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The Calor Gas competition organisers were told that Fairford was a vibrant, sparkling, alive community. GCC was told - allegedly by the same person - that Fairford would die without the 140 second homes the Town Council wants to inflict on us. Affordable or social housing is of no concern to people who only have their own interests at heart.

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Cotswold villagers told to welcome affordable housing projects

9:00am Saturday 17th October 2009

Photograph of the Author By Emma Tilley »

COTSWOLD villagers are being urged to welcome affordable housing projects to save the "lifeblood" of rural areas.

In a motion to Cotswold District Council’s cabinet last week, Lib Dem councillor Margaret Edney warned of the danger facing village life if residents continued to turn their backs on affordable developments.

"There can be a lack of understanding that in the longer term, refusal of such applications acts against the future well-being of a community."

Cllr Margaret Edney

She told the cabinet: "Recent research published in May suggests over 100,000 young adults will leave the English countryside over the next three years, prompting fears that traditional village life is in decline."

Key worker services, pubs, shops, post offices and small rural businesses would all be affected if more homes were not built for younger people, she added.

The NIMBY attitude of Cotswold villagers and residents in small towns was also raised and Cllr Edney urged CDC to tackle the problem by holding awareness-raising sessions with parish councils.

"When planning applications are made there is often local resistance," she said.

"There can be a lack of understanding that in the longer term, refusal of such applications acts against the future well-being of a community."

Cllr Stephen Hirst (Tetbury, Ind), who seconded the motion, said: "We have to assure ourselves that parish councils get on side to deliver the maximum number of affordable houses. Not only to protect the sustainability of the Cotswolds but also the sustainability of rural life."

CDC’s community health and housing tea has completed 73 affordable housing units in the last year and is currently negotiating more sites across the district.

Cllr John Burgess (Beeches, Cirencester, Cons) said there was a real concern about the erosion of local services.

He said: "Even Cirencester is classed a rural community so it affects the whole Cotswold district."

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