MADAM, Bridstow has just joined a host of villages in the county that are being threatened by an inappropriate housing development which is being rushed through, by developers, before the Parish can fully deliver its own Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Bridstow has formed its own Steering Group to deliver a Neighbourhood Plan that will involve all members of the community in deciding what housing we need and where it should be built. However, despite over 82% of parishioners, who were canvassed by the developers, objecting to any form of development on the proposed site along the Hoarwithy Road, Fortis Living have submitted an outline planning application to proceed to build 35 houses. Housing is vital to preserve and nourish any community but it should deliver housing where people can safely get to all the local services by using all types of transport, including buses, walking, cycling and car – this is what sustaining our communities for today and the future is all about. It needs developers to work with communities and for them to understand what the community needs, wants and can sustain. Once again it appears that the local wishes are being dismissed. In this case those of the residents of Bridstow, with land which is within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been used as pasture, since at least 1831, being under threat of being developed.

There will be a Parish Council Meeting on Monday, October 20th at 7pm at the Bridstow Parish Hall where all members of the community can have their say on the proposed development – come along and let your views be heard. Graham Thwaites, Bridstow