Melksham says ‘yes’ to more control over housing

THE community has voted ‘yes’ to adopting the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan and giving the town ‘a much greater say’ in how local land is developed. 

Over 2,200 people voted in favour of adopting the plan with 381 people voting against in a local referendum last week which saw a 14% turnout.

The plan – which sets out where the community would prefer to see housing built – will help to close the door to ‘predatory’ housing developers that have recently taken advantage of Wiltshire Council’s failure to manage housing developments across the county.   And it will give Melksham ‘considerable additional protection’ against unplanned development. 

About the result of last week’s referendum, chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, and member of Melksham Without Parish Council, cllr Richard Wood, told Melksham News, “I would like to express my thanks to the wider community of Melksham for supporting the new Neighbourhood Plan last Thursday (1st July). 

“As the chair of the steering group, I know only too well the hard work which went into developing the plan which should now give us all a much greater say in new developments in our area.  

“Such is the pressure from central government to build more houses that the plan will now be reviewed to make sure that it stays up to date, and that local infrastructure keeps pace with an increasing population. This will involve health, education, economic, environmental and transport issues for the area, as well as taking account of the emerging Wiltshire local plan. 

“I won’t attempt to thank everyone involved, except to thank in particular Teresa and Lorraine from Melksham Without PC, Linda and Patsy from Melksham Town Council, David Way from Wiltshire Council and in the early days, Stephen Gray the former town clerk.  

“The extra burden on staff was overwhelming at times, but along with the invaluable work from Place Consultants we got the job done. Thanks too to the numerous members of the steering group who were able to make sure that all the various voices of the community were heard. 

“If you interested in the ongoing plan, all steering group meetings are open to the public to attend and we all have the chance to play a part in the next edition of the plan.” 

The plan will now be used by Wiltshire Council to help in determining planning applications in the Melksham area.

And local Beanacre residents are hopeful that it will help put a stop to plans for 150 houses on land to the west of the A350 (Beanacre Road), north of Dunch Lane. 

A formal planning application for the housing development has recently been submitted to Wiltshire Council. News of the plans in February, sparked concerns about the proposed development’s impact on local schools; the potential coalescence of Beanacre and the town, the development’s impact on A350 traffic and on drainage in the area, and the possible impact on heritage buildings in the village. 

“However, we must not rest on our laurels,” said Beanacre resident Terry King, about the news of the Neighbourhood Plan’s adoption, “and I urge anyone who opposes this plan and any other speculative plans which may follow to submit an objection to Wiltshire Council’s planning department.”  

To comment and view the plans for the for the 150 houses on land to the west of the A350 (Beanacre Road), north of Dunch Lane, visit the Wiltshire Council planning website and use the reference PL/2021/05391. The deadline for comments is 30th July.