Opposition To Lacock Development Plans
By Lois_Avery | Thursday, July 14, 2011, 16:10
If you haven't heard already, there are plans for a massive new industrial estate and housing development just outside of Lacock (on the Chippenham side)
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Map shows proposed areas for development in Chippenham
A public meeting was held in Lacock Village Hall last night to give residents and anyone else opposed to the plans a chance to air their views.
And it seems the level of opposition to this development is already quite high, they even have their own website.
The plan is to build an 'urban extension' of Chippenham that will link the town to the Lacock Parish with up to 1,500 houses and a 28 hectare industrial estate, which the Save Lacock campaign says is as big as two Bumpers Farm estates.
This development will grow the size Chippenham by a third.
Expansion plans aren't new in Chippenham, in fact it's widely reported that the council plans to create 5,000 new homes by 2020 in order to accommodate the town's growing needs.
But the argument against this development is that it's on 'green' land in a particularly rural and attractive area. And that the town isn't able to cope with such rapid development.
According to the website lots of residents' and James Gray MP are against the plans. The Chippenham Community Voice is also opposing the plans.
Will it boost the town?
Shops are closing left, right and centre and there's a row over parking. I imagine a lot of people will use Chippenham as a base to commute, therefore not helping the local economy much.
Save Lacock says: "Despite the blindingly obvious fact that businesses are still closing monthly Wiltshire Council are insisting vast areas of greenfield land are earmarked for development.
"Certainly, as we come out of recession there will need to be new jobs for local people, particularly youngsters, but we certainly don't need to be providing jobs and houses for the estimated additional 7,000+ new people who will be encouraged to live in the area."
The plans are now in Wiltshire Council's consultation process.
To view the plans in full click here.
You'll see another area earmarked for development is Landers Field, near Abbeyfield School.
In order to comment you'll need to login or register but it's a quick job. At the moment there are only 2 comments! So if you have an opinion, make it heard.
One so far comments on the ability of Chippenham's transport facilities to cope with expansion: "Before any new intake of population, be it permanent or for employment takes place- the priority should be to ensure that Chippenham station is suitable for those with disabilities, the elderly and families with buggies- no lift access is quite unacceptable in the 21st century."
Let us know what you think about these proposals! Will it be good for the town, or a step too far?
Comments
Urgent: the consultation period for these proposals closes next Monday!! So it's v important to have your say now if you haven't already. Otherwise it may get approved! http://tinyurl.com/3nz43hh
By Lois_Avery at 16:04 on 04/08/11
ReportI think it would be a totally irresponsible and barbaric course of action to desecrate this beautiful countryside that is one of the main reasons that people love to live in the area.
It states that this is the start of a much larger development and we all know that once building starts they will continue and Chippenham will loose it's identity of being a Market town along with all the surrounding area's being consumed.
The council are the ones who are responsible for the towns demise at present by not encouraging both businesses and people to come into the town. This is evident by the lack of foresight shown when Woolworths closed and there was the opportunity to get Marks & Spencers to take over the shop. I understand that Marks & Spencer's withdrew because of the recession and they were consolidating their business. But if the council had offered an incentive like free rent for a year this would have been prosperous for the town in the long term by bringing people into town. Another reason the council are helping to kill the town centre is by unjustifiably increasing the parking fee's to an amount that puts off people wanting to just 'pop' into town for a few items so it then encourages them to shop out of town where the parking is free.
I have also heard that businesses are either closing or cannot afford to set up in the town because the business rates and rent are too expensive for them to have a viable and profitable business.
At the end of the day the Government have devolved the responsibility to local councils to manage their areas and they are solely to be held accountable for the demise of the town centre and the easy option is not to destroy are beautiful local countryside hoping that this will bring in additional revenue for the town centre as all it will do is get more and more people demanding larger out of town shopping areas.
By Courtwilding at 08:49 on 19/07/11
ReportI just wonder if the local people are being a bit short termism here. The biggest problem facing this town is local employment opportunities. Without those the town center will continue to die.
Untill Chippenham can attract the big business (not retail) into the town, and have good affordable local housing to support those business, this town will remain a Dormentary Tow, and maybe even start shrinking as pewople seek to move closer to work, to offset the ever increasing costs of commuting.
By mjhudston at 10:01 on 16/07/11
ReportThe problem is people tend not to speak up until it's too late! And then complain...
By Lois_Avery at 20:14 on 15/07/11
Reportthis shows how important these plans are. Local people must make sure their views are heard.
By Itseeze Websites at 07:47 on 15/07/11
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