THE deluge of new houses in Westbury looks set to continue and local people are angry again after an application to build 47 homes opposite the cemetery.
Once again residents are upset by the prospect of more houses being built as concerns continue to grow over pressure on doctors, schools and roads in the town.
The new proposal could see up to 47 new homes built on a field at the junction of Bitham Park and Bratton Road; a stone’s throw from Westbury Cemetery.
The developer has said that, although the estate would be outside the town limit, a precedent was set to ignore the boundary when permission was given to build hundreds of houses less than half a mile up the road at Bitham Park and The Mead.
Residents say the town doesn’t need any more houses.
In a letter to Wiltshire Council one local woman said, “Westbury is slowly becoming one big housing estate with no infrastructure to back it up – these houses are not needed or wanted. Bratton Road is a very busy road at the best of times and this will add to the problems along there. When is this going to stop!”
There are already over 800 houses in the pipeline, with some already being built. There are concerns that local authorities have lost control of development.
Local man Malcolm Watson lives immediately next to the field.
Malcolm writes, “With the recent completed developments, current ongoing new builds, the army recruitment centre being earmarked for housing when is enough enough?
“No thought has gone into improving the infrastructure of the town. In fact, Westbury seems to always be the last in line when it comes to investment by Wiltshire Council!
“Unfortunately, it seems that the WC has still not publicised its five year housing plan, which gives would-be developers ‘open season’ to appeal all failed applications on the basis that the county’s current five year plan is out of date and cannot be used in regards to private development applications.”
The plan Malcolm refers to has not been completed by Wiltshire Council, meaning the authority struggles to defend itself if planning decisions are taken to Government appeals, like the Bitham Park one was in July. In that case, the council chose not to try and defend itself and withdrew. Permission was granted in spite of objections from local councils and residents.
Malcolm continued, “It is my sincere hope that this application is stopped in its tracks, not just for my own personal reasons, but for the only two reasons that count the most. It’s outside the town policy limits for development, [and the houses] are not needed, and would further damage the immediate countryside surrounding the town.”
To view the plans or make comments on the proposed Bratton Road development enter reference 16/06413/OUT in the planning search online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk
