As previously mentioned, this inquiry is, unusually, being held in two locations. The first two days in Trowbridge and a third day in Cricklade. Typically, these appeals are heard in Chippenham so having a couple of days in Trowbridge is a bit of a trek. The planning inspectorate is being very tight-lipped about what might be discussed on any particular day, “it is up to the inspector on the day”. There is no guidance being given out though one assumes that the Cricklade day is more for local participation. In […]
Wiltshire Core Strategy ~ shaping our parish
As you may know, this strategy identifies (amongst other things) the preferred general location of housing in Wiltshire. The document is critical to the future shape of both Purton and Purton Stoke since our neighbourhood plan (which will comment on future housing in the parish) has to conform to the overall housing strategy argued in the core strategy. There has been a public examination of this strategy in front of a government-appointed planning inspector, and various modifications to the strategy are now out for consultation. All those concerned with the […]
Season of Surveys
Even while the ink is still drying on the parish plan (should be published soon) we have another survey inviting us to “tell us what matters to you”. The neighbourhood plan is kicking off with the usual exhortation to “let your views be known”. You can access the survey here. It begins quite imaginatively in that it asks us to imagine that the year is 2026. We are then asked to write a postcard from that date, as if all of the things that we would like to happen in […]
Widham Farm ~ next update
At this stage, usually the developer and the planning authority (Wiltshire Council) submit their “proofs of evidence”. These typically amount to 30 or so pages with perhaps separate ones for specific issues, often traffic or flooding, also around 30 or so pages. This time the developer has hit us with hundreds of pages of proofs of evidence, quite overwhelming. This is intentional, of course, and designed to swamp any objector. The proofs were released last Thursday and I have been going through them. I will issue a summary of key […]
Expansion of Composting at Mopes Lane
Composting is nominally a “good thing”, all things being equal. Unfortunately, the new application (13/01916/WCM) at Mopes Lane (technically at Parkgate Farm) to increase the composting tonnage to 50,000 tonnes per year comes at a cost. Since these extra tonnages are coming from the proposed tyre-shredding operation that never happened, it is also carrying over the additional Heavy Goods Vechicle movements from that proposal. This relentless increase in HGV movements is battering the local road feeding Mopes Lane, and carving up the verges. It is long overdue to call time […]
Widham Farm Appeal
With about four weeks notice, the date for the next Widham Farm Appeal is now set. It will be spread over three days; two at Trowbridge and, unusually a little closer to home, at Cricklade. The Trowbridge dates are 17 and 18 September and the Cricklade one is a week later on 24 September. As usual, each day begins at 10 am and if you want to speak then you have to register for this at 10 am on the day, even though you may not get called to speak […]
Going too fast?
A lot of people comment about speed. It is possible to re-designate streets. There is an opportunity to comment on the plan for Wiltshire Council’s Policy on 20 mph speed limits zones – before 21 September 2013. Wiltshire Council is seeking views on its draft policy for 20 mph speed restrictions. The draft policy covers both 20 mph zones and 20 mph speed limits and sets out the criteria to be used to identify and assess the locations where 20 mph restrictions could be introduced. The policy also sets out […]
Ridgeway Farm ~ object or not to object
A bit of a crazy time with Ridgeway Farm. Since the two current applications were not “called in” so that they could be decided by councillors, they will now be decided by Wiltshire Council officers. This is fine for small applications such as household ones ~ not easy to get those wrong. But I would have thought that all big contentious applications with far-reaching consequences should automatically be brought before our elected councillors for scrutiny. Especially, since a short while ago Thames Water put in an objection to the application. […]
Accessing Wiltshire Council Information
Yet another “portal” has opened up to help us all find useful information about Wiltshire Council. The latest is called “My Area” and is found on www.wiltshire.gov.uk. This adds to other key sources also produced by Wiltshire Council: the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade “Our Community Matters” for the Council and local groups to promote local events in various parts of the community area. Then there is the neighbourhood planning web site for Wiltshire but trying to get to our neighbourhood planning information from there is not intuitive at all. […]