Due to recent legislative changes by the Government, there appears to be something of a national house building frenzy by developers. Whilst we all recognise the need for building homes for our future, it should not be at the expense of vital services and infrastructure nor should it result in a permanent loss of amenity space or the loss landscape that defines the very character of Warminster.
EBBRAG would therefore like to invite you to a public meeting at St Johns Church, Boreham Rd, on Sat 10 Jan 26, starting at 1430hrs. The date and time has been selected to allow the maximum number to attend in daylight and for most on a non-working day.
EBBRAG thanks the St Johns Parochial Church Council (PCC) for allowing the meeting to be held in the church.
The intention is to:
- Give a brief outline of the history of EBBRAG and what is currently being undertaken by EBBRAG to stop the possibility of development of Home Farm land.
- The consequences of a development on Home Farm land for Warminster and the surrounding businesses.
- How you can help to stop it.
- Give you the opportunity to ask questions, voice your thoughts or allow you to suggest ways to stop the development.
As an example of recent EBBRAG activity, we have commissioned a Conservation Impact Report which has been sent to the relative authority, completed an authoritative topographical survey, raised serious concerns, based on fact, with Wiltshire Council over the prospect of development increasing the flood risk in East Warminster and continue to lobby/question the Town Council (TC) and Neighbourhood Plan (NP) rewrite team over their undemocratic process for selecting Home Farm Land.
61% of Warminster respondents to the NP recent informal survey stated they did not want development on Home Farm, which the TC/NP team then ignored. The TC are now claiming that the respondents were a small fraction of the total Warminster residents. They have not explained unfortunately why their survey only attracted a small percentage of Warminster residents. Even so 61% of respondents said no.
As you will appreciate, hiring experts to assist EBBRAG is expensive and some £3,000 of donations has been spent so far. While the current financial situation is hard for the majority of us, anything you can spare will help EBBRAG hire the best experts available. You can make a bank transfer, give cash at the public meeting or make a pledge on this means in case your funds are needed in the future. Details are on the EBBRAG website. Any funds not needed will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
Following the public meeting, EBBRAG will consider the next steps, including possible legal action, if a planning application is submitted.
Lastly you should be aware all 4 East Ward Town Councillors and the local MP, Dr Murrison have been invited to the meeting. If they wish to address the meeting about a possible development on Home Farm they are more than welcome.