A RETROSPECTIVE planning application to create a travellers’ site on land adjacent to the A350 in Melksham, has been refused by Wiltshire Council.
The site, which is already in use, is located off the A350 (Western Way), on land between the Melksham Substation and the River Avon – access to the site is via the A350, in close proximity to where the road meets the Farmers roundabout.
The decision has been made because of the absence of a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment; and lack of information about drainage for the site, how the site can be served by a safe and convenient vehicle and pedestrian access, and on-site essential services such as water, power, sewerage and drainage, and waste disposal.
Concerns about access to the site, echoed those of Melksham Town Council, who had objected to the application last year, because of their concerns about its ‘dangerous’ location
Wiltshire Council’s decision stated, “The site would utilise an existing sub-standard access from the A350, with its use becoming intensified through the use of the site as a traveller site.
“The access does not provide sufficient space to allow two vehicles to pass at the entrance of the site, with the use of the site likely to generate slow-moving vehicles (caravans); there is also a lack of pedestrian footways and cycle links connecting it to the wider public highway.”
Melksham Town Council had also raised concern about the site’s location on a flood plain – a concern echoed by the Environment Agency, who also objected to the application.