Save The Countryside

About us

We are a small group of Swindon Village and Elmstone Hardwicke residents with a large supporting community, who are passionate about the countryside.

Formed in 2008, we were alarmed by the government led proposal for massive development around Cheltenham particularly for 5,000 homes plus commercial units to the North-West of Cheltenham on green belt land between Swindon Village and Elmstone Hardwick.
Since then we have tirelessly campaigned for reasonable development that satisfies the need for new housing but to minimise the huge cost to the environment and to the health and wellbeing of our town's existing population and its wildlife.

We have worked successfully with national and local government, parish councils planners and some developers, on log term development strategies, plans and supporting infrastructure to ensure that any development is fair, well planned and benefits the whole community.
Thanks to our hard work and that of our allied partners, much green land around our town has been saved and development plans have been adjusted for the benefit of the community.

We continue to collaborate with may teams on development strategies and plans to ensure a fair sustainable outcome can be achieved.
See the outline plans here.

The 2022 Walk is on Sunday 22nd May 2pm. Stantons Drive

M5 Motorway junction 10 revision public consultation comments from the team are on the documents page
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/J10.

Government proposals to change to planning rules
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/907647/MHCLG-Planning-Consultation.pdf

Elms park phase 1 plans for 260 homes
See docs page for our detailed comments
Cheltenham Borough Council - Land at Swindon Farm- Application 20/00759/FUL

Local green space Secured! (May 2020)
Finally we received confirmation from the Government Inspector that the local green space that we have fought for for so many years has been retained.
No development may occur on the land shaded in green.
This enables Swindon Village to maintain its village identity in future, despite the new developments further afield.
In addition, the playing field will remain unchanged as this is already protected.
There will also be additional green infrastructure around the river swilgate as part of any future development plans.