Devizes campaigners' fears over more housing in town

8:39am Monday 5th May 2008

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Campaigners will be holding a public meeting in Devizes to discuss the threat of new housing developments around the town.

Devizes Guardians wants to air issues raised by the new developments.

Nigel Carter, chairman of the Guardians said: "Kennet District Council's plans for more housing in the district are being tested in a questionnaire to be circulated during the next few weeks.

"However, the background to the questionnaire is unlikely to reveal the real extent of the threat to the well-being of Devizes.

"The sense of frustration among residents to the recent discussion on the future of Quaker's Walk reveals a lack of understanding of the early stages in the planning process at which the community needs to intervene to make its feelings heard."

The meeting is in the Assembly Rooms at Devizes Town Hall, at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 28 May 2008.

A presentation on planning issues around the town will be followed by a discussion on potential responses which might be made to the questionnaire.

Mr Carter added: We are at a watershed in the development of Devizes. Too many houses and too many people are already putting the infrastructure under stress.

"Nothing in Kennet's current plans appear to offer credible improvements in either local employment or transport management, nor to reduce the threat of medical, social and leisure services being overwhelmed. In truth, their proposals are increasingly unsustainable.''