IN THE next few weeks there will be more of the smoke and mirrors that has characterised the plans for more housing in the Cotswolds and the huge new estate at Chesterton.

Cotswold District Council has ploughed on with a sidelined Local Plan process despite the fact that the most recent government intervention has allowed the opportunity for Bathurst and their “masterplanners” JTP to short-cut to development at Chesterton for 2,350 new homes.

In JTP’s latest letter to residents, announcing their application, they claim that “the proposals will complement the town, protect its rich heritage and help deliver hundreds of new jobs and much-needed new homes for the area”.

The people of Cirencester believe this is hogwash.

Most of all, they hate being taken for fools. JTP claim that the consultation process has been “helping the contents of the application” when in fact residents are overwhelmingly against this development.

If it wasn’t so serious it would be amusing that this delusion of community engagement persists.

One can only assume that CDC, the planners and JTP are somehow able to maintain some detachment from the fallaciousness that the planning process requires them to embrace.

Most people in Cirencester appreciate the need for more housing and have accepted significant expansion over the last few years — but they know when something is plain wrong. They resent being viewed as self-serving and called “nimbys”.

Their objections are directed at the sheer numbers of this development, more onerous than nearly all towns in the UK of a similar size.

They are appalled at the wasted cost and effort that has to go into the pretence of community engagement and the disguising of something other than what it is.

They know that there has been little or no regard for the views and comment from the community. They know that the development’s size and location is flawed.

They know it is influenced by local party political and vested interests.

They know that it will result in an influx of people who would have been better off residing near their places of work or near where they have come from.

They know that this estate will be a dormitory suburb of Swindon, Cheltenham/Gloucester and other large employment centres. Is this the “legacy” that the Earl Bathurst hopes for?

PATRICK MOYLAN

Gloucester Street

Cirencester