Translators spark Codford Planning Battle

An attempt by "Babylon Translations Ltd" to construct a building in open countryside on the edge of Codford came to the planning committee on November 9th. Councillors voted to refuse the scheme on the grounds of its intrusion into the open countryside. The application was opposed by the Parish Council and neighbours, but Wiltshire Council planning officers had recommended permission.

The site is behind the filling station on the entrance to the village at the Warminster end. The building is described as 'barn like' and would have included offices, operations rooms and sleeping accomodation.

Babylon is a privately owned defence contractor that provides translation, language training, and cultural advice and training in respect of Afghanistan and other countries, as well as role playing services, to the MOD, Foreign Office and other government organisations. The role playing activity supports the pre-deployment training of UK military personnel. Much of this activity takes place on the Salisbury Plain Training Area. Whilst the majority of the personnel employed in the role playing are accommodated in military accommodation, according to the agent, their management and logistic support has to be undertaken from private sector accommodation and for operational reasons that accommodation must be located very close to where the personnel are to be accommodated and deployed. This management and logistics activity involves up to 25 supervisory personnel and 10-15 HQ staff and it is these personnel who were proposed to be based in Codford.

Objectors pointed out that the Afghan war could be over by 2015 and the building might then be redundant; that the site is outside the village policy limits; that there would be an increase in traffic including at night; and that the building itself is ugly. Supporters of the scheme said it would provide useful employment in an area with a strong military tradition, and that the building was not unattractive.

The applicants have the right to appeal against the decision.