‘Better facilities before any new houses’ Town calls for improved facilities before new houses are built

THE Melksham community has highlighted the need for better healthcare, transport and education facilities before any more new houses are built.

The calls follow a survey by the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group which asked what were the most important issues facing the future of the town.

The results, said the group, “were quite surprising,” and included a call for a restoration of the minor injuries unit at Melksham Hospital; one hour free parking; improved rail services; along with a call for better local facilities before new houses are built.

The most popular priorities with more than 50% of feedback were:

• Provide adequate healthcare, public transport and education facilities before new houses are built (91.3%)

• Restore the minor injuries unit and treatment facilities at Melksham Hospital (75%)

• Complete the Melksham Campus project as soon as possible (64.4%)

• Allow at least one hour free parking in all Melksham car parks (62.8%);

• Increase rail services to Melksham Station at convenient times (61.5%);

• Create many new employment opportunities locally (58.8%)

• Promote Melksham as a great place to live, work  and visit (57.8%)

• Build the extra 600 houses needed as smaller sites on infill or ‘brown’ land (50.7%)

The  multi-question snap-shot survey was designed to obtain both local opinion and feedback to inform local decision makers.   One of the survey questions asked people to rate the priorities of a series of 26 statements as ‘high’, ‘moderate’, ‘low’ or ‘no view’.

The survey is part of a Neighbourhood Plan – a community-led statutory document, which gives a local community better control over future land use development; ensures additional funding for amenities and facilities in local areas; and tells developers what and where they can and cannot build.

Nick Westbrook from the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan steering group said, “The steering group has decided our immediate task is to produce a ‘scoping’ document with criteria against which local development proposals can be judged; and to identify housing and infrastructure priorities and the supporting evidence that needs to be gathered.

“From the results it seems the re-creation of the Wilts and Berkshire canal through the town with associated housing, leisure and recreational developments needs more support as only 38.1%  of people rated it as high priority.

“Our steering group has also agreed to set up five thematic task groups to look at (a) Housing; (b) Employment and Economy; (c) Health and Well-being; (d) Transport; and (e) Education and Lifelong Learning;  and to hold a two-day local open-house launch event at the end of March.   We are interested in hearing from anyone willing to help us collect information or to share their experiences and views about any of these themes.

“May I thank all the local people who shared their views about priorities with the steering group established to produce a Neighbourhood Plan to cover the area within the Melksham Town and the Melksham Without parish councils boundaries.

“Also, there is still time for budding artists to take part in our ‘Design a Logo’ competition.  For more details or to offer help,  please contact us on mnpsg@mail.com or phone me on 01225 704584.”