DALE Vince has responded to criticism over his plans to build a 100-acre sports and green technology hub near junction 13 of the M5.

Speaking to the BBC Radio Gloucestershire breakfast show presenter Mark Cummings, the Ecotricity founder acknowledged that while traffic was a concern, money would be spent on improving and redeveloping the A419, which would run through the middle of the £100 million site.

“I think it will be amazing thing for Stroud to have these state of the art sporting facilities and as well as the huge benefit from 4000 new jobs in green technology,” he said.

“There are traffic issues on the A419 near junction 13, there have been for years, so we are currently having a traffic study carried out.”

He argued the site would be able to cope with the influx of traffic adequately, and was ideally suited for transport links into Stroud.

Vince also responded to comments from residents in Eastington, who argued that development would ruin the rural face of their village and cause even more congestion.

Since the plans were revelaed in July a petition against Eco Park has gathered 400 signatures.

“I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration, Eco Park would actually be a mile away from the village and traffic won’t be going through it” he replied.

“I think it’s very normal there will be people that think it’s a good idea and some who think it’s a bad idea.

“But we’ve already seen some massive positivity – from Forest Green and around Stroud in general.”

Vince then hit back against criticism that it was “ironic” that an ecological technology company was building on green field sites and would potentially ruin the “gateway into Stroud”.

“This will be a very eco-friendly development, something that has never been seen before. It will have the feel of a park, with green spaces and sustainable buildings,” he said.

The Forest Green chairman added that the plans were still in the consultation phase, and the first planning application would be submitted in mid-October.

Ecotricity held the first of a series of drop-ins last week with fans at Forest Green Rovers (FGR), which has plans to build a new 5000-seater stadium at the site.

A second drop-in is being held today in Eastington Village Hall.

The final session on September 8 at Ecotricity’s Unicorn House on Russell Street, Stroud.

Vince has also pledged to create a nature reserve, and has expressed a desire to work with the Cotswold Canals Trust in their efforts to open up part of the 'missing mile' of the Stroudwater canal.

For more information about Eco Park visit www.ecotricity.co.uk/eco-park or email ecopark@ecotricity.co.uk

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