for 20 mins after the school run. We do not need any more traffic to make a sensitive road system even worse.
“Fundamentally, without serious consideration and concrete agreements in place with the developer that they will fund all necessary road safety works - any development should be denied regardless of the aesthetics of the buildings.”
Another resident, Catherine Braun, said: “It’s good to see that the plans are coming forward and it is an option to consider.
“I would have like to have seen some affordable housing. A lot of families do need affordable homes so it would have been nice to see that.”
Colburn said that they could not include affordable housing as it would render the public car park commercially non-viable.
To follow this story as it develops visit gazetteseries.co.uk.
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