Quotes from Colin Ball (Appeal Inspector)

On the Conservation area he said the proposal would “significantly damage the essential quality of a distinctive feature of the conservation area and the special interest of the listed house in its setting”.

On the impact on Eastington Park House he said "the proposal would seriously undermine the essentially rural quality of this important open space and the contribution it makes to the distinctive character and appearance of the Stroud Industrial Heritage Conservation Area and to the character and setting of Eastington Park house"

On the rural nature of Eastington Park he ruled that it had a “distinctly rural character” and although close to the industrial development on the edge of Stonehouse, its status was NOT clear cut “urban fringe”. He further pointed out that putting road access across the "Leaze park" would be to the ” considerable detriment of the rural character of the meadow ". ( Note that the “Leaze Park” as detailed on the 1839 Tithe map has the same boundary as the SRFC proposal).

On the methodology used to identify Eastington Park as a suitable site he said "I therefore consider there to be significant failings in the site search process which in my view undermine its conclusions”. You can find similar comments in the Officer’s report that went before the SDC Development Control Committee in August 2007 .

On the sustainability of the site he said he was "not convinced" that SRFC members would walk, cycle or catch a bus to Eastington. He believed that nearly all would arrive by car and that parking on site was inadequate. He said that he "shared the concern of local residents that on busy match days restricted on-site parking could result in extensive off-site parking on the residential roads to the east and west of the site" (Church end, Spring Hill and Newtown!).

He further concluded that "I therefore find on this issue that there is no clear evidence to show that the site is in the best location available or that it would have a good level of accessibility by a realistically wide choice of transport modes”

On the design of the Clubhouse and road access he said that the  "road crossing the middle of the site, seen in conjunction with the clubhouse, would have a profoundly urbanising effect on the meadow" (Note that in the original plan a very modern looking indoor arena was located in the middle of the meadow.  This was removed at the last minute by SRFC and therefore not tested at appeal.. for obvious reasons.)