Wiltshire plan in final stages

The Wiltshire Core Strategy Pre-Submission Document is at

http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal/spatial_planning/wcs/pre-subconsult2012

The final consultation on the document closed on April 2nd.

The plan will now be put to a government inspector for confirmation.

CPRE (Campaign for Protection of Rural England) and a number of other organisations have created a Network Against Wiltshire Sprawl, which aims to oppose the WC strategy and encourage more sensible and restrained development particularly in Western Wiltshire. For details call CPRE on 01380 722157 or wiltscpre@btinternet.com

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NAWS spent a morning handing out posters and explaining to the public what the Wiltshire Core Strategy is all about in Trowbridge in March. Here are some of the comments they received:

"I've never heard of the Wiltshire Council Core Strategy!"

"Why are they trying to build a Business Park on greenfields between Trowbridge and West Ashton when the existing Business Parks are half empty?"

"Trowbridge town centre needs doing up before they dig up any more green fields!"

"Why are they not concentrating on what people want ie a purpose-built sports centre, a hospital (we have to travel to the other side of Bath!) good quality shops and offices --- all we have left are charity shops and down market shops."

"We've had enough large housing estates and Business Parks outside Trowbridge (and other Wiltshire towns) so now it's time they provided the amenities in the town centres that the public deserve and have been asking for during the last 40 years!"

"Why is Trowbridge Town Council determined to concrete over all the green fields between the town and surrounding villages"

"Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention, I had no idea of these proposals --- keep up the good work, you have my full support and I will definitely be making my views known to the council!"

"The Trowbridge sewage works has not been updated since the early 70's and since most of this proposed development is on the opposite side of Trowbridge, are they planning to build a new pumping station and new drains all at taxpayers expense or can the present system cope with all this extra development?"

"We moved to Wiltshire 2 years ago because it looked like a nice rural county but even in the 2 years we have been here we can see the change brought about by unnecessary development! --- we almost wish we hadn't bothered to move here!"

"I like the individual market towns and villages of Wiltshire with large unspoilt areas of natural farmland and green fields between the towns and villages but from what you are showing me today, it looks as if parts of Wiltshire are in danger of becoming a massive urban sprawl, just like Swindon where they are trying to "undo" the mistakes they have made during the last 50 years!"

"The centres of Trowbridge, Chippenham, Melksham and Westbury have been neglected because the Council and developers have concentrated on "quick fix" money making development on the outskirts of these towns"