It seems to have been very quiet lately? Not really.
Work on the Neighbourhood Plan has been proceeding. The neighbour plan will, in essence, shape the future development of Purton in terms of additional housing either though infilling or elsewhere. The neighbourhood planning process, which started two years ago, still proceeds at a glacial pace. There are many reasons for this, mostly related to the fact that Purton’s plan is a part of a “neighbourhood” that includes: Broad Town, Clyffe Pypard, Lydiard Millicent, Lydiard Tregoz, Lyneham and Bradenstoke, and Tockenham. It used to include Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade and Marston Meysey but they are now forging their own way.
I have always argued that Purton should have been allowed to have its own plan, not be part of an assemblage of parishes with relatively little in common. The reason for aggregating the parishes was simply a financial one, taken by Wiltshire Council.
If we had been allowed to develop our own plan, I am sure it would be in place by now and we would able to dictate the future of Purton far more effectively.
Probably one of the more challenging aspects of any neighbourhood plan would be whether or not the settlement boundary (the boundary beyond which there should be no housing) should be changed (enlarged). If enlargement is to be considered then that is supposed to be considered through the neighbourhood planning process.
Currently, Purton’s chapter to the aggregated neighbourhood plan reflects the findings of the parish plan, that there should be no change to the existing settlement boundary, though there is still ongoing debate as to whether or not this is a sustainable position for Purton in the longer term.
Yet, as part of the ongoing Wiltshire Core Strategy process, Wiltshire Council recently went out to consultation with the parish councils about changing the settlement boundary in the various parishes, including Purton. There is now a map showing proposed changes to the existing settlement boundary of Purton. To do this without waiting for the outcome of the neighbourhood planning process is unhelpful to say the least and I have complained to Wiltshire Council about this.
It is unhelpful and premature to start proposing changes to boundaries before the neighbourhood planning process has run its course, pre-empt its findings and before the people of Purton have had a chance to comment on the neighbourhood plan itself.
I am now advised by Wiltshire Council that there will be a further public consultation in due course (date as yet unknown) and I will let you know when this is.
