Heywood residents voice concern about housing proposals

LOCAL residents in Heywood have held a meeting to voice their concern about proposals to build houses on land at Glenmore Farm in the village.

The site measures approximately 23.9 acres and is bordered by The Ham, Hawkeridge Road, and the West Wilts Trading Estate. The proposal, put forth by property developers Taylor Wimpey, would see 145 new houses built on the land.

Taylor Wimpey say their plans include affordable housing, public open spaces including a community play area, and the retention and maintenance of existing vegetation where possible, as well as additional tree and hedgerow planting on the development boundary.

The company gave the public a chance to give feedback at a consultation on Monday 14th July at the Railway Inn.

However, residents are still concerned about the development and have met further to discuss their concern.  Robert Hall from The Ham said, “It’s a totally inappropriate place to build that many houses. It’s not an easily accessible area; it’s a fast road with no footpaths or cycle paths. It’s also outside the Westbury town boundary and in fact in the parish of Heywood. The area doesn’t have the facilities to support this development.”

Last year, Heywood Parish Council said that the area should be kept as a buffer to stop Westbury encroaching into rural villages.

The concerns come just a year after the nearby village of Hawkeridge formed an action group to campaign against industrial development plans for Mill Lane, a stone’s throw from Glenmore Farm.

Despite protests from local people, outline planning permission was granted by Wiltshire Council for the 35-acre business park.

The deadline for feedback on the Glenmore Farm site passed at the end of July and Taylor Wimpey is now preparing to submit a planning application to Wiltshire Council.