RESIDENTS criticised proposals for 2000 homes at Cotswold Airport at a consultation yesterday.

Commercial Estates Group held the consultation at the at Kemble Tavern, in Kemble, where it displayed proposals for a mixed-use, sustainable settlement including 2,000 homes on the brownfield site of Kemble Airfield.

CEG hopes that Cotswold District Council (CDC) will include proposals for the homes in its emerging Local Plan document, which sets out future development in the area.

Details of traffic surveys, highway, public transport and walking and cycling improvements were presented at the consultation and residents were given the chance to air their views on the development to representatives of CEG.

But those that attended the consultation were concerned that not enough details on how the development would look were available.

They also said that the new development would cause traffic congestion in the local area.

Marion Gilliland from Ewen said she disagreed ideas CEG’s presented about creating a walking and cycling links along the A429 between Kemble and Cirencester.

She said: “If there is space for a cycle path why not turn it into a carriageway and have a cross country road for the cycle path.”

Alan McQuillan, from Kemble, said that he thought that roads on each side of the airport, the A429 and the A433 need to be widened to accommodate extra traffic.

Mr MQuillan said that he was not convinced the developers could create a sustainable development judging on what he could see on the boards at the consultation.

“It is typical estate group propaganda,” he said.

Philip Masters, from Ewen, said: “I am totally opposing it (proposals for the homes). I think it will have a high impact on the traffic.

“I think there will be a high volume of traffic on the road that connects Ewen and Kemble.

But some were not as critical about the proposals.

A Tetbury resident who did not want to be named said she though the development could be a good thing, because it would provide homes for young people in an area where there are a shortage of affordable homes for the younger generation.

Representatives from CEG responded to the criticisms by explaining that concerns about traffic would be examined and that the information boards at the consultation only summarised ideas for the development.

Development manager for CEG, Matthew Tunley ,said: “Following the exhibitions we will look very seriously at all of the comments particularly now relating to transport and come back in the Autumn (when the next consultations will be held) with more research, more figures to prove the traffic to and from the development can be accommodated in the area.

Michelle Sammons, a spokesman for CEG said that the company had carried out detailed research on its proposals but it was presented in a simplified way at the consultation so it could easily be interpreted.

She explained that representatives were available at the consultation to take questions from residents She said: “We tried to explain the key elements of what we are trying to do. People can then ask us for more information on what we are going to do.”

Two more consultations will take place on Saturday between 10am to 4pm at Kemble Primary School and 3-4 Brewery Court in Cirencester.

What do you think to CEG’S proposals? Email your views to bmc@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk