NEIL Carmichael (Let’s grab a chance to reform councils) appears to live on a different planet ... if only!

The Labour-led coalition deserves praise for delivering a first class local plan for Stroud – the first authority in Gloucestershire to do so.

Far from dragging its heels over its preparation, it is the Conservative-led Government that set the lengthy timetable for evidence gathering, plan preparation, consultation and inquiry.

The same Conservative-led Government in fact that decreed developers could have carte blanche to do what they liked until a plan was finally adopted.

In terms of the snide remark about the council having offices in ‘the rather grand Ebley Mill’ I see this as a prime example of the council demonstrating leadership, rescuing a fine building and important part of our industrial heritage and using this as a catalyst to promote the successful regeneration of the Ebley canal corridor.

Steve Beioley

France Lynch