I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed housing development at the former Blounts Court Nursery site at Studley.

It is proposed that 28 houses be built on this former horticultural site, which is totally unsuitable for residential use. It is bordered by the fast-moving A4 and a busy, extremely noisy and dust-producing but longstanding sawmill.

There are also two high-speed aviation fuel pipelines, crossing the site, which cannot be built over, causing the proposed houses to be squashed into a tight area in the middle of the field.

The owner’s advisors have, therefore, come up with various ways of alleviating the problems, including triple glazing and air conditioning so that the residents won’t need to open their windows!

They also suggest a three-metre high acoustic fence and cladding most of the sawmill to lessen the decibels, even though there is no certainty that this would work.

They suggest that a crossing and speed restrictions on the lethal A4 would be imperative but, again, they have no jurisdiction over this.

They plan to widen Studley Lane and put in a pavement, which would look terrible in rural Studley.

The planned estate is in an ugly, urban style and would be located in the middle of a field, nowhere near to most basic amenities and cut off by a high fence and a busy road. Its residents would be shut in their homes in order to escape the noise and the unhealthy fine sawdust from the mill. Presumably no playing in the garden for the children.

I fail to see how anyone in their right minds would consider this a suitable place for people to live. It is of course all right for the rabbits, badgers and rare butterflies which live there now.

Studley is a much-loved, rural village in the Wiltshire countryside, much used for leisure activities, such as cycling, horse riding, running and hiking. It would be disastrous and a great loss to all if it were to be overdeveloped and urbanised.

The assigned planning officer has decided to recommend approval for this development, despite 38 letters of objection from local people and a large petition, the objections of local council officers and numerous professional reports saying that the site is not suitable.

I understood that local people were to have a say in planning decisions now, but in this case they are being ignored and treated with contempt.

Angie Cleverly, Studley, Calne.