WHILE it's shocking that Wiltshire Council has again failed to produce an acceptable plan for future development of Chippenham, the focus must now be on what needs to be done about it.

In bringing proceedings to a swift halt after only one and half days of the Examination in Public, the planning inspector made it quite clear that the way in which the council has selected its sites is fundamentally flawed and that its proposals for an Eastern Link Road, with its costly rail and river bridges, do not stack up. The inspector also pointed to a significant risk of major changes being required, in which case, he reasoned, it would be better to withdraw the plan than to try to prop it up.

To rational observers of this process, it’s crystal clear that a new plan is now required, which includes additional development to the south (including Area D), supported by a more practical and affordable southern bypass. This would connect up with realistically deliverable employment land and the A350, and relieve, what even Wiltshire Council's own traffic modelling shows, would be gridlock on the A4. What certainly isn't needed are more unsound proposals for sprawling development to the east of Chippenham (Areas B and C) and an unnecessary, expensive and environmentally damaging eastern bypass.

Simply 'rearranging the deckchairs’ on their existing plan cannot be in anyone’s interests, even Wiltshire Council's, let alone the people of this town and its neighbouring villages. Come on Wiltshire Council, redeem yourselves. Now's the time to listen to what local people (and the planning inspector) have been telling you, to avoid the urge to 'carry on regardless' and to present the people who live here with a sensible, realistic and sustainable future development plan for Chippenham.

NICK MURRY, Chippenham town councillor