Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

'No' to Paxcroft Mead housing.
The outline planning application was overwhelmingly refused by a large majority at the WWDC planning committee meeting last night.

Myself and Trevor Carbin proposed refusal on the following grounds.

"This application is contrary to policy H1 of the adopted district plan, in as much as it does not comply with H1D as it would result in the loss of an open area important for amenity reasons.

In addition H1 states that 'priority will be given to proposals for the re-use of previously developed land'. This application singularly fails this requirement being, as it is, an area of grassland."

It will be interesting to see what happens next. I suspect that rather than enter into meaningful dialogue with WWDC, the parish council etc. Gallagher will take the decision to appeal. Whilst this is their right, it will be interesting to see their grounds for doing so - the refusal is in line with stated WWDC policy and would seem to be both 'fair' and 'reasonable'.