A POLITICAL row has erupted after councils in Stroud and Cheltenham tried to scupper Gloucestershire’s bid to create investment zones across the county.

Gloucestershire County Council had submitted bids to the Government to create two investment zones with the aim of driving growth and unlocking housing by lowering taxes and liberalising planning regulations.

One of these would be a central Gloucestershire city region investment zone which included the Golden Valley Development, Elms Park, Tewkesbury Garden Town and Gloucestershire Airport and is hoped would create almost 20,000 new homes and 870 acres of employment land.

The second zone would be the Berkeley Alternative Energy Park, a 65-hectare site around the former nuclear power station.

But the bid is being opposed by Stroud District Council and Cheltenham Borough Council who say they the creation of such zones would ignore the views of residents and ride roughshod over environmental protections.

Stroud District Council leader Catherine Braun (G, Wotton) said: “We have a vision for a fairer, greener Stroud district. This involves standing up for our communities and for nature.

“We welcome high-quality development, in line with our net zero commitments, which meets the needs of our residents and businesses.

"However, we said ‘no’ to the investment zone proposal, as it would mean loss of local control over the planning process, with developers being able to ride roughshod over important environmental protections and the views of our local communities."

Cheltenham Borough Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) said the lack of details within the government guidance on investment zones left them with “insurmountable risks”.

GCC leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley) said it was shameful that the Green-led SDC and the Liberal Democrats controlling Cheltenham decided to let the opportunity pass by.

“This decision could see innovative businesses, businesses that will deliver high value, sustainable jobs, especially for our younger residents, choosing to set up elsewhere – threatening the regeneration at Berkeley as well as threatening the viability of the Cheltenham Cyber park," he said.

"The Liberal Democrats accused us of not being ambitious enough: this decision shows clearly that it is the Liberal Democrats who are lacking in ambition, lacking in direction and lacking in leadership. Cheltenham deserves better and so does Stroud."