TWO new town councillors, who have been co-opted on to Westbury Town Council, were welcomed at a meeting of the council on Monday 7th November.
Kate Knight (Independent) will represent Westbury East and Philip Harcourt (Independent) will represent Westbury North. Both new councillors are well accustomed to some of the council’s work through their volunteer involvement with the steering group of Westbury’s Neighbourhood Plan, where both councillors sit as co-chair.
Cllr Kate Knight, who first moved to the town when she was 12 through her father’s involvement with the Youth Centre in Eden Vale, says that the influx of housing developments and the controversial proposed incinerator are top of her agenda.
She said, “Three years working on the Neighbourhood Plan as a resident volunteer, has made me confront the dilemma of the need for housing versus the ‘but Westbury can’t take any more development’ argument. I can see that more people moving here can drive the town to greater prosperity, but it needs to be of good design – something that compliments Westbury, and it needs to be supported by the relevant infrastructure.
“Our assessment, done during the development of the plan, shows Westbury needs more affordable housing. I spent my whole career working in social housing. I would like to see the development of some form of community-led housing and this is something we have discussed during the Neighbourhood Plan’s development.
“Over the years I’ve seen many changes, not all for the best, and the dark and monstrous threat of the incinerator hanging over the town will do nothing to make the town better. Of course with that, would come the threat of even more traffic and pollution. One of the ‘benefits’ of lockdown was being able to see what a pleasant place Westbury could be without traffic.
“Finally, for people to want to come and live here or shop here or eat here, the town must look good. It must feel safe and well cared for. The town council has a vision for Westbury. But it can’t do it alone – there are areas in the centre that are let down by the condition of buildings. Some of these are owned by national companies – there is no excuse for their lack of care and investment.”
Cllr Philip Harcourt, who moved to the town in 2018, says he wants to focus on enhancing Westbury’s identity which includes no longer allowing the town to be the “dumping ground” for unwanted housing developments.
He said, “I am delighted to have been co-opted on to Westbury Town Council. Having lived in Westbury only since 2018, I had been prior to that, a West Wiltshire resident for 20 years and lived where I had a view of the cement works chimney, including the day it fell. I have quickly come to love the place where I live, in a town with a great sense of community.
“Now the town is facing the spectre of another polluting smokestack with the proposed incinerator, but beyond that, Westbury faces challenges other than air quality. One of the major ones is its identity. We want to see Westbury rise to the challenge of going from being simply a good place to live, to become a great place to live.
“We have one of the best-connected rail stations outside of London and lots of wonderful residents. We need to look at how Frome went from being a forgotten town to being voted, in 2015, winner of the UK Great Town Award. We also have challenges that are faced by the young, as we are a town that needs to offer more to keep them busy and entertained.
“My focus will be on educating the people of Westbury that new housing is not a bad thing, as long as it is properly planned, and we are not seen as a dumping ground by Wiltshire Council for unwanted development. Well-conceived new housing development should be allowed, so long as it is a catalyst for improving the town as a whole. Ultimately, development may be precisely the driver to get Westbury its long-awaited bypass and resolve the town’s other major issue.”
There remains one town councillor vacancy in Westbury North.
