One House is One Too Many Say Protestors (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

One House is One Too Many Say Protestors

CIRENCESTER Town Council has ruled out the possibility of a large housing development on the controversial Four Acres Field site.

But campaigners are adamant that even one property would be too many and have vowed to continue their fight.

Part of Four Acres has been earmarked for housing in the revised deposit of the Local Plan.

The move has provoked an angry response from locals, who believe the town council-owned site should be left as it is and they have formed an action group.

Following representations, the council's planning committee last week voted against a large development (of up to 30 houses) on the site.

But it has not ruled out the possibility of a "limited mixed development" bordering Chesterton Lane, with proceeds being used to improve the rest of the site, including the nearby Roman amphitheatre.

Town council planning committee chairman Shirley Alexander said: "It is not possible to be specific at this stage in the process, but we want to see a relatively small number of housing fronting Chesterton Lane.

"This will allow us to create better access through the Querns and down to the hospital as well as improving the informal recreational facilities in this part of the Chesterton area."

Cllr Ron Lock, who represents Park Ward, which includes Four Acres, added: "Developing the Chesterton Lane end of Four Acres will allow the town council to improve the whole of the area around the Bull Ring and make it an area the town can once more be proud of."

The news failed to cut ice with the campaigners, however, who say they don't want any development on the site.

They have written to both the town council and Cotswold District Council, which has drawn up the local plan.

Any development would force Cirencester United Football Club to relocate to the other side of town and the protesters fear other facilities will be lost.

One of the leading campaigners, Chris Salvage, of Cotswold Close, who walks his dog at Four Acres, said: "No houses at all is the view of the new committee.

"It doesn't matter if they only build four there, they'll still lose the pitch.

"Let's have the full issue out in the open. Where are they going to get the access? I'd also like to know exactly what they're going to do with the monument (amphitheatre) site."

Cotswold District Council says it expects Four Acres to be one of the areas under discussion at an inquiry into the local plan next year.