Under heavy rain, around 100 villagers gathered outside the Forest of Dean District Council offices to voice their strong opposition to a highly controversial plan to build 5,500 homes in two new towns in Gloucestershire. The meeting discussed a draft development blueprint proposing the construction of 12,631 homes across the region over the next 20 years.
The plan includes establishing a new town near the Ledbury junction of the M50 and another near Churcham along the A40. Residents, many transported by a hired coach from Redmarley, expressed concern over the proposed 3,500-home new town at Glynchbrook. Locals like Tom Burr emphasized support for new homes but criticized the lack of adequate infrastructure and public services. Burr highlighted impacts on Greenville Hospital, overloaded roads like the A417, and concerns about building on a floodplain. He advocated for smaller, localized development spread throughout the district.
Kaylie Dean voiced the potential for catastrophic flooding, noting recent rains have already overwhelmed local roads around the proposed sites. Similarly, about 40 residents from Churcham traveled to protest the plan for a new 2,000-home town near Gloucester.
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The council faces divided opinions. Some councillors questioned whether strong public backlash during consultation would influence project revisions, citing concerns over communities like Beachley. Others, including Councillor Gillian Kilmurray, argued that the current approach assumes infrastructure will follow new housing, which they claim rarely happens.
Opponents stressed doubts about representation and the practicality of the proposal. Reform UK Councillor Stuart Graham criticized the plan’s lack of provisions for employment, transport, health, and education, and the ease with which developers might circumvent affordable housing requirements.
Proponents, such as Councillor Jacob Sanders, stressed the importance of adopting a local plan to prevent unchecked development, highlighting the consultation process as an opportunity for public input. Council leader Adrian Birch urged councillors to see consultation not as silencing opposition, but as empowering democratic involvement to shape the district’s future responsibly.
The vote on proceeding with the consultation ended in an 18-18 tie, broken by Chairwoman Di Martin’s casting vote in favor. This decision sparked renewed protests of “shame on you” from attendees who applauded councillors opposing the plan.
The council will now move forward with public consultation on the draft local plan. Their strategy centers on creating two new towns, investing in housing, employment, and infrastructure in existing towns, and permitting modest village growth—all with the aim of meeting government housing targets while attempting to address community concerns.