Calls rejecting plans for a new town near the M50 motorway have been criticised as “nimbyism,” amid suggestions that thousands of new homes should be built near existing towns already grappling with significant traffic congestion.
Last week, hundreds signed an open letter urging the Forest of Dean District Council to remove controversial plans for 3,500 homes near Redmarley from its forthcoming local plan. This blueprint will guide housing development in the district over the next 20 years and aims to accommodate more than 13,000 new homes as mandated by the Government.
Earlier drafts, withdrawn in June, proposed a new town at Glynchbrook off the A417, close to the Ledbury junction of the M50, as well as a separate settlement of 2,000 homes on the A40 at Churcham near Gloucester.
READ MORE: Beloved Tewkesbury town crier Michael Kean-Price remembered with deep affection
READ MORE: 35p Soap Trick Could Silence Your Squeaky Bed
Residents near Redmarley argue that the Glynchbrook site is “unsustainable,” proposing instead the expansion of Lydney and Tutshill. The campaign group United Against Glynchbrook suggests 3,200 to 4,600 homes could be developed around Lydney’s existing railway station, schools, and high street.
However, local officials in the southern Forest of Dean caution against this, highlighting that Lydney lacks its own hospital, requires more facilities, and already suffers “terrible” traffic on the A48 road. The withdrawn draft plan had already earmarked land for around 3,000 homes between Lydney and Chepstow, and councillors fear that relocating thousands more homes to this area would exacerbate existing issues.
Cllr Alan Preest, representing Lydney East, described suggestions to build additional homes in Lydney or near Chepstow as naive. He pointed out that the Glynchbrook area benefits from proximity to the motorway, infrastructure not available in the south of the Forest. While sympathising with Glynchbrook residents and recognising the pressure of housing targets, Cllr Preest criticised the lack of consultation with southern councillors about potential housing allocations.
He also expressed concerns about the existing strain on infrastructure in Lydney, citing losses such as the closure of the community hospital, closing shops, school capacity issues, and congested roads. “Kids are being shipped out,” he said, highlighting the problem of rapid urban expansion without adequate community facilities. He noted that Lydney has increasingly become a commuter town now approaching saturation.
Tidenham Cllr Nick Evans, covering areas including Sedbury and Tutshill, also emphasised the urgent need for infrastructure improvements, including a Chepstow bypass, to alleviate current traffic problems. He warned that without significant investment, the district risks irreversible damage as it struggles to cope with existing and proposed development pressures.
“Local people know we simply don’t have the infrastructure or services to support the massive developments the Government is trying to impose,” he said. “My area desperately needs a Forest Gateway Road to support any new housing developments at Beachley.”
The debate reflects wider tensions between meeting housing demands and ensuring sustainable development with appropriate infrastructure support across the Forest of Dean district.