Semington isn’t suitable for more houses, say residents

A PLANNING application to build 75 homes on land north of Pound Lane in Semington, has been met with strong objection from local residents.

Over 130 letters have now been submitted to Wiltshire Council which fiercely object to the development which residents say will severly affect the dynamic of the village.

Semington Parish Council has also opposed the application citing Wiltshire Council’s Core Strategy which states, ‘Developments in large and small villages will be limited to that needed to help meet the housing needs of settlements and to improve employment opportunities, services and facilties’ – all of which the parish council says the development does none of.

Residents and the parish council also accuse Richborough Estates of not sufficiently consulting with the village. Parish Clerk Roger Coleman said, “There was plenty of time for the developers to consult villagers and the Parish Council and they were invited to a meeting where they might have outlined their proposals as part of an open agenda with villagers present.”

Subsequently, Richborough Estates turned down the invitation saying, “In our experience, meeting with parish councillors is counterproductive.”

One resident wrote, “I am very concerned that this development is totally impracticable for the site which it is planned to be built on. This has also been sprung upon us with very little consultation. The development will increase the size of the village by 19%, which is totally unwarranted.

“As the village has few facilities, no village shop, only a part time post office and village pub, the new residents will have to drive to the nearby towns for their everyday needs. With Pound Lane as the only access, considerable problems will result. This lane is far to narrow for the volume of traffic that will be generated by the extra 75 houses.

“At school times the lane is frequently blocked by cars, with children walking in the road. Frequently, larger vehicles already have to drive over the grass verge by the school to get through.

“As 24 new houses are already planned to be built in St George’s Road, I can see no reason to expand the village any further.”

The consultation period has now closed and a decision is expected on Tuesday 13th September. To view the application, visit Wiltshire Council’s planning website and enter the planning application reference number 16/05783/OUT