Cirencester to be 'suburb' of Swindon (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester to be 'suburb' of Swindon

CIRENCESTER is set to become a suburb of Swindon - despite being one of the most self-sufficient towns in the South West.

That is the fear of a local Gloucestershire county councillor, who this week claimed the Tory-led council has left the future of our market town to the mercy of bureaucrats in Wiltshire.

Liberal Democrat Roger Brown made the comments after a GCC meeting in Shire Hall on the Cheltenham and Gloucester Joint Study Area (JSA).

However, Tory leaders countered the claims by accusing the Lib Dems of hypocrisy and political spin.

The South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) has charged GCC with compiling a report on potential housing sites in urban areas.

But the Lib Dems claim Cirencester is being passed over and left in the hands of Swindon planners.

They claim the only reference to our town points to the Swindon JSA (Wiltshire's sister document), with plans for strategic housing in Cirencester.

But currently only 8.5 percent of Cirencester residents work in Swindon, leaving a question mark over why it should control our Cotswold town's future.

Cllr Brown said: "Our historic town is set to be treated as a dormitory town for Swindon and the Tories cannot be bothered to fight for us.

"We are a historic part of Gloucestershire and deserve to be treated as such.

"I am bitterly disappointed at the response of the Tory cabinet - Cirencester is increasingly being ignored by the administration."

Lib Dem Cllr Deryck Nash added: "We will have to fight very hard to ensure our town does not suffer from planning policies dreamt up in Swindon."

However, the Tories deny they have left Cirencester out to dry, claiming it is in fact the Lib Dems who have misplaced loyalties.

Since taking over GCC they have also pushed for the JSA, initially limited to Cheltenham and Gloucester, to include the whole county.

Cllr Charles Gillams, Tory cabinet member for planning, said: "As usual the Lib Dems are talking utter rubbish - their claims are a total lie.

"Elsewhere in the county Lib Dems are claiming we're spending all the council's money in the Cotswolds and in Cirencester and criticising us for it."

However, the Tories' inclusion of Cirencester in its JSA, against the advice of the SWRA, also raises questions about the future of our town.

GCC planning officer Terry Smith said: "GCC is seeking to reduce the strong focus on the county's principal urban areas so that Cirencester is able to meet the future needs of its people."

New housing might bring new jobs to the area, but the destruction of green belt land is always controversial.

In the opinion of Cirencester's Chamber of Commerce president, if houses must be built, brown field sites are preferable.

Jonathan Davies, who owns Lock, Stock and Barrel in Market Place, said: "There needs to be a sympathetic look at the building needs of Cirencester.

"From a business point of view Cirencester has its own identification, which is essential for its future development. We are no Swindon or Cheltenham.

"We should de-politicise the process and ask what the people want and need. We must cater for the business, housing and recreational needs of local people."