Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones | I'm on your side

I am dismayed to still read the inaccurate reporting of the real issues surrounding the possible development of Bird’s Marsh.  The only way to fully secure this area for future generations is to abolish the Regional Spatial Strategy that dictates the number of houses for Wiltshire.  A Conservative government will abolish this and return these powers to Wiltshire from Westminster.

Following the debate in Council about future housing in Chippenham, Jane Scott, leader of the council, has issued the following statement to clarify the current situation.

“We are consulting in accordance with government guidelines which have to be followed about the possible location of housing in Wiltshire – the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

The Cabinet of Wiltshire Council agreed to this consultation being carried out but has not discussed the number of houses or proposed locations.

It is very important that anybody who has any concerns about proposals in this document should comment and provide evidence in support or opposition to the proposals.

Whilst we are still processing responses to the consultation, early indications suggest that an additional consultation will need to be undertaken in the Chippenham area, prior to the publication of the Draft Core Strategy and the final draft going to the Examination in Public.

If the council does not follow the guidance from the government, the Inspector can dismiss the proposals.  This would leave a development guidance vacuum with the risk of sites being chosen by developers, rather than Wiltshire Council, thereby ignoring the views of local people to the detriment of Chippenham in the longer term.

The above is, of course, dependent on the Regional Spatial Strategy remaining in place which allocates the housing growth for Wiltshire and the rest of the South West.  However, should there be a change of government in the months ahead, it is likely that a new process will take place to allow the number of houses to be built, and their location, to be determined more locally”.