Local MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, had meetings with Professor Patricia Broadfoot – Branch Chair of the Gloucestershire Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) – and Liz Eyre – Chair of the Cotswold Conservation Board. A wide range of issues were discussed, including the current planning system, controlling new development in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and an environmentally friendly solution for the A417.

Both organisations expressed concerns that several recent planning appeal decisions clearly demonstrated that the planning system is not adequate at protecting our AONB. Mr Clifton-Brown noted that the Cotswolds’ landscape combined with the unique Cotswold stone architecture means the Cotswolds AONB is one of the most important in the country. Millions of tourists are attracted to the area every year and if excessive building takes place it will inevitably diminish.

In order to provide better protection there are increasing suggestions that the Cotswolds, stretching from Mickleton in the north to Bath in the south, could be made into a national park.

On the matter of the A417, both organisations were delighted that the presumed solution of the brown route has been dropped on environmental and safety grounds and is likely to be replaced with two alternative options. These will be published for full public consultation in early 2018.

There was joint concern that a cheap option would not be the most environmentally friendly. Mr Clifton-Brown raised these concerns when Gloucestershire’s MPs recently met Roads Minister, Jesse Norman MP, and senior Highways England officials. The officials undertook to hold meetings with the CPRE and AONB Board early in the new year to see what the best compromise might be.