Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Site Allocations Examination is under way.

Not a seemingly exciting topic, but one that needed to be 'watched'.

The original draft document stated "Access for HGVs should be restricted to the north through signing and routing agreements to avoid passing through the built up area of Trowbridge."

This seemed a rather bizarre idea and so I responded to the consultation as follows:- 'If you seek to avoid routing HGV traffic through Trowbridge, where do you intend it to go? The road network in and around Hilperton is unsuitable for yet more HGVs. The B3105 through Hilperton is lined with residential properties and should be afforded the same consideration as the built-up area of Trowbridge. Access for HGV traffice should be only via Canal Road from Trowbridge or via Staverton and Hammond Way from 'the north'.

The document that was 'examined' by the Inspector recently states:- 'The impact of HGVs on sensitive receptors/local residential areas close to the site will need to be investigated. Access for HGVs should be sensitively controlled through signing and routing agreements. Access for light vehicles from the south is deemed acceptable although further capacity analysis will need to consider this. A Transport Assessment should be submitted with a planning application to identify the measures that will be taken to adequately mitigate or compensate for the anticipated transport and related environmental impacts of the proposal. Any application should be accompanied by a robust Travel Plan.'

This, to my mind, is far better worded and should avoid Hilperton from becoming a 'rubbish rat-run' if the site is developed further.

Of course, when the Hilperton Relief Road is finally constructed, all HGV traffic will be routed along there rather than through the village.