People in Melksham will be able to have their say on the Wiltshire Local Plan from next week, as the consultation begins on Wednesday 27 September, for eight weeks until Wednesday 22 November.
To enable as many people as possible to find out more about the Plan and how to submit representations, Wiltshire Council is holding 16 in-person drop-in sessions across the county and an online webinar event. To sign up for the webinar, and to submit questions beforehand, people should go to: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/local-plan.
Wiltshire Local Plan Consultation Meetings
The in-person sessions begin with a drop-in event at Amesbury Library on Monday 2 October, followed by events at Bradford on Avon Library on Monday 2 October, Chippenham Olympiad on Tuesday 3 October, and Melksham Community Campus on Wednesday 4 October. All events take place from 3pm to 7pm, apart from the Westbury event, which takes place between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. People can just turn up at these events – there is no need to book. If people cannot make their local in-person event, they are welcome to attend any of the others to discuss the Plan and their own area – all events are open to all.
Local councillor for Melksham, Jon Hubbard, commented, "I would encourage anyone who cares about the development that is happening in our town to find time to come down to the consultaton on the 4th October and make their point. There may be some confusion as their has been much talk recently about the town's Neighbourhood Plan that is also being revised at the moment, but the Local Plan is a very important document that dictates the levels of development that we will have to accomodate in the town and surrounding communities."
Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “The Local Plan is very important as it sets out the vision and framework for housing, infrastructure and land for employment growth in Wiltshire for the next 15 years.
“As we approach the end of the Local Plan process, it’s very important that we get residents impressions, feedback and comments and so we’re holding 16 in-person events and an online event over the coming weeks.
“These informal in person drop-in events are a chance to discuss the Plan with our planning officers and ask questions, and also find out how to comment on the Plan.
“This Local Plan proposes to only build the homes we need during the Plan period up until 2038, with 36,740 homes to be built in Wiltshire, of which over 21,900 homes have already been built or are committed.
“It also sets out ambitious sustainability policies, as new developments will have to meet zero carbon standards, improve biodiversity and also have cycling and walking connections.”
People can read all of the Local Plan documents on the council’s website and at the main council offices at County Hall, Trowbridge, Monkton Park, Chippenham, and Bourne Hill, Salisbury. The Plan will also be available in many Wiltshire Council libraries.
People can share their views through the council’s online portal, and anyone without internet access can visit a library to use the computers there, or contact the council to get a written copy of the representation form and find out how to view the documents. To find out more and to sign up for online event, people should go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/local-plan
