Councils team up to fight ‘skewed’ housing target

MELKSHAM’S two councils have called for a review of Wiltshire Council’s proposal to build over 2,500 new houses in the area, branding the plans as ‘inappropriate’.

They are to fight the housing target saying there is no justification for the high number proposed which would have a ‘significant impact’ on the already ‘strained’ GP surgeries, schools and levels of traffic and congestion.

Described by councillors as “the most important” concern for Melksham at  present, the two councils, alongside the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, have questioned Wiltshire Council’s ambition to exceed the current housing target for Wiltshire set by the Government, which they say has resulted in a “skewed” housing growth target for Melksham.

“Such increased levels of growth at Melksham are more akin to the proportion and approach for Chippenham where balancing housing, employment and infrastructure are to be coordinated,” says the joint response.

Strained infrastructure

The joint response to Wiltshire Council’s ‘emerging’ Local Plan – which determines where and how development takes place across the county up until 2036 – has called for “sustainable” growth of the town, explaining that the proposed 2,585 new houses will have a “significant impact” on the already “strained” community infrastructure, as well as increasing levels of traffic and congestion.

Improved capacity for Melksham’s GP surgeries, new primary schools, and a new secondary school, are described as “imperative” needs for the town if it is to accept its share of new housing for the county.

Concern has also been raised that Melksham could become a “dormitory” town as Wiltshire Council has not proposed any additional land in Melksham be used for employment to support the new houses. 

Best for Melksham

Both Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council unanimously approved the response to the Local Plan consultation – prepared by the joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan group – at their respective meetings this week.

Councillors have described the joint response as “forceful” that aims to get the “best for Melksham”. 

And chair of the parish council, cllr Richard Wood, has told Melksham News, that a review of Wiltshire Council’s ambition to exceed the current housing target for Wiltshire set by the Government, could reduce Melksham’s target by “hundreds”.

“There is no justification for the numbers proposed,” said cllr Wood. “Wiltshire Council is going over and above what’s needed. Especially for a small town like Melksham, we’ll be as big as Chippenham and Trowbridge if this keeps going. It’s nonsense.

“This response shows that we understand that we have to have new houses built, but it’s a case of how we manage this and make sure that the infrastructure matches development – and that Melksham gets the right number of houses.”

At the town council meeting this week, cllr Adrienne Westbrook stressed the importance of “community cohesion” when planning for the growth of Melksham, explaining that the town centre, schools, green spaces and transport infrastructure should all be developed as new houses are built.

“We need to be looking at how we service the people that come to live in the greater Melksham area from the town centre,” said cllr Westbrook, “what do we need in the town centre to help service those residents?

Dormitory town

“We don’t want to have houses built and become a dormitory town, where we have pockets of places where there is no community cohesion.”

About the joint response, cllr Jon Hubbard said, “It takes a strategic and critical look at what the Local Plan is calling for. And I think it is a measured and responsible response, unlike, I’m sad to say the one that Chippenham Town Council has put through- they have voted to reject the local plan.

“And we all know that the consequence of that will be – Chippenham again refusing to take its share of housing, and more of it being dumped on communities like Melksham.” 

For more information on the Local Plan and consultation, which is open until March 9th, go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ planning-policy-local-plan-       review-consultation