6th December 2007

Greens have written to Ministers following news that English Partnerships have reversed their support for the project. Below is the letter and a link to Cllr Booths' follow up letter.

Photo: Cashes Green Stakeholders meeting 

See follow up letter on blog for 6th December 2007:

http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/ 

Original letter:

Dear Ms Cooper,

Re: Cashes Green Community Land Trust pilot project

I write on behalf of Stroud District Green party who have 11 out of 18 seats on Stroud Town Council and 5 Stroud District Council seats including my ward that neighbours the Cashes Green Hospital site.

We are deeply concerned to hear that English Partnerships has reversed their decision that the former Cashes Green Hospital site be transferred to Gloucestershire Land for People for urgently needed permanently affordable homes, allotments, social rental homes and community facilities.

GLP's innovative proposal for the 11-acre former hospital site was developed thorough considerable open consultation and engagement with the local community. This resulted in the particularly exciting proposal, which included carbon neutral houses, good social design, significantly lower entry prices for home ownership and permanent affordability through Mutual Home Ownership and retaining the land value in the community land trust (CLT).

It was our understanding that the English Partnerships' Hospitals Disposal Board welcomed GLP's proposal in June 2007 and that there is cross-party support for the principles of CLTs. We also understand that the government hopes to increase the number of affordable homes, encourage moves towards carbon neutral housing and have specifically identified CLT's as part of the flagship community engagement policy.

Why then has there been this change of direction? We would urge you to give GLP your full backing and send a strong message that the government is supporting local communities. To significantly change this scheme now, after so much consultation and work with the community, would be unforgivable.

I hope very much you will be able to clarify the situation and give this project a clear message of support.

Cllr. Philip Booth, Stroud District Green Party

cc Hazel Blears MP