Leave vicarage alone (From Stroud News and Journal)

Leave vicarage alone

A PROPOSAL to build 12 new houses and a replacement vicarage in Cainscross has left residents worried that they will no longer be able to enjoy outdoor events in the beautiful grounds of the current 1920s site.

Concerned residents in Cainscross and Cashes Green feel the outline planning application for work at the historical Cainscross vicarage in Cashes Green Road will bring an end to any future outdoor events.

For a number of years families have enjoyed entertainment such as firework displays and summer fetes but they now feel this could become a thing of the past.

Jill Brown, a member of both the Cainscross Parish Council and the parochial church council is unhappy about the application and is intending to organise a petition of objection with the support of local residents.

"It is prime land in the middle of a large residential area but we are going to object to the planners," she said.

The property which was passed to the church in the 1950s is currently the home of the vicar of Cainscross, the Rev David Sutch who moved quickly to quell his the worries of his parishoners this week.

Mr Sutch said he has written to the development control committee of Stroud District Council highlighting the dangers of the proposed entrance and exit road if Stroud District planners grant outline planning permission.

"The diocese has to look at all the assets to see how in time they might maximise their assets," said Mr Sutch.

"They have put in for planning permission but I hope it will be turned down on the access of safety grounds."

The imposing Cainscross vicarage was designed by Arts and Crafts Movement architect Thomas Falconer for the Luka family, who had an engineering and printing works in Madras India.

An inscription of a carved sailing ship over the front door of the vicarage represented the great trade route the Luka family built up during that time.