Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

More houses, generous salary packages and other items of interest ...
The main item of interest to Hilperton was the next stage in the process of allocating land for 6,000 new homes in the Trowbridge area. Many local residents responded to the consultation carried out earlier this year, and I wanted to ensure that their voice was properly taken into account.

The responses against any proposal to build in the Hilperton Gap or to the north-east of Marsh Road were noted in the report but no decision was made to remove them from the list of possible sites. I asked for them to be removed before the process goes any further and this was 'noted' but not adopted as a formal strategy (currently).

The report noted "However, it is likely that, in order to meet the housing supply targets..., the majority of sites within each of the broad locations for growth identified in each of the options will have to be developed. This may mean a choice between making an unpopular decision and finding a suitable alternative." Accordingly, we must ensure that future 'Trowbridge' housing land is based along options 4, 5, 6 and 7 which are (broadly) along West Ashton Road. The fact that locating new housing there would allow easy access to the A350 will probably be lost on the planners!

When this agenda item finished a few 'men in suits' left the meeting and so it's fair to assume that the developers had been keeping a wary eye on proceedings.

There were two other matters which may be of interest:-

1) There has been a spate of whellie bin thefts. If yours goes missing please phone WWDC to report the theft on 776655. Until you get a replacement bin, the council will arrange for black bin bags to be collected from your house.

2. The salary being paid to 'service directors' at the new unitary council is in the range of £65k - £75k. Those further up the pecking order are already looking at circa £142k. No wonder the officers at WCC seemed so keen on 'one council'!