A CONSULTATION document on future development in Kennet district over the next 20 years recognises the major problems of traffic congestion in Devizes.

Copies of Making Places for the Future, a leaflet outlining the options for housing and commercial development in Kennet over the next two decades, are to be delivered to all households in the district in the next week or two.

They invite comments on the questionnaire provided and the closing date for the consultation is Monday June 16.

There are to be several exhibitions and public meetings before that. The first is at St Peter's Church in Marlborough on Tuesday and Wednesday May 13 and 14, noon to 5pm, with a public meeting on May 14 from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Pewsey's Bouverie Hall is the venue for an exhibition on Monday and Thursday May 19 and 22, with a public meeting on the Thursday at the same time.

The Cheese Hall at Devizes town hall will host the exhibition on Tuesday and Thursday, June 3 and 5, and a public meeting on the Thursday at the same time.

The consultation is for Kennet District Council to create what used to be called a district plan, but which the Government has dubbed a core strategy. It is all part of the Government's Regional Spatial Strategy.

Most of the development in the RSS will be in "strategically significant cities and towns", such as Swindon and possibly Chippenham and Trowbridge.

There are no such sites in Kennet but Devizes, as the largest and most vibrant economic unit in the district, will inevitably attract most development.

The RSS allocates 6,000 new dwellings for Kennet. With those already built or in the planning process, that leaves around 1,900 houses to be found room for.

The consultation document suggests a number of options. The first suggests that Devizes is the focus for development, but adds: "The town centre has benefited from growth and the number of people living and working locally has remained high but there have been consequences in terms of increased road congestion.

"Even with remedial work to key junctions, roads could exceed their capacity if this level of growth is proposed."

Alternative options include spreading the load of development among Devizes, Marlborough and the Tidworth/Ludgershall area.

Then there are options covering small-scale development directed to Pewsey, Market Lavington and selected smaller villages such as Burbage, Collingbourne Ducis, Great Bedwyn, Great Cheverell, Netheravon, Ramsbury, Upavon, Urchfont and West Lavington.

If you do not receive a copy of the consultation leaflet, or need more information, ring Kennet's forward planning team on (01380) 734872.