An urban future? (From Stroud News and Journal)

An urban future?

SEVERAL Five Valleys communities will learn whether they have been stripped of their rural status this week.

Stroud district councillors are due to make a decision about the controversial local plan on Thursday.

A massive 1,500 objections to the scheme were lodged before the July 25 deadline, with about one third of these concerning last minute changes which placed Nailsworth, Stonehouse, Thrupp, Brimscombe and Woodchester in the Stroud urban area.

Campaigners who want to preserve their rural identity are urged to attend the meeting at Ebley Mill at 7pm, when a final decision is due on whether or not to adopt the planning blueprint in its current form.

Committee papers for the meeting blame the SNJ for generating an 'emotive' response which prompted so many objections - a claim which has infuriated some councillors.

Cllr Martin Whiteside (Green, Thrupp) said: "Instead of listening to peoples' concerns, council officers have chosen to label them as 'emotive' and criticise the SNJ for bringing this important issue to peoples' attention.

"This is insulting to the many people who have raised their voices. "Thank goodness the SNJ raised this issue.

"At the council meeting I will be congratulating the SNJ on its excellent reporting and asking the council to respond to popular demand by throwing out this change, which strips many of our beautiful communities of their rural status."