CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for extra homes next to Quakers Walk, Devizes, are down but not out after Wiltshire Council gave the the scheme the go-ahead.

They are determined to make the most of a committee's decision to call for a new traffic management report on the junction with London Road before the plan for up to 123 new homes goes ahead.

Wiltshire councillor Laura Mayes said this week: "We need to make the developers realise the existing traffic report does not make sense and they must start from the beginning again and consider everything.

"I don't know what the exact answer is but we need to make sure we look at every way of improving the situation on London Road."

She is to set up a consultation group to include people from the existing Quakers Walk estate. She said: "This is an opportunity for us to look at what needs to be included along with the houses. It might be that if there was a shop fewer people would have to get in their cars to go and buy a loaf of bread or pint of milk."

Roundway Parish Council chairman Chris Callow said: "I was very disappointed that the committee agreed the plan and did not take account of the Devizes Area Neighbourhood Plan but I think it is a very good idea for a residents group to be formed.

"We have to do everything we can to try and overcome the traffic and other issues."

Devizes Town Councillor Judy Rose said: "The traffic issues created by this and other developments off the London Road are long-standing.

"Those on the narrow roads of the existing estate clearly are also a problem which has not been addressed by either developers or planners. Laura Mayes’ suggestion of a residents group to consider all these, and to add weight to any planning conditions negotiated by the planners, is a very good idea, and one which the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group supports."

On Thursday evening head of development control for Wiltshire Council Mike Wilmott told the eastern area planning meeting that a developer would no longer be expected to pay towards an extension for Trinity Primary School as new figures showed a drop in birth rates.

But when asked if it was possible for some of this money to be diverted towards a traffic scheme he said no. A report to the committee from the highways authority said it did not think traffic issues justified turning down the housing project.

n Homes approved: Page 5