Land 'greed' threat (From Stroud News and Journal)

Land 'greed' threat

ANXIOUS traders and politicians fear the soaring price of land alongside canals earmarked for regeneration could push local businesses off the waterfront.

And compulsory purchase orders may be considered if speculators hold out for extortionate prices.

The gridlock could jeopardise the future of companies such as Simpsons Boats, a thriving small firm which builds narrow boats.

The company currently leases a site at Brimscombe Port.

But when the lease runs out in March next year it may be forced to move out of the area.

Lead boat builder Haydn Wheeler is worried that canal-side sites will be developed almost exclusively into profitable up-market housing.

"There's an opportunity to expand the company as the canal opens up but if we are going to have to move away it will be dead water," he said.

"And without boats, all the basin's going to be is an artificial lake."

And manager Penny Hopkins said everyone will lose out if the company, which employs eight people and uses local suppliers, has to relocate.

District councillor Elizabeth Peters (Cons, Chalford) also fears local businesses will be priced out of the market.

"People are just hanging on to their property," she said. "Places that were up for sale have been taken off the market.

"I can't put people down for wanting to make money. But we need a mixture of industry, residential and commercial development."

Stroud MP David Drew said compulsory purchase orders may have to be imposed if the problem escalates.

"You have to be at an impasse situation and there would have to be justification for doing it," he said.

"But if somebody was actually blocking the canal we could take that action."

"We just have to hope people won't be greedy and will see the value in the land becoming part of the canal development."

But Andrew Stumpf, regeneration manager at British Waterways, which is overseeing the regeneration, said the situation is under control.

"With all the excitement about the canal and all the money to be made it's understandable that people should have high hopes for their land," he said.

"But local planning policies are still in place so landowners shouldn't be unrealistic."