Hundreds of residents responded to Stonehouse Town Council’s survey on the future of the canal-side former Ship Inn site on the Bristol Road A419.
The council resolved to carry out a public consultation to establish what the people of Stonehouse would like to see on the former Ship Inn site as part of the next phase of Cotswold Canals Connected’s work to restore the Stroudwater Navigation.
The canal-side piece of land has lain idle since the nearby pub of the same name was demolished to widen the A419 in the 1990s. The National Heritage Lottery Fund has allocated £8.9 million towards completion of the next stage of the Stroudwater Canal restoration project. This work will connect this waterway with the national network and make Stonehouse a canal town again.
The survey asked two questions:
Would you like to see Council-built housing on the former Ship Inn site?
Would you like to see community facilities on the former Ship Inn site?
In total 598 people from all over the GL10 area took part in the survey, which equates to 9 per cent of Stonehouse residents over working age. The overwhelming majority, 91 per cent, did not want to see council-built housing on the site; with 95 per cent wanting to see community facilities. A small minority wanted both.
Carol Kambites, Deputy Chair of Stonehouse Town Council, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the questionnaire, whether that was a paper copy or online. “Many residents gave reasons for their responses explaining that they value the canal and the Ship Inn site and see the site helping to realise the benefits of the canal regeneration project for Stonehouse residents, businesses and the environment. Suggestions for the site included a café, car parking, a shop, information centre, pub, garden and boat moorings. We will circulate the results widely and seek a response and further engagement with Stroud District Council.”
For more information on the survey and its results, go to Community Consultation future of Ship Inn site – Stonehouse Town Council
