South Cerney Parish Council is delighted to announce that Cotswold Forest School will be running the R-Way Youth Club!

Initially aimed at children and young people aged 7 to 13 years old.  Every Tuesday evening during term time 5.00-6:30 PM @ Fenton’s Community Centre, Teal Way, South Cerney, GL7 5WL.

Only £1 per session - This term starting on Tuesday 3rd October. We aim to offer a really exciting mixture of activities including sport, bush craft and creative sessions!  Don't forget to bring a pair of daps or other indoor shoes (i.e. not worn outside) to change into whilst at Fenton's.

In order to assist the team to get an idea of numbers please could you simply send your child's name, age and whether any allergies to either:
enquiries@cotswoldforestschool.co.uk or text 07738 708880

We very much look forward to welcoming you all!

Becky, Johno and the CFS team

The Neighbourhood Plan steering group hosted the second public consultation event on Saturday 16^th September from 10.00am until 4.00pm at Fenton’s community centre in Teal Way.  A number of interested residents came along to view and comment on the draft Vision and Objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan, which will lead to the formulation of the Policies for future consultation.  The steering group has also appointed a consultant to prepare the final version of the Plan for submission in March 2018.  It should be noted that the costs of preparing the Neighbourhood Plan are expected to be covered by a grant.

The Parish Council is very disappointed with the decision of the Planning Inspectorate to grant outline permission for 92 houses behind Berkeley Close.  South Cerney has no allocation for such housing developments in either the current or the emerging Cotswold District Council Local Plans.  However, the emerging Local Plan has not yet been adopted, and the Inspector was influenced by the inclusion of a high proportion of affordable housing as part of the application.

The Parish Council submitted very detailed concerns regarding the flood risks of this development.  These include the history of flooding around the village, the high groundwater, and the increase in flood risk from the River Churn and the Shire Ditch due to climate change, and from to the proposed large housing development in Cirencester. 

The Parish Council also raised the concerns of local residents about all the existing parking and traffic issues, and the narrowness of the access to this site through Berkeley Close.  However, those concerns were not supported by Gloucestershire County Council highways department.

Whilst many of the flooding concerns were acknowledged by the Inspector, the Inspector did not regard them as sufficient to justify refusing the application.

The company behind the planning application (Gladman) is not a builder. They would arrange sale of the land to such a company, who would then apply for detailed planning with a view to building properties.  The developer will be obliged to provide ‘up to’ 50% affordable housing.  ‘Affordable housing’ in this context has a technical meaning, and is supposed to meet the needs of those who cannot afford housing on the open market, either to rent or buy.  When the detailed planning application is submitted by the development company that will carry out the development, the Parish Council will consider pressing for the full 50% to be ‘affordable housing’.

The development company will also be obliged to make financial contributions to the provision of library facilities, playschool and local school facilities.

The Parish Council, with particular support from Cllr Juliet Layton (CDC Ward Councillor), tried its best to oppose this planning application.  However, there is a statutory presumption in favour of development in ‘sustainable’ locations, to meet housing needs.  The Parish Council will be giving qualified support to the Chesterton development in Cirencester, as that is a more sustainable location than a village like South Cerney.

The Planning Inspector's Decision Notice and Costs Decision may be downloaded below.

R-ways’ last session with Young Gloucestershire at the helm was on 18^th July, and the Parish Council is now seeking someone else to take on the running of this popular youth group from September on a self-employed basis.  Sessions take place on Tuesdays in the Fenton’s community centre in Teal Way, where the facilities include the meeting room, sports hall with various equipment including table tennis, tennis, badminton, etc., and the café seating area.  Anyone interested is asked to contact the Clerk by email clerk@southcerney.org.uk or by phone 07983 202015 for the tender document.