Conservative councillors criticise Forest of Dean housing plan
The plans will see more than 7,400 homes built.
Last updated 26th Jul 2022
Plans to build more than 7,400 homes in the Forest of Dean have been blasted as “complete madness” by opposition councillors.
Forest of Dean District Council leaders have backed their preferred option for where they want developers to build thousands of new homes over the next 20 years with Lydney, Newent and Beachley getting the lion’s share of the new housing.
The council’s local plan strategy, which also suggests villages across the district will get an extra 1,461 homes, is due to go out for consultation after it was approved on July 21.
But Conservative councillors have heavily criticised the plans barely a week after they voted for the revised draft strategy for the Forest of Dean District local plan to go out for consultation.
Their main concerns centre around the proposed growth for Lydney and Beachley which they fear could lead to grid-lock on the A48.
Tory group leader Harry Ives (C, Lydney North) said: “After the cabinet’s failed plan to create a new village near Churcham, they are now hoping to build 2,460 houses in Lydney.
“Increasing the town’s population by 5,000 and without any clear plan for infrastructure.
“These plans will put immense pressure on local healthcare, education, employment and leisure facilities. It’s complete madness and residents deserve better.
“Our district needs a clear, credible plan for infrastructure with proportionate development across all of our towns and villages”.
The revised strategy would also introduce 600 houses to the Beachley area, once the Ministry of Defence site has been vacated, alongside additional developments in Sedbury and Tutshill.
Local ward Councillor Nick Evans (C, Tidenham) is extremely concerned about the impact this will have on local roads.
He said: “With Labour-run administrations in Monmouth and Cardiff Bay saying that there will be no new roads in Wales, the prospect of the much-needed Chepstow bypass is rapidly disappearing.
“Without this vital piece of infrastructure, 600 plus new houses in my area will result in gridlock and hold back the economic prospects for the whole of the south Forest.
“Local residents have already voiced their concerns to me, and I’m urging as many people as possible to respond to this consultation to make the strength of feeling on this plan very clear.”
Lydney Councillor Alan Preest (C, Lydney East) said infrastructure and engagement with the public have got to be the defining factors before any further large scale development is permitted.
He said: “The district council admits that ‘we haven’t been as proactive as perhaps we could be in the distribution of Section 106 monies (developer contributions) that we hold’. This needs to change.
“Fundamentally, the moral compass in the authority, pertaining to localism, empowering communities, respecting and listening to local residents/existing communities, should be minutely examined and changed. Then, with a bit of common-sense, you may have a fit for purpose plan.”
Council leader Tim Gwilliam (The Progressive Independents, Berry Hill) told councillors last week that the council wants to examine the economic, social and environmental priorities and opportunities the new plan could bring.
“Our strategy will have to include all departments of this council and our parish and town councils will not just have to play a major role but must also be able to trust they will be listened to.”
He said Lydney has been let down by previous local plans and he sees this latest one as an opportunity to build on the town’s position and turn it into a “gateway to the Forest”.
Responding to the Conservative group’s concerns, he said: “I have great faith in both Lydney and the Forest of Dean in attracting business investment to deliver what’s needed to make the plan work. If we can’t, we will have to look again in the same way that the previous consultation told us to look at an alternative strategy.
“Some of the Conservative members have contacted me offering support and indeed one was on my cross-party support group and didn’t make any objections known to me and in fact seemed very supportive for which I am thankful, so I am not sure who has written the Conservative press release.
“However, am I surprised that a group leader who spoke against us putting a levelling up fund bid in, spoke against out levelling up bid, spoke against numerous investments aimed at improving councils finances, spoke against us buying Five Acres for one pound, spoke against our budget, spoke against us setting up business start-up grants and spoke against us putting further money into the climate emergency response and the biosphere reserve, has now spoken against the local plan strategy?
“Not at all. I’m just surprised that not many months ago they were so keen to join the cabinet but it’s more than that. It’s so disappointing that rather than promote the district, the town of Lydney and just make the effort. The new Conservative leader would rather play score points and begin the campaign for next May’s election so early and worse still use such an important issue for the district as the local plan to play politics with.
“This type of negative, “can’t do”, tribal and disingenuous politics laced with the stench of personal ambition has let this district down for years, stopped us getting investment and worse still left us at the mercy of development companies with deep pockets for legal challenges. The rest of council, the cabinet and its officers in the meantime will be doing its best to deliver for both Lydney and the rest of the Forest of Dean.”