I WRITE to comment on the letter by K Roberts, published on March 19, 2015, who has assumed, incorrectly, that I did nothing to oppose the Mankley Field planning application.

Firstly, Mr Roberts is obviously not aware that Stroud District Council planning officers had recommended that this planning application be granted permission when considered at the development control committee – this information is available on SDC’s website.

Prior to the planning officers’ recommendation, I had submitted my own objection to the planning application.

Following the planning officers’ decision to grant permission, I subsequently wrote to Eric Pickles and made crystal clear my concerns and requested his support in stopping the planning application from being accepted.

The application was then refused by the councillors at the DCC meeting.

When the developer took the planning application to appeal and the planning inspector overturned the decision of the DCC, I wrote again to Mr Pickles stating my disappointment of the inspector’s decision, and my hope that SDC’s request for judicial review would be given proper consideration.

I have made repeated efforts to oppose similar planning applications across Stroud Valleys and Vale, and my letters can be viewed on my website.

Neil Carmichael

Conservative parliamentary candidate for Stroud