RESIDENTS are being urged to help stop plans for 1,000 new homes in the Malmesbury area.

Wiltshire councillor for the town, Gavin Grant, has written to residents in 11 areas cited for new housing developments urging them to speak out.

Wiltshire Council is currently consulting on 11 potential sites in and around Malmesbury that could take new houses. If all were developed another 1,000 houses would be built.

In his letter Councillor Grant says residents must speak out to oppose these plans before the end of the Wiltshire Council consultation on Tuesday, March 9.

Explaining why he had written his letter, Cllr Grant said: “Malmesbury is a special and beautiful place. There are only a few days left to speak up to tell Wiltshire Council that we want to keep it that way.”

“This community’s response to the pandemic has been tremendous. You kill community spirit when towns gets too big.

“Our primary schools are full. Local children of primary school age are already being shipped to the school in Lea. Our roads are clogged and car parks full.

“There are around another 290 new homes already in the planning pipeline. We do not need and ‎cannot cope with any more. I urge residents to stand up and tell Wiltshire Council that Malmesbury cannot take any more houses - ‘enough is enough’‎.”

People have less than a week to have their say on where future developments may be built in the county in the next 15 years.

The public consultation closes on Tuesday.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for planning, said: “We have had an excellent response to the consultation so far, with more than 500 submissions, but we’re asking anyone that hasn’t already responded to do so.

“All the Local Plan documents and an online form for people to have their say are on our website, and anyone without internet access who wants to have their say can contact our Spatial Planning team to discuss the plan in their area and submit their comments.

“It’s really important that people take this opportunity to let us know what they think, as feedback we receive will help to shape the next 15 years of development in Wiltshire.”

Residents can give their feedback via wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-policy-local-plan-review-consultation.

They can also call 0300 456 0100 to speak to a planning officer.