THE group opposing the contentious Chesterton development have put a call out for new members as the plans are officially submitted.

Cotswold District Council (CDC) has included proposals to build 2,350 homes on land owned by Lord Bathurst in its Local Plan document, which sets out future development in the district.

The outline application from Bathurst Development Ltd (BDL) was submitted last week and also includes proposals for the development of 9.1 hectares of employment land.

BDL said that if the plans go ahead, millions will be spent on improving infrastructure, amid growing protests that Cirencester will not be able to cope with thousands of new homes, from opponents of the scheme who have fiercely fought the plans since they were announced in 2014.

However, CDC believes that the Chesterton site is the only realistic option to accommodate the Cotswolds housing requirements and said the site is “sustainable and deliverable”.

A BDL spokesman said: “We will invest millions of pounds in the local road network, utilities infrastructure, schools and community facilities. This forms an integral part of our philosophy to create a lasting legacy for the town.”

Protest group Save Our Cirencester, which is opposing the development, responded to the news of the submission of the plans by issuing a rallying cry, calling for more people to voice their opposition to the plans.

Spokesman Patrick Moylan, said: “There is a mistaken impression that it is not worth opposing the development; that it will go ahead anyway.

This is most definitely not the case. Cases are emerging all over the country where wrong headed plans have been opposed and overturned. ”

The CDC Liberal Democrats have slammed the proposals and called for the council to find alternative sites to build new homes.

Leader Joe Harris said that the proposals will have a “severe and detrimental” effect on the sustainability of Cirencester and that rather than tackling the housing crisis, they will “line the pockets of Lord Bathurst.”

Others have called for BDL to ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place.

Mayor of Cirencester, Mark Harris, said: “We need to ensure the town gets all the infrastructure and enhancements it needs so the people of Cirencester get the maximum benefit from this development, regardless how big or small it winds up being.”

Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said his plea to the planners is to ensure that the town fully benefits from the development, if permitted, including improvements to the ring road.

To show support for Save Our Cirencester email saveourcirencester@outlook.com