Locals say resounding ‘no’ to 650 new houses

Improvements should first be made to medical services and schools, say residents.

CONTROVERSIAL plans for 650 new houses on land at Blackmore Farm, off Eastern Way, has reignited the debate that Melksham’s infrastructure is struggling to cope with its growing population. 

Locals have highlighted a number of concerns in response to the plans, highlighting that they feel the town’s GP surgeries and dental practices are “bursting at the seams”; that schools are already at capacity; that local veterinary surgeries are “overrun”; roads are “gridlocked”; and that green spaces around the town should be protected from development. 

Developers, Gleeson Land, announced the plans for the 650 houses earlier this month, inviting the community to comment on their plans ahead of submitting a formal planning application to Wiltshire Council. Their plans include up to 30% affordable housing and ‘scope’ for a new primary school and community hub. 

“We have exceeded our target with several years to go,” said one local resident in response to the plans for 650 houses, “surely it’s about time the infrastructure was addressed. [You] can’t get NHS dentists; doctors are chocka with all the extra patients – can’t see one of them for anything routine nowadays. Vets can’t cope as overrun with all the extra pets. 

“NHS is struggling to cope locally and further afield – waiting times are ridiculous, even what was the walk-in x-ray unit has a 12-week wait these days. 

“Wiltshire Council get your act together, no more houses, not until the infrastructure is made sound – it’s totally crazy.” 

Another resident said, “We don’t have enough NHS dentist spaces, our GP surgeries are bursting at the seams (trying their best to provide excellent services, even during the pandemic) and our schools are at capacity. The roads are at almost gridlock.  

“How are the needs of even more households going to be accommodated? It is lunacy and shows a complete disregard for the current residents’ quality of service and life…”

“Melksham deserves much better than being turned into an unsustainable concrete jungle!” added another local. “What about keeping the green belt land as it should be and not building on it at all?” 

Local resident David Walker said, “Over the past two years, despite the pandemic, there has continued to be substantial housing developments taking place in Melksham. As a result, there has been a disproportionate impact on all aspects of the infrastructure required to support this and any future development. This includes traffic congestion with the resultant impact on residents’ health and the environment. Pressure on GP surgeries, schools and nurseries. Lack of public transport. Pressure on centralised NHS services i.e. RUH, GWH. Pressure on limited public spaces etc.  

“Any further development will have an even greater impact on all of the above, especially as the proposed provision of additional services e.g. primary school, community hub are the last services to be built.” 

“Before any further houses are built, we need improvement to our medical services, more schools and improvement to our High Street,” said Julie Haycock. 

Gleeson Land’s announcement coincided with new figures published by Wiltshire Council this month that shows the Melksham Community Area has exceeded its 2,370 housing target for the 2006-2026 period by 459 houses – which includes 2,235 houses built between 2006-2021 and 594 houses with planning permission yet to be built.  

However, the developer has said that they hope their proposal for 650 houses will be considered as part of Melksham’s new housing target, which is yet to be confirmed by Wiltshire Council in its emerging Local Plan, which is expected to be published later this year. 

The emerging proposals for the 650 houses can also be viewed online up until Friday 6th May, where residents can also leave their feedback: www.landatblackmorefarm.co.uk