CONTROVERSIAL plans have been revealed for a 152-home housing estate in Melksham Forest; the town and parish councils will discuss the application at meetings next month.
The development could see up to 152 new homes built on fields next to Woodrow Road by local residents are fighting the plans saying it would ruin the countryside and increase flooding.
Melksham Without Parish Council is being consulted by Wiltshire Council, and will hold a public meeting to discuss the plans from 7pm on Monday 8th August at Forest Community Centre.
Clerk Teresa Strange said, “Whilst this is a public meeting, open to all, I would like to remind residents that Melksham Without Parish Council only represents people who live in the parish. The council covers part of Woodrow Road, but not the lower part that joins Forest Road, nor Meadow Road, Forest Road, or Lincoln Green.”
Melksham Town Council will also discuss the plan, though the houses fall outside the town boundary. The council will represent people living nearby in the Forest Road area.
Melksham residents should attend this meeting on Monday 15th August from 7pm at the town hall.
Residents were devastated when plans were first revealed earlier this year, and set up a campaign on Facebook – ‘Woodrow Road building houses on our field’.
Founder of the group Sue Carter said, “Myself and so many other people are devastated about this. I have lived next to the field for almost 40 years and use the field every day to walk my dogs.”
Local teenager James Dobbin wrote to Melksham News and said, “This site is reasonably close to the river, which already floods on the Beanacre side and surely this development will increase the potential flooding which could occur. I would also question the housing estate being so far away from the local secondary school and any amenities.
“There seems to be little consideration for residents who will be widely affected, many of whom have lived in this area for decades.”
Residents can make their own comments directly to Wiltshire Council’s planning department online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk using reference number 16/05644/OUT.
The plans can be seen online and will soon be available to view at Melksham Without and Melksham Town council offices in the Market Place.