Local Conservatives are urging residents to have their say on the mega 104 space electric car charging service station planned for the Fosseway at Slaughter Pike near Lower Slaughter.

The planning application at the scrap and haulage yard Gilders seeks permission to convert the scrap yard into a huge 104 space electric car charging service station.

The application was originally rejected by Cotswold District Council (CDC) because it would result in an “over-provision of infrastructure at an unsuitable location” and on highways grounds because of the impact to traffic flows and usage on the Fosseway.

However, following an appeal by the applicant, and the provision of further details, the Highway Authority’s objections were addressed.

As a result of the action, councillors at CDC voted to remove their objection because of concerns about escalating legal costs, meaning the application may be successful, unless a significant number of residents write to the independent planning inspectorate and express their views.

Local CDC representative Cllr Richard Keeling (Conservative - Bourton Vale) said: “I absolutely want to encourage electric car charging spaces, but this is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"Charging technology has advanced considerably since this proposal was first made in 2018.

"What was to take several hours to produce a partial charge can now with rapid charging take 15 minutes to deliver 120-145 miles of range.

"It is the wrong development in the wrong place.

"There is a traditional service station on the other side of the road which would be a more suitable location for a number of rapid car charging points.”

Cllr Richard Morgan, leader of the opposition Conservative Group on CDC said: “When I first heard about this application, I was excited about the possibility that the Cotswolds could be leading the way in green car charging points.

"However, the devil is in the detail, and this is a huge development, in the wrong place using the wrong outdated slow charging technology.

"I am not sure how this inappropriate application is managing to sneak through so many layers of local government, but our only hope now is that a large number of local residents write to the planning inspectorate and express their views.”

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP also urged local residents to write to the planning inspectorate.

He added: “I am all in favour of more electric charging points as my recent Private Members’ Bill will testify to.

However, the size and scale of this station is unacceptable with around 104 charging points which will make it one of the largest of its type in the entire country.

"It will become a massive blot on the landscape for evermore which is a shame in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"This will inevitably encourage more traffic onto this part of the Fosseway.

"There are pinch points at Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh which already cause significant congestion on this road and will be exacerbated by this application. "The Cotswold District Council had a credible planning case to oppose this development as it is contrary to policy in the Local Development Plan but it has declined to do so.

"I would urge concerned local residents to write a letter to the planning inspector.”

If you would like to write to the planning inspectorate and express your views, send your letter to Mrs Alison Bell, The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN.

On your letter reference: APP/F1610/W/20/3248674.

Cotswold District Council have been contacted for a comment.