WILTSHIRE Council recently turned down plans to build nearly 50 houses on the edge of Westbury but some residents say it ‘makes no difference’ what local people think any more.
A plan to build 47 homes across the road from Westbury Cemetery was thrown out by County Hall in January because it was outside of the town’s boundary.
21 people wrote to the council to object to the application for Bratton Road, but some said their views didn’t really matter and the plan would likely go ahead any way. Westbury Town Council and the fire service also objected.
The application site is next to land where 300 houses will soon be built, despite being refused by the council for the same reason, because the Government controversially pushed the plan through last year.
One resident wrote to the council, “It really makes no difference what I or any of the other residents living in the proximity say. One must presume this is a linkup with the properties that Wiltshire Council turned down along the Coach Lane, yet were overturned by, one must assume, central government or developers.”
Objections people submitted included fears over traffic, loss of green land and the extra strain on the town’s roads and doctors.
Similar grievances were expressed over the 300-home application which was eventually given the green light.
Another Westbury person added, “Whatever we say it will still go ahead!”
Wiltshire Council has not produced a document proving that it has enough land for five years’ worth of new housing, which has seriously dented its ability to stop the Government pushing applications through.
No appeal has yet been lodged against the council’s decision.
Full details are online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk enter planning reference 16/06413/OUT.
