Traffic ‘chaos’ fears as thousands of homes could ‘swamp’ villages
There are fears over traffic “chaos” as new homes could “swamp” villages on the outskirts of Cheltenham.
A new blueprint which sets out where housing will be built in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury over the next 20 years is currently being developed.
And the strategic and local plan will allocate land where 43,000 homes should be built over that period.
Building around 6,000 homes is potentially achievable near Badgeworth, Shurdington, Up Hatherley, Warden Hill and The Reddings, according to the housing and economic land availability assessment (HELAA).
The HELAA helps the councils understand the amount of land that is available for development. The identified sites do not in themselves determine whether a site should be granted planning permission or allocated in a development plan.
But villagers are among those extremely concerned over the impact it would have on places such as Shurdington and Badgeworth if those sites are brought forward for development.
Proposals for 126 new homes on one of those sites at land at Longlands Farm in Shurdington Road, Badgeworth are due before borough planners on Tuesday, June 16.
These are opposed by more than 120 people who have backed a petition calling for all planning application decisions in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Green Belt to be deferred until the adoption of the new strategic local plan.
Jim Bailey, 87, is among the concerned residents and says the village already struggles with traffic during school pick-up and drop-off times.
“It will just swamp Badgeworth and Shurdingon,” he said.
“I’ve christened the problem the creation of the Greater Shurdington-Badgeworth conurbation. Because that is what it will start to look like.
“There will be virtually no gap between Cheltenham and Gloucester and the Shurdington conurbation will occupy all of the spare land.
“Traffic coming down Badgeworth Lane will be stopped at the traffic lights that are going to be put up at the junction of Badgeworth Lane and Shurdington Road.
“When those lights are red, traffic in Badgeworth Lane will back up.
“At school pick-up and drop-off times, when the lane is reduced to one lane of traffic because of all the parked cars, there is going to be a great deal of aggravation among drivers.”
Fellow resident Michael Holyoake, 97, hopes council leaders will defer the plans for 126 homes on Tuesday for further consultation to “iron out these problems before it’s too late”.
He said if the several sites are to be developed they should be linked and access should be provided to the A46.
“I’m so concerned about the actual traffic when you have a single access for 126 houses coming onto Badgeworth Lane,” he said.
“Especially on a Monday morning, when someone is trying to get out of that site, there’s already a lot of traffic on the lane as it is now.
“It is potential chaos.”
He said he is also worried about the impact the extra development would have on Cold Pool Lane which is used by motorists to get to and from Cheltenham.
Last year, the areas of Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury saw an increase of more than 20 per cent in the total number of homes the Government wants to see built over the next two decades.
Council leaders say the strategic and local plan will allow councils to plan where the new development should go and what improvements are needed.
The full SLP engagement runs until June 2026, with pre-submission of the plan to the Government in July, and the final submission expected in October or November this year.
Residents and businesses in these areas can review evidence on the SLP’s dedicated website.