Sometimes you wish that your last year’s predictions had not come true. In 2014, I forecast that the council’s failure to get its core strategy plans for Chippenham accepted would encourage a rush of developers trying to build on all the green spaces around the town. The council then made matters worse by allocating Chippenham the only housing total in Wiltshire which was qualified by the slippery phrase “at least”. Unfortunately, that prediction has now come to pass.

Proposals are in or on their way to build literally thousands of houses to the south, north, north east and now on the green fields across the River Avon.

If these are approved, the town will be completely transformed, not only by the concreting of its green spaces but also by the pressures of huge traffic increases from housing complexes remote from the town centre.

It seems extraordinary to me that there is no coherent response from the various forms of civic leadership in the town.

Though some are concerned, many others are silent or apparently in favour of development at all costs.

Our current Liberal Democrat MP and his Conservative challenger seem to be sitting on the fence and staying there as long as they can.

Wiltshire Council has not yet produced its preferred allocation of housing sites but I will make another prediction, that they will simply roll over and agree to all the developers’ ambitions.

One way or another, the next year is going to be critical for the future of Chippenham.

A great deal of developer money is going to be put into trying to persuade residents and their representatives that these proposals are good for the town, and not just for developers’ profits.

For my part, I sincerely believe that the majority of the town’s residents do not want the town to be surrounded by the huge developments which are now being proposed, or would in any case oppose them if they were fully informed.

It is time for those who share these concerns to stand up together, and be counted.

By this time next year it will certainly be too late.

Chris Caswill, Independent Wiltshire councillor, Chippenham Monkton ward.