The number of housing estates in Westbury could increase because Wiltshire Council’s planning policies are not up to date, warns a Wiltshire councillor.
As residents continue to express concern about over development in the town and about whether Westbury can sustain such a population increase, Wiltshire councillor Jon Hubbard says that housing developments could be granted planning permission through appeal by a planning inspector or the Secretary of State, because Wiltshire Council do not have an up-to-date five- year land supply statement.
Councillor Hubbard, who is warning fellow councillors and residents about the council blunder said, “Wiltshire Council is so far behind with drawing up its planning policies that it’s left itself at serious risk of having to grant permission for applications.
“Because Wiltshire Council can’t provide an up-to-date planning policy, its ability to refuse applications is taken away and a planning inspector or the Secretary of State will make the decision. It’s a real mess and Wiltshire Council is getting away with bad organisation and communication time and time again.
“What’s really terrible is every time Wiltshire Council lose an appeal, it has to pay the developers legal costs, so it’s going to cost tax payers thousands of pounds just because Wiltshire Council is so unorganised.”
An application made for Bitham Park was refused last year as it was deemed unsuitable because it stretches outside of Westbury’s settlement boundary – Wiltshire Council’s definition of the edge of the town. But an appeal, lodged on behalf of Robert Hitchins Ltd on Tuesday 18th August, argued that although the site is not within Westbury’s current settlement boundary, the boundary is out of date as it does not include enough space to meet the town’s housing quota for the next five years.
Mayor of Westbury cllr David Bradshaw told White Horse News, “Myself and the town council are concerned by the continued development of Westbury. The town’s infrastructure is getting near to breaking point.
“The health centre is struggling to get doctors, and dentists are overstretched – more people moving to the town is going to make that worse.”
Wiltshire Council said it was unable to comment on the situation.
