The Forest of Dean District Council’s Green Party leadership could be deposed this week as the council faces motion of no confidence in its leader and cabinet amid rising concerns over controversial plans to build two new towns to help meet a 13,200-home target

Independent Councillor John Francis (Longhope and Huntley) has put forward the proposal due to what he sees as the “undemocratic” way the council has dealt with the emerging blueprint for development in the district. This accusation has been rejected by the Green administration.

Under the latest proposals to meet the Government-imposed housing targets, the District Council is planning for a 3,500- home town at Glynchbrook in Redmarley near junction 2 of the M50 as well as around 2,000 homes off the A40 in Churcham.

Cllr Francis claims there has been a lack of engagement for all councillors to engage in the making of the current draft plan.

“This lack of engagement means that there has been no forum in which to express the views of local residents or those of town and parish councils by members,” he said.

“Members have been ignored and completely side-lined by the leader in the development of the draft local plan.

“The views of members in the formation of the local plan have not been included or even discussed, to the detriment of our electorate.

“Furthermore, it has led to an absence of any in-depth debate over the wider strategy, including the exploration of alternative options for site allocations needed to accommodate the unprecedented increase in the government’s required target for house building in the Forest of Dean District

“It is too late, at the public consultation stage, for all members to have any meaningful input into the shaping of proposals.

“This is simply undemocratic.”

Cllr Francis said the three previous local plan portfolio holders held many open sessions to discuss the merits, shortcomings and difficulties that each site posed.

Council leader Adrian Birch (G, Tidenham) said the Green administration does not recognise the alleged democratic shortcomings.

He said: “We respect both the integrity of the process and of our fellow councillors. We will formally address the issue this week, offering our reasoned arguments where they are best debated, in full council.

“At this stage I can simply say that we don’t recognise the alleged shortcomings in the democratic process in developing our local plan.

“We look forward to the vote, confident of support for the sustained hard work of our district officers and councillors in producing a viable local plan.”

Earlier this month villagers turned out in force to call on council chiefs to drop “ludicrous” plans to build the 3,500 home development. Redmarley Village Hall was packed as residents met to discuss the proposed blueprint for development in the Forest of Dean which could see a new town built at Glynchbrook near the villages of Redmarley D’Abitot, Lowbands, and Pendock.

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