There are growing concerns that the 10,000 future residents of the new Elms Park development near Uckington will face increased risks of crime unless £1.5 million is secured to build a dedicated police station. Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Nelson, has voiced strong objections over the absence of agreed funding for policing linked directly to the planned 4,115-home community.
Following the approval of the outline plans by Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough Councils on May 29, Nelson raised alarms about the insufficient financial contributions toward local law enforcement. Attending both committee meetings, he criticized the official report for its flawed approach to the policing funding assessment.
Nelson emphasized that he supports the development itself, calling it one of the best he has encountered. However, he stressed the serious implications for policing resources given the scale of the project. “With 10,000 people set to live at Elms Park, proper police coverage is essential, just like what Cheltenham and Tewkesbury currently have,” he said.
He warned that without the £1.5 million sought through a section 106 agreement, not only would the new community’s security be compromised, but existing police coverage for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury would also be stretched thin.
To address this critical issue, Nelson is exploring legal avenues, including a potential judicial review or escalation to the Secretary of State to call in the decision. “This is not an issue I’m prepared to ignore. It’s fundamentally about law, order, and justice,” he declared.
Highlighting the significance of the decision, Nelson remarked, “As one Tewkesbury official noted, this is the most important decision ever made by the planning committee. The residents deserve protection equivalent to that currently enjoyed in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.”
Responding, council leaders from both boroughs issued a joint statement affirming that the police’s concerns were acknowledged and carefully considered during the planning process. They maintained that the request from Gloucestershire Constabulary did not meet the statutory standards necessary to be deemed acceptable within planning conditions.