PLANS for 170 new houses on land to the west of the A350, to the north of Melksham, have come under fire from local people.
The new development, situated on two agricultural fields, lies to the north of Leekes and is bordered by Beanacre Road (A350) and Dunch Lane.
News of the plans has had locals questioning how the town will cope with another population increase, whilst no investment is made into improving town’s infrastructure.
Echoing ongoing concerns about the impact of new housing developments, residents have raised concerns about how local schools and GP surgeries will cope, the loss of a green space, and the impact on the environment.
“I’m all for new homes,” said Stuart Jackson, “but Melksham does not have the correct infrastructure in place to cope with the amount of new homes being built. This site also floods, so what further impact will this have on the surrounding areas?”
Samantha Lea Turk said, “What impact will this have on traffic? Melksham will need more doctors surgeries and schools to accommodate all the new houses surely?”
Susan Rawlings said, “More trees and hedges and green fields destroyed.”
“Building 170 new houses, about as far away from the secondary school as you possibly could,” added Graham Gillings. “How is that environmentally good? [The] school run will be by car.”
Nigel Barnes said, “Try a doctors surgery first, and if the town is to grow, get the council to campaign to get the A&E Melksham Hospital re-opened before anymore houses are built.”
Jemma Crook said, “[I] think before any more houses, we should think about the impact to our doctors’ practices that are very stretched in fitting all the patients in at moment with out all these houses popping up.”
Developers, Charterhouse Strategic Land, are inviting the public to have their say on the plans before a planning application is submitted to Wiltshire Council. The consultation runs until Monday 15th March.
News of the proposed development follows recent controversy about plans to build thousands of new houses in Melksham.
Wiltshire Council’s “emerging” Local Plan proposes over 2,500 new houses for Melksham.
And an “unwelcome” planning application for 144 new houses in Berryfield was recently given permission because of Wiltshire Council’s failure to maintain a five-year land supply – which means there is an insufficient number of ‘deliverable sites’ to provide five years’ worth of housing.
The proposed Beanacre Road development could have up to 170 new houses, including affordable houses; pedestrian and cycle routes connecting the site with the town centre and railway station; and a public open space and areas of play.
For more details visit www.beanacreroad.co.uk