MP meets with councillors and campaigners over local plan concerns

Stroud District Council’s plan, which is designed to manage development in the district for the future, has been repeatedly criticised by Ms Baillie. 

She met with councillors from SDC and Cam Parish Council (CPC) as well as members from Cam Community Action Group (CCAG).

Ms Baillie said: “It was important to get local community leaders together to talk through the issues.

“They wanted to discuss what may happen if a six-month pause is granted or if it is not. 

“I am really worried about the lack of information coming from SDC for local people. 

“Many worked so hard to raise concerns about the council’s approach to planning. 

“Of course, many families also need homes, together with infrastructure being in place. 

"A good local plan can achieve that and I would like to see improvements, but groups like the CCAG do not feel they are being listened to. 

“Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money cannot be found at the last minute to sort out infrastructure problems for the local plan without properly making the case. 

“I urge the council to work with me, parish councils, groups like CCAG and the county council to get this right.”

Steve Willets from CCAG said: "We need more houses but the proposed local plan fails to deliver the right number to the benefit of local people, in keeping with our community landscapes, environment and employment possibilities. 

“If Stroud District Council was to engage with and be prepared to listen to residents and our parish councils, something which they have singularly failed to do over the last four years, the right plan fully supported is much more likely."

The meeting included (L to R) -  SDC Cllr Haydn Jones, Cam Parish Council Chair Cllr Jon Fulcher (obscured), SDC Cllr Brian Tipper, Steve Willets CCAG, Siobhan Baillie MP and Paul Coupe CCAG (Image: Siobhan Baillie MP)

Stroud District Council statement 

A SDC spokesperson said: “The inspectors set out three main areas of concern with the draft Local Plan. 

“Two of the issues are very specific to the proposed new settlements at Sharpness and Wisloe. 

“The third issue concerns the Strategic Road Network and specifically Junctions 12 and 14 of the M5. 

“At this stage the Inspectorate has not declared the draft plan unsound and the council is not proposing to withdraw it. 

“SDC has worked closely with partners to resolve these issues but as recognised by the inspectors, this is not a matter SDC can resolve on its own, and more work is required. 

“The council has set out a programme with the relevant stakeholders in order to address the inspectors’ concerns. 

“The inspectors are currently considering the council’s action plan and proposal for a six month pause. 

“The inspector’s letter does not raise issues of soundness with any allocation located in Cam. 

“The inspectors are clear in their letter about the remainder of the draft plan, saying: ‘whilst we have a number of other soundness concerns with the plan, we are confident that it is likely that these could be addressed by main modifications’.”