Save Ryeford Lake

[mickeyd]

taken from http://www.thegoodfishguide.com/inde...d=83&Itemid=78

This is a story which has been brought to my attention by thegoodfishguide.com user fuggzy and you can find his post on this in the forum here

You can join the facebook group by clicking here

As anglers I think anything we could do to help save the lake we should do, so heres some information and to leave your suggestions on ideas to help save the lake then either write them on the comments on this page or in the topic in the forum!

Building lake homes 'would be vandalism'

BUILDING six homes around Ryeford Lake would amount to environmental vandalism according to its neighbours.

They are so worried about losing a wildlife haven that they have launched an internet campaign to save it.

Residents fear six executive homes around the edge of the lake in King's Stanley would cost them an oasis of tranquillity.

The owners of nearby Stanley Mills want to redevelop the site but neighbours say building around the lake would be a step too far.

Their Save Ryeford Lake campaign has 297 members on the social networking site Facebook.
"The main bone of contention is not the mill itself but that the lake is a real nature reserve," said Barry Woodcock, who has cared for the lake for five years and lives nearby.

"It's a lovely little oasis and it would spoil it forever. It would be environmental vandalism."

While campaigners do not have major problems with the proposed redevelopment of Grade I and II listed Stanley Mills into homes and a new factory, they object to building around the lake. No application has been made for homes around the lake and the planning process is at an early stage for the mill site.

Caroline Millward, who founded the Facebook group with angler Rob Evans, was horrified to discover plans for the lake were in the pipeline.

"People fish there, there's otters and it's a beautiful, peaceful place," she said.

In July last year, Gladedale group asked Stroud District Council for its opinion on proposals for 80 homes in Stanley Mills, 70 new homes, demolition of some listed buildings and a new factory. Revised plans have been drawn up but a full planning application has not been made.

A spokesman for the applicant said he was unable to comment but looked forward to continuing dialogue.

Hundreds join online campaign to save beloved King's Stanley lake from development

ALMOST 300 people have joined a Facebook campaign to fight plans to build six luxury homes around Ryeford Lake in King’s Stanley.

The proposals, which are due to be submitted to Stroud District Council this month, were unveiled as part of a wider project to refurbish the historic Stanley Mills opposite the lake and convert it for both improved employment and new residential use.

London-based Gladedale Special Projects, which is working on the proposals with mill owners Peter Griffiths Ltd, say the five and six bedroom timber frame homes are needed to offset the expense of regeneration work on the mill and ensure the development is viable.

A public footpath and a series of small landing jetties are also being proposed to surround the lake, which is currently private land within the mill estate. Residents in the immediate vicinity, including Facebook campaign creator Caroline Millward, were first told of the plans at a private exhibition in early March.

"We had no problem with what was proposed at the mill but then they dropped a massive bomb on us with these plans for the lake," said Caroline, 30, who has lived in Mill Row directly opposite the pond for four years.

"I have seen deer, stag and otters there and I know people fish for carp so it would be a real shame if these homes go ahead."

She added that she is also concerned about how the planned access route to the homes appears to cover one of her two parking spaces next to the cottage she shares with her husband Daniel and their seven-month-old son.

Her neighbour Barry Woodcock, 70, who tends to the lake and surrounding land on behalf of the mill owners and keeps a record of whoever fishes it, said: "It really is a little oasis.

"Very few people know about it but there is a huge amount of wildlife here. "I find it difficult to believe that the developers are dependent on six homes to make the regenerated mill site viable."

Gladedale Special Projects has submitted a Scoping Opinion to SDC, which is a request for information that should be included in an Environmental Impact Assessment of the site.


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anyone think of anyways to help?