MADAM – The application to build a new town to the West of Stonehouse’s main industrial estate will not produce the affordable homes or sustainable development its proponents claim.

It is cut off from the town by the railway, and too far for residents to walk to facilities in the town centre.

Instead many will drive to superstores and bigger centres elsewhere.

Also most new residents will have drive to reach jobs.

West of Stonehouse would be a car-dependent, carbon-intensive development.

Some argue against new development per se but we will need new neighbourhoods, and they must be planned in an integrated way.

A far better long term solution than the current proposal is to build a garden suburb to the north of Stonehouse around the new station proposed in Stroud’s jobs and growth plan.

This location would allow people to walk and cycle to existing schools and shops, and promote a healthier community.

The station would give access in all directions, making it much easier for businesses and residents to travel without congesting the roads.

Much of the land is owned by the county council, and this gives the possibility of opening up sites for a range of ‘self builders’ and cohousing groups, and stimulate much better design than in the housing estates that threaten to obscure our green valleys.

It would also be large enough to cut energy bills through combined heat and power, as well as solar panels.

It could be an exemplary sustainable neighbourhood.

So let’s see a proper debate on the future shape of towns in the interests of people, not land owners and developers.’

Dr Nicholas Falk

Member of the Stroud Futures Group

Stroud