A WOTTON councillor is outranged at the decision to allow housing on the Wotton Motor Centre site in Gloucester Street.

Instead of housing, with its burden of extra cars in the town, Cllr John Gowers says the site should be used as a public car park.

The district and town councillor disputes the planning officers' statement about one car parking space per new home being in accordance with planning regulations.

Cllr Gowers said: "These so-called regulations are guide lines only and may be applied to towns as diverse as Stroud or Stockport!

"However, this is Wotton-under-Edge, which differs entirely from the general pattern of towns, situated as it is on the edge of an escarpment.

"Council officers are at pains to point out that refusal of the proposed development would result in an appeal by the developers, involving the council in high costs if it lost.

"What a negative approach! It is time for council officers to stand up for something they know to be right.

To lose any appeal would mean the abandonment of Wotton, a disaster from which the town would find it difficult to recover."

Cllr Gowers claims the new development will tower above Bradley Street, where residents have already suffered with additional cars parked on their doorsteps and an 'ill-conceived footpath' dangerous for disabled people.

He added: "Many of Wotton's problems are created because each development is considered in isolation. Developments are not islands and should be seen in relation to their impact on the area as a whole.

"Until or unless we have officers from county and district who are willing and able to apply their minds to the situation in Wotton, we will blunder on to one disaster after another.

"If the citizens of Wotton can assess a situation and arrive at a solution, why is it so difficult for councils to do so?"

A spokeswoman from Stroud District Council planning department said: "Once a decision has been made not to refuse planning permission, there is no third party right of appeal.

"Of course, there are a range of conditions attached to the development of this site.

Identifying approved materials for the buildings and contaminated land surveys have to be carried out prior to work starting."