A PETITION that is asking for a planning application to build a waste processing station in South Cerney to be withdrawn gathered more than 1000 signatures in a day.

Cotswold District Council (CDC) plans to build the site at Packer's Leaze, Broadway Lane, which would process up to 40,000 tonnes of waste a year, have been fiercely opposed by residents who believe it will be an eyesore and cause traffic and noise disturbance.

CDC also wishes to expand the site so it can house 33 refuse vehicles, 25 vans and 72 cars.

Earlier this month, prior to the district council elections, Lynden Stowe, the leader of the council vowed to withdraw the waste transfer application made to Gloucestershire County Council if he is re-elected.

And he maintained that further research would be done before a decision was made on submitting another application.

But the Save Our South Cerney group, which was set up to oppose the applications, believes that Lynden Stowe’s comments were a cheap election stunt designed to get votes and that the application will go ahead.

On May 25 at the South Cerney Street Fair and Duck Race event, the group informed people about the council plans and encouraged them to sign its petition, which they plan to submit to the district council.

Alan Dickinson of the Save South Cerney group, said: “It is electioneering by the Conservatives.

“The purpose of it (the petition) is understanding what it is all about and making people aware.

“What we want is the waste transfer station to be completely withdrawn.

“They didn’t want to withdraw it, they kicked it into the long grass and they are going to bring it back again. It is political chicanery of the worst kind.

“It is the principle of putting a waste transfer station in the middle of the of our village which is a leisure and holiday area.

“If you didn’t live in Gloucestershire you would think that we live in an area that used to be industrial but now has birds and fish, so it is an act of wanton vandalism by the council.

The application to increase the capacity of waste vehicles on the site is not being opposed by the district council.

Lynden Stowe is expected to formally withdraw the application for the waste transfer station at the council’s cabinet meeting on June 11.