Lib Dems call for ‘More transparency and less spin’ following Wiltshire Council Cabinet approving new Core Strategy

Councillors at today's meeting of Wiltshire Council's Cabinet voted to approve the new Wiltshire Core Strategy. This is the last hurdle for the new important planning document before it is submitted to a special full meeting of the Council on 20th January for formal adoption.

Leader of the Lib Dems on the Council Jon Hubbard has called for the Conservative administration to: "Demonstrate more transparency and less spin" when answering important questions being raised by Wiltshire residents.

Citing the example of the surprise change in the policy document regarding the status of the A350 bordering the west of Chippenham, Cllr Hubbard commented "This has come as a real shock and caused huge concern for many residents. The A350 has always been seen as the boundary not only of the existing town, but also of any potential development.

"There appears to be considerable confusion about how this dramatic change in stance within the policy document came about, and understandably residents are concerned if land that they had thought was protected is now at risk of development.

"Although we now have some more clarity following today's meeting it would appear that the unexpected change is not as bad as many feared.

"I have asked the administration to ensure that there is a clear briefing for members prior to the special meeting on 20th January making clear what the position is with regard to both the Council's policy on development west of the A350 and how protected that land is from speculative development with the changes that have been made".