RESIDENTS of Storridge Road, The Ham and Hawkeridge Park are back fighting following the resubmission of an application for 200 houses in the area, following refusal from Wiltshire Council in July last year.
Residents applauded the community effort to successfully fight the plans last year, but now rally together once again.
In December 2017, Gladman Developments Ltd submitted an application for 200 houses of mixed size, with 40% being affordable, for the fields off Storridge Road, behind Hawkeridge Park. The application also sought for permission to demolish number 13 and 14 Storridge Road to cater for a new access road.
Residents joined forces, creating a community campaign against the plans, saying that the town is overdeveloped and lacking infrastructure, with safety issues of site access and traffic travelling to and from one of Wiltshire’s biggest trading estates.
Wiltshire Council agreed with the campaigners, deciding to refuse the application in July 2018. However, one year later, Gladman Ltd has resubmitted their application in an attempt for permission to be granted.
Campaigners and residents, Jim Marley and Gemma Price said, “We have been made aware of a planning application on the land at Storridge Road, which is fundamentally very similar to the application submitted in December 2017, that was refused in July 2018 on a number of grounds, but primarily relating to the land being outside the limits for development defined for Westbury in the Wiltshire Core Strategy.
“Previously we had a huge co-operation from residents in and around Westbury, specifically with the community and their families around Storridge Road, The Ham and Hawkeridge Park, and we have engaged with them straight away in order to gain their support once again.
“We are holding another briefing at Players Social Club (next to Venom Night Club [previously Club Ice]) at 7pm on Monday 5th August, in order to give residents ideas on how they can help, as they all did so superbly last time.
“Co-incidentally, the application submission was placed just before the summer holidays and the commentary deadline for comments is 23rd August when most families are away. However, we have acted with speed, and I would encourage anyone wanting to write a letter to Wiltshire Council to do so as a matter of urgency.
“Everyone is welcome to join us on the evening of the residents’ briefing, or if you are unable to attend, please contact one of us if you are wanting more information on how you can help.”
You can find details of the resubmission at 19/06389/OUT. Comments are welcome until Friday 23rd August, with a target date for decision being Thursday 3rd October.
