PLANS for new housing feature in our newspapers every week and understandably so.

The numbers of dwellings can be huge and many of us can be affected.

Last week we heard about 12,800 dwellings in the Stroud district alone.

The usual places were named, Stroud Stonehouse, Dursley and Cam, posing the question how many more houses can these areas take?

In addition we heard about garden villages at Sharpness and Wisloe.

Such titles make me very wary.

What is not in doubt is the case that new housing is essential but what is in doubt is in the way it will be achieved.

The district council plan is not the correct way.

This is surely a task for the county.

Our wonderful county is very varied taking in The Forest Of Dean, Severn Vale and the Cotswolds.

It needs to be viewed as a whole and a county wide balance to be achieved.

It is a bugbear of mine that we have too many layers of government and in many cases the district council is the one that is irrelevant.

Then we have the types of houses that will be built.

The tough position of first time buyers makes them a top priority.

In many cases attractive three and four bedroomed houses are not the answer.

Town centre sites may be the answer.

Cllr Paul Denney said in debate: “Let us see what the public think and vote accordingly”

Good for you Paul.

I wish it happened in Cirencester.

We will see more headlines and hear of more plans.

Let us hope it all comes right!