CONCERNED town councillors have deferred the adoption of a blueprint for the future of Stroud town centre until it has been considered by other local authorities.

Members said they were against some of the plans in the Public Realm Strategy, especially the department store, and wanted the county and district councils to first consider it first.

Speaking at the latest full council meeting, mayor John Marjoram said: "It was so diabolical and upset so many people to show a big department store at the top of the town."

But he stressed the plans were still open and urged members simply to derer adopting the strategy to show solidarity with the other councils.

Linda Townley, who is also district councillor for Uplands, said: "It’s a nonsense at this moment in time.

"Unless the county council has put some money down on the table it doesn’t mean anything.

"The thing I can’t support is the building on the car parks in Parliament and Church Street without any real knowledge about what’s going to be put in their place."

Cllr Townley said residents wanted better access through Merrywalks, new surfacing on the high street and improved facilities at the bus station – not a department store.

She warned businesses might not fill the store in the curent economic crisis.

A spokesman for SDC said: "It is important to reiterate that the Public Realm Strategy is not a detailed plan - it is about setting priorities which can be taken into account when planning future projects.

"Each area where changes are suggested will be subject to further detailed consultation, so the public and stakeholders will have another opportunity for input.

"Once the document is finalised, detailed consultation can commence together with implementation of smaller projects."

A consultation on the initial plans of the strategy, which was commissioned by the Stroud Concordat, will run until Saturday, December 6.