COMMUNITIES Minister Stephen Williams faces a grilling when he visits Devizes to talk about the Devizes Area Neighbourhood plan.

He will face officers and councillors from Devizes Town Council, Bishops Cannings and Roundway parish councils next Thursday.

They are keen to find out why the plan process takes so long and why, even once it is in place, developers can submit proposals for land not earmarked for housing.

Town council deputy clerk Simon Fisher said: "It seems wrong that even when the land is not part of the plan developers can try and throw money at it to try and get it through."

The town council and the two parish councils are angry that Scottish developer Mactaggart and Mickel is taking plans for 350 homes at Coate Bridge to judicial review despite cabinet minister Eric Pickles deciding it went against the neighbourhood plan.

The developer is likely to brief top lawyers to fight its case in the High Court and the Government will be forced to spend money on legal representation.

The town and parishes also face a fight with the Merchant Venturers over plans to build 123 homes next to Quakers Walk in Devizes.

Councillors believe this plan should also be thrown out as the land is not included in the neighbourhood plan.

Mr Fisher said he hoped that by the time both the judicial review for Coate Bridge and the plan for Quakers Walk are heard the neighbourhood plan will be even more advanced.

At the moment the plan is with Wiltshire Council for review. Once Wiltshire Council has confirmed that the plan has been produced in accordance with the regulations it will be subject to a formal six week period of consultation.

The results of the consultation will then be passed to an independent examiner to determine whether the plan should proceed to referendum.

If a majority in the referendum vote yes then the plan will become fully enforceable and along with Wiltshire's core strategy help to shape future planning decisions.