CONTROVERSIAL plans to run an electric cable through the centre of Stonehouse High Street have been put on hold.

Urbaser Balfour Beatty (UBB)had scheduled for Western Power Distribution (WPD) to run five miles of underground cabling from Ryeford to Haresfield to power Javelin Park incinerator.

These plans were met with widespread dismay from Stonehouse councillors and shop owners who believed more works to the high street would harm businesses.

After much campaigning and debate with Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), an alternative route has now been proposed and a survey will be held to assess the best option.

It is believed the new route will go down Laburnum Walk and cross over the edge of Laburnum playing field.

County councillor for Stonehouse, Lesley Williams, who has been at the forefront of the campaign against the cabling through the town centre, said: “I attended a meeting with representatives from GCC and Stonehouse town council last Thursday.

"We made it very clear that the residents and businesses of Stonehouse do not support any plans to tear up the high street.

“I will continue to make our case to WPD and the Conservatives at Shire Hall that this is unwarranted, illogical and could do lasting harm to our community.

“I encourage concerned residents and businesses to contact me so I can make sure their voices are heard in Shire Hall.”

A spokesman for GCC told the SNJ: “Whilst we have to allow utilities companies to carry out works by law, we are aware of the concerns of residents and businesses in Stonehouse. We are pushing for there to be as little impact on the High Street as possible.”

A WPD spokesman said: “Upon a recent request from the customer, we have provided an alternative route, which avoids Stonehouse town centre, for their consideration. We’re currently awaiting their decision and have yet to receive a formal request to take the alternative route.

“As the connections provider, we’ll carry out the electricity installation based on whatever the customer requests.”