Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

'No' from Hilperton Parish Council.
As previously reported, Selwood Housing has submitted an application to build twelve 'affordable' homes on the old nursery site on Marsh Road. The plans include details of access and parking arrangements and can be inspected at the Bradley Road offices of the district council. The application reference number is 08/03518/FUL.

Last night, Hilperton Parish Council agreed that it would formally object to the scheme. The council queried whether there was actually a proven need for the housing and also raised questions about drainage, parking arrangements, and road safety.

As the parish council has objected, the application cannot now be approved by the district council without going before the WWDC planning committee.

This could be one of the last applications where this system applies as the new Wiltshire Council (WC) is withdrawing the right of parish councils to call for planning applications to be considered by elected committee members rather than decided by council officers.

Many people are furious about this change to the system and even our MP has written to the county council expressing his concerns. However, it looks as though the WC will start life with less democracy in planning than we have now.

If I am elected to the new council I will be pushing to get parish council 'call-in' powers restored. When the candidates start to campaign, please ask them what their view is on this topic, assuming that they are even aware of it, that is.