Once again I read with interest a letter on housing in Chippenham and our high street in last week’s letter column.

As a local councillor and life-long resident of the town I have always supported new housing for Chippenham providing we see both benefits for new and the existing communities.

At a housing allocations meeting last week I stressed the importance of not just the numbers but there must be a strategic overview as well to ensure that we do not just see housing numbers increase, but that we see vital new road links and better community infrastructure being delivered.

If one looks at current proposals and land availability it is very clear that the majority of new housing will sit around the edge of Chippenham, therefore it is very important that these new residents feel part of the community and play a positive part in the future of Chippenham.

Finally the description of the high street being a shambles is totally unfair, I travel around the county a lot and visit Berkshire and Sussex regularly. The majority of town centres are mainly the same.

It is the public who determine how the high street looks by changing their retail habits and how they wish to spend their money and shop in different ways. I am encouraged by recent new arrivals to our town and the proposals to Langley Park.

I, along with members of both Wiltshire and the town council, will work closely with the community to ensure the whole of the town has a positive and prosperous future.

Peter J Hutton Wiltshire councillor