DON’T Strangle Stroud is urging Stonehouse residents to voice their opinion on planned amendments to Stroud District Council’s Local Plan.

Under the new plans submitted in December last year, Stonehouse could potentially see 3550 homes built around the town by 2031.

Stonehouse Town Council is consulting residents about the plans, which would see an increase in housing numbers from 9500 to 11,200.

Opposition group Don’t Strangle Stroud reacted angrily to the plans, insisting the site in Eastington, west of Stonehouse, is unsustainable and unnecessary.

Under the plans from developer Robert Hitchins, 3,550 houses would be built, with 1,350 coming initially.

The estate on the green fields site west of Stonehouse would include a primary school, sports pitches and open public spaces.

But DSS said the development, described as The Stonehouse-M5 Growth Focus, would create further traffic congestion, and create a “vast soulless estate” cut off from the rest of Stroud.

They argue that sites for 10,000 new houses in the plan by 2031 have already been identified and agreed, and that another estate the size of Stonehouse is unnecessary.

Don’t Strangle Stroud is urging residents to have their say on the project by submitting a consultation from on the proposed changes by 5pm on Wednesday, March 25.

To have your say on the plans, fill out a consultation form at http://consultation.stroud.gov.uk/

For more information visit http://www.new-town.info/New-Town.info/Home.html