MEMBERS of Save Our Cirencester (SOC) are manning a stall in the Market Place today to raise awareness of the impact 2,350 extra homes in Chesterton could have on the town.

With just a matter of weeks to go before Cotswold District Council (CDC) makes its decision on the scheme, the local campaigners are going all out to gain more support.

“We are getting down to the wire with all this stuff, and your interest in it will make a difference,” said Eileen Grout, member of SOC.

“We are for just trying to reduce the damage of what is happening, that is what everybody wants, not elimination of it. We won’t get that, but just to reduce the amount of homes to be built.

“The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about, it will destroy the whole structure of the town. It will overload the existing infrastructure,” she said.

Eileen has lived in Chesterton for 40 years and said she and other long-term residents have always been aware that development would happen on Chesterton Farm at some point.

“It’s a bonus that we haven’t had them up to now. But that’s not the argument, the argument is the consequence of the number. It’s a numbers game. Way too many.”

A special meeting of CDC members will be held at the Baptist Church on September 26 to vote on the outline planning application, submitted by Bathurst Development Ltd.

The Park Community Group has also arranged a separate public meeting on September 5, from 7-9pm, at the Corn Hall.

It is hoped the Corn Hall meeting will include a panel of representatives from all the different councils, as well as SOC and BDL.

The stall will be running today until 3pm.