RESIDENTS are being urged to vote in the upcoming Neighbourhood Plan referendum.
The Melksham Neighbourhood Plan sets out where the community would prefer to see housing built, and people can vote next week, on Thursday 1st July, to adopt the plan.
Promoters of the Neighbourhood Plan have explained that if residents back the plan, it could ‘give control back’ to Melksham over future housing developments.
“A ‘yes’ vote gives local councils more control over housing development, a ‘no’ vote means we have very little control,” said a Neighbourhood Plan supporter. “Voting against the Plan will continue to give developers the right to put their housing ANYWHERE! Voting YES for the plan stops that!”
Benefits
Explaining the benefits of a community having a Neighbourhood Plan, Melksham’s mayor, cllr Jon Hubbard, has explained that the plan will give Melksham ‘considerable additional protection’ against unplanned development, which he says is currently ‘being forced on the community’ because of Wiltshire Council’s ‘failure to manage housing developments across the county’.
This has been described as a failure that has opened Melksham up to ‘piecemeal developments’ that are ‘unsustainable’ and ‘inappropriate’, including the plans for 144 houses in Berryfield, which were given the thumbs up by Wiltshire Council in January, despite strong objections from local residents and the parish council.
And the chair of Melksham Without Parish Council, cllr John Glover, has said that the plan will give the community a say in where new housing is built, and what infrastructure is included in the development.
Urged to vote
Cllr Glover told Melksham News, “The referendum question you will be asked is ‘Do you want Wiltshire Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Melksham to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’ and I urge you to vote.
“The Neighbourhood Plan protects us against a lack of 5-year land supply in Wiltshire, which has been the problem over recent years and seen several developments take place, which otherwise would have been turned down by Wiltshire Council.
“Whilst we cannot reduce the number of houses destined for the Melksham area, we can identify where we want them and the community infrastructure to accompany it.”
Melksham’s mayor, cllr Jon Hubbard added, “The referendum on July 1st is our chance in Melksham to contain future development. Adopting the plan gives considerable additional protection against unplanned development being forced on our community as a result of Wiltshire Council’s failure to manage housing developments across the county.”
The pair of councillors have dismissed concerns from some residents that by supporting the Neighbourhood Plan they will also be supporting the proposed A350 Melksham Bypass.
Cllr Glover said, “The Neighbourhood Plan is completely separate and unrelated to the current bypass proposals, despite what you may read in the local press and social media.
“Melksham Without Parish Council are committed to achieving the best outcome for its residents across the whole parish, recognising it represents residents along the whole route of the proposed bypass from Beanacre to Bowerhill.”
Protection against speculative devts
Cllr Hubbard added, “I know that there are some people who believe that the plan will force a bypass on the A350 and then bring in thousands of extra homes, but actually the reverse is true.
“The plan barely mentions the bypass and by stipulating the potential sites for development in the plan and having the additional protection that a Neighbourhood Plan gives, we will be in a stronger place to refuse speculative applications.”
Full details of the Neighbourhood Plan can be found on the website: www.melkshamneighbourhoodplan.org
