EASTINGTON IS THE VIBRANT VILLAGE OF THE YEAR !
(July 15th 2010)
Eastington is the overall winner of the Vibrant Village of the Year competition.
The award was announced at a packed ceremony in Painswick where judges outlined how impressed they were with Eastington. In the citation they said " "Eastington deserves the accolade of vibrant village due to the pro-active attitude of the parish council, organisations and residents alike."
You can see a full report on the award on:
The Stroud News and Journal website and / or the Stroud Life website
REGIONAL HOUSING TARGETS SCRAPPED BY COALITION GOVERNMENT
(June 27th 2010)
The communities secretary has written to all councils telling them house building targets set by central government are to be scrapped.
Eric Pickles said councils would now be given the freedom to make their own decisions about planning and would not be “bossed around” by regional quangos.
In the Queen’s speech, the government announced its intention to introduce legislation to abolish regional strategies, which contain centrally imposed building targets.
Mr Pickles has told councils they can ignore targets in making decisions before the legislation is formally introduced.
Stroud has been looking to find 9200 homes to meet these targets ... and several "solutions" saw 2000 homes coming to Eastrington.
We await more details from Stroud DC on what it intends to do next.
VICTORIA INN SET TO CLOSE AND BECOME "FAMILY HOME"?
(June 26th 2010)
A planning application has been lodged with Stroud District Council for a change of use at the Victoria Inn.
The applicant wants to convert the pub into one house This will of course mean the loss of the pub to the village.
The applicant states the "the Vic" does not run at a profit and that the "pub of choice" in the village is the Kings Head.
You can see the plans (and support the application OR object to it) on the Stroud DC website
UNLIKELY ALLY TO HELP KEEP EASTINGTON RURAL ????
(March 28th 2010)
In a surprising development an alternative site for 2000 new homes in Stroud District has been proposed. The new idea is to put the homes near Sharpness, many of them on Brownfield sites. The development would also benefit from access to wind power from (proposed) nearby wind farms!
The developers reckon it ticks all the boxes with good road links and potential access to the rail network.
If Stroud District Council could be persuaded it would remove at a stroke the need for a huge development (of 2000 or 1000 homes) in Eastington or Cam.
So who is behind all this? Step forward Hunter Page Planning who were behind Stroud RFC's plans to develop Eastington Park as an 18 hours a day entertainment and sporting complex !! As you will recall KER fought HPP's plans for two years .. and of course won.
We will watch these plans with interest (and no we've not offered HPP honourary membership !!!!!)
FUTURE HOUSING IN AND AROUND EASTINGTON
(March 2010 UPDATE)
Stroud District Council is starting to look at where future housing will be allowed. This is part of the Stroud District Council (SDC) new “Core Strategy.” It is a major planning policy document, which will eventually replace the district-wide Local Plan. Consultation ends on March 22nd 2010.
Eastington could be allocated up to 2000 additional homes. These would be placed either between Nupend and Stonehouse or elsewhere in the village
SDC has seven options - and Eastington features in every one. You can see the guide to the plans by DOWNLOADING THE MINI GUIDE produced by SDC.
The first part of public consultation is now CLOSED. But there will be further consultations as the choice is narrowed down and the final proposal put to a public Inquiry. We'll keep you ijnformed when these are.
LOCATIONS FOR HOUSING IN EASTINGTON PARISH.
The Core Strategy is looking at areas where housing will go - its not allocating precise locations (although it must be said "West of Stonehouse" is quite specific!!)
So where else could housing go? Well SDC has drawn up a map that shows where developers and landowners are interested in putting houses. Essentially, if ever given planning permission, houses could be built in any of the red bordered areas below. Clearly "30" could fit 2000 homes onto it whereas "43" couldn't. But if one of the smaller options for the Core Strategy was adopted then "43" could fit fifty homes on it thus leaving "30" untouched.