Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Contact WC with your thoughts now!

Good planning news for Hilperton – for a change! The Wiltshire Core Strategy (WCS), which is now out for public consultation, is a hugely important document for future development in the Trowbridge area. It will dictate where large-scale development will be allowed upto 2026.

The Wiltshire Council (WC) preferred option is to see development to the south of the town along West Ashton Road. There are many reasons for this including

a) good accessibility to employment,

b) significant opportunities to provide green infrastructure thus enhancing habitat for wildlife benefit,

c) it would help facilitate improvements to the A350 around Yarnbrook,

d) the possibility of a new secondary school south-east of the town and

e) it would avoid significant development in Hilperton, North Bradley and Southwick and thus avoid their coalescence with Trowbridge and loss of character.

In summary, it is a coherent, sustainable extension for Trowbridge with good accessibility to employment and it is well located to deliver the road improvements Trowbridge needs.

Several options were discounted in coming to the preferred option. ‘Option 4’ included land in the Gap and Hilperton Marsh whilst ‘Option 5’ included the Gap. These were not preferred as both would have led to an increase in through-town traffic and, in addition, they suffered from poor access.

Landowners in the Gap, Hilperton Marsh and other pockets situated within Hilperton, will undoubtedly be lobbying WC to try to get their land back into the WCS – its value would increase tenfold! If you support the preferred option for Trowbridge I urge you to tell the council! If all they hear are objections to their preferred option then they could change their mind and we could see the Gap, Hilperton Marsh etc. etc. being built on within ten years.

If you wish to register your support you must do so before 5.00pm on the 31st of December.

You can write to Spatial Planning, Economy and Enterprise, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8JN or

email spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk or

use the online system or

phone 01225 713489.

Please do not rely on others to do it for you. Every letter, email etc. will make a difference.