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Wiltshire Council news from Ernie Clark.
A (very) belated Happy New Year to everyone.
WC has published the draft budget for 23/24 which will see a 5% increase in council tax. I’m sure the meeting next month, when the precept decision is made, will be an interesting one.
Hilperton Parish Council decided on another 0% increase at the January meeting. A motion was debated to increase the precept by a ‘one off’ £10 to fund the legal costs likely to be incurred when the Local Plan goes to public inquiry either later this year or 2024. The motion was ‘lost’ but the parish council will re-jig the budget to find the £20k from other sources. The budgeted sum for legal coats is now £60k.
HAAG (Hilperton Area Action Group) continues its good work and has lodged a complaint with the Information Commissioner regarding the ‘non-answers’ received from Wiltshire Council.
There has been an interesting development regarding the possible allocation of land within Hilperton for 2,000 houses. A new map has been published showing development going through Hag Hill across to the A350 – an area dismissed by WC in their pre-consultation process. The other area in the ‘new’ plan still shows housing on Marsh Farm but, presumably, access would have to be off Hill Street/Marsh Road.
A bizarre plan but I guess the landowner(s) are set on making their financial killing at the cost of losing Hilperton as a village. So much for the fair words uttered in the past. Of course, most of this land is controlled by one family.
The police now seem loathe to send officers out to monitor speeding where the requesting village does not have a Community Speed Watch operating. Hilperton does have such a scheme but new volunteers are required. If you could spare approx. one hour a month please contact me.