Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council news from Ernie Clark.

Your Independent councillor for Hilperton.

At the recent Trowbridge Area Board, we were presented with a written report from the Wiltshire Council spatial planners regarding the preliminary findings of the Planning Inspector of the Core Strategy. Amazingly nearly 25% of the report referred to housing in Chippenham! What relevance has that to the Trowbridge area?

That said, the revised housing figures being bandied about by Wiltshire Council planners should set alarm bells ringing in the villages around Trowbridge - but doesn't seem to have done so for some reason.

The Inspector examining the 2026 Local Plan commented, amongst other things, that the number of houses allowed for during the life of the plan should be increased. However, rather than reverting to a higher figure which the WC Cabinet (I believe) kicked out, and which would have broadly satisfied the Inspector, the spatial planners have come up with a scheme which, to me, beggars belief.

Without going into too much detail the broad gist is that the Trowbridge area (i.e. the surrounding villages) is targeted for a higher number of extra houses than the whole of south and east Wiltshire COMBINED are expected to take!!

I understand that Trowbridge Town Council doesn't see a problem with the increased numbers - but then, of course, the houses will be built in the surrounding parishes; so why should it be concerned? In fact it probably sees it as an easy way of increasing its Council Tax in the medium term.

It is normal practice that the Planning Inspector will require a six week public consultation on this suggestion and I will ensure that residents are kept informed as things develop.

The owners of most of the land around the village would be prepared to see housing on their fields and, in fact, indicated this to the old District Council some years ago.