Council warned of 'disaster' over planning core strategy

“Respondents are saying the wrong questions are being asked,” said Cllr Kettle. “An understanding of the local traffic situation is critical.”

He said that roads in the area would not be able to cope with 3,000 new homes. “The council is walking into a disaster,” he said. “It needs to address the concerns expressed in the consultation.

“The consultation has not produced a balanced report. It seems to have looked at problems in the selected areas differently to those in the unselected areas.” This was a reference to the areas selected for major development such as GLH and Long Marston Airfield, where 3,500 homes are planned.

During this afternoon’s council meeting objectors to plans for 450 homes at Bishopton on the northern edge of Stratford-upon-Avon spoke forcefully against the proposals.

Shortly afterwards an opposition Liberal Democrat amendment seeking to delete the Bishopton plans from the strategy was heavily defeated.

Several councillors – including the leader of the council, Cllr Chris Saint (Shipston North) – warned of the danger of any further delays in the processing of the strategy and it was carried unanimously.

Meanwhile it emerged that the council is not now expecting final adoption of its new Local Plan – covering the period from 2011 to 2031 – until June 2016.

For a full report see Thursday’s Herald.