Keeping Whaddon Green

Not blessed by the weather, today I was out delivering leaflets regarding the proposed housing development on green belt land at Whaddon (on the outskirts of Tuffley, Gloucester). Under the terms of the Proposed Changes to the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), prepared by the Government Office for the South West, 1500 new homes will be constructed for the Stroud District. However Developers Hallam Land Management have already followed up with a proposal that the site could accommodate 2500 dwellings.The Consultation Period ends on 17th October so it is important that we are active now and that the public, who wish to do so, voice their concerns so that the proposal is removed from the RSS before it becomes Government Policy later this year.Why the fuss you may ask? Surely we need more housing some would say?Well, it is an attractive green space for one. But perhaps more importantly for an area barely over the floods of 2007, rainwater running off the proposed area for development has already caused the Whaddon and Wyman brooks to overflow and flood homes in Tuffley and Grange. Flood waters will obviously be worse if the entire area is concreted under the development. Furthermore, there is simply inadequate local infrastructure to meet the increased traffic and the needs of new residents for public services. It also seems the the Government's policies are in a state of flux in this area and so it would be hasty to rush through through developments like the one envisaged at Whaddon.