THANK you for publishing last week the corrected version of the Cotswold District Council Local Plan Consultation arrangements. However this does raise the question of what the CDC has done about public responses to previous “consultations”, and what it will do about the current “consultation”. In the Wilts and Glos Standard of May 1 the CDC Leader Lyndon Stowe said “What is important is that CDC has a process in place that listens to our communities and builds a comprehensive Local Plan around these views. We need to take our time and get it right.” So when will CDC start listening to the Cirencester community ?

Responses to the CDC 2010-11 Core Strategy had been completely ignored when the 2013 Local Plan was published, and there is no evidence that the hundreds of responses to this have been considered. This has caused concern and anger for many people in Cirencester who feel that the ruling CDC Cabinet, which represents wards miles away, have not considered the best interests of our town. Cirencester occupies about two per cent of the area of CDC, has about 25 per cent of the population, but is expected to take 50 per cent of the new homes. For a year no CDC cabinet members have appeared at public meetings in Cirencester to justify their highly contentious Local Plan or answer the many questions from the public. Why not?

The recent JTP Chesterton Forum meeting was again well-attended, and the scale of opposition from all over Cirencester to the Local Plan appears to be increasing. A CDC Cabinet member should have been present to answer questions about the Local Plan. Many present spoke of their lack of trust of CDC over its lack of public involvement in the Local Plan.

JTP planners have done a professional job planning within the site boundary, but have not tackled the crucial issues of access to the Tetbury or Somerford Roads and how some 5,000 extra cars from the Chesterton Farm development might affect the current traffic congestion at peak times.

Also missing was any consideration of how these extra cars might reach town centre car parks.

Siddington residents expressed concern about the use of their village as a “rat run” by commuters to Swindon avoiding congestion on the ring road. If CDC or Gloucestershire Highways have any solutions to these very difficult traffic problems they have not been made public.

Concern was expressed also at the possible cycle routes to the town centre, along roads made more dangerous by potholes. Although JTP were keen on the use of public transport to reach the town centre the recent withdrawal of Stagecoach buses after 2.30pm was less than helpful.

JOHN NICHOLAS

Alexander Drive

Cirencester