THE fate of Westbury’s former hospital is still in the balance after a decision on whether to allow its demolition to make way for nearly 60 homes was delayed again.
Now it looks like it will be July before Wiltshire Council decides its fate, eight months after the NHS’s planning application was submitted. The council is expected to discuss the plans on Wednesday 20th July.
The campaign to save the hospital site for healthcare, which garnered the support of hundreds of local residents over the past 18 months, will be weakened but not over, even if the application for houses is approved, a town councillor told White Horse News.
Town and county councillor for Westbury, Gordon King, will be sitting on the planning committee when the decision is made and said the campaign to keep at least some of the site for healthcare will carry on, no matter how Wiltshire Council vote.
Cllr King said, “The outcome of this application is now entirely in the hands of the council. I expect the planning officer in charge of the case to recommend that it is approved.
“I will be at the meeting putting forward the view of the local community, but it’s difficult to say how much weight that will hold on the day. I will present my strongest argument against the plan based on my interpretation of Wiltshire’s core strategy.”
The plan, which has been revised since its original submission, is now for 59 homes to be built on the site of the hospital on Hospital Road.
A campaign orchestrated by Westbury healthcare group Sensible Thinking on Patients (STOP) wants to see as much of the site as possible retained for healthcare facilities.
Cllr King continued, “It won’t be the end of STOP’s work if this application is approved. It will make the vision harder, but not impossible.”
“I have no idea if NHS Property Services has a developer in mind for the land, but it has never said it was against our plan, just that there was no interest from healthcare providers when the site was marketed before.
“If we can find a developer willing to use some of the site for healthcare, and a provider willing to move in, there will still be hope.”
Public consultation on the plan reopened this month and will run until Wednesday 25th May – it is the fourth time the council has invited comments.
STOP is urging people to write again in objection, to keep building the case against the development.
Chair of the group and White Horse News’s ‘Person of the Year 2015’, Erica Watson said, “I urge people to write again and to challenge Wiltshire Council to take note of the need to improve services and facilities in the town before any more houses are built.
“Local residents will also be severely affected by both the increased traffic flow and the already identified poor air quality in parts of the town. We urge you to write to the planning officer if you are already affected or if you feel that you may be affected with the planned increase of close to 1,000 more houses in Westbury.
“These issues will affect you and your family’s well being. The town cannot support more housing. If you feel strongly that Westbury deserves better, then please make your voice heard.”
To view or comment on the plans visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk and use planning reference 15/11604/OUT
