Housing developments are always sure to divide opinion. I write this having attended the Eastern Area Planning Committee at the Corn Exchange in Devizes this afternoon where the Long Field development of up to fourteen houses and a new Co-Op store was just approved for Market Lavington.
Strong and balanced representations were made by the Chair of the Parish Council and members of the public who reflected the varied feedback residents gave during numerous meetings. If you were present at the local planning meeting earlier this year you will know I called the application to committee because I felt it needed the added scrutiny and opportunity for further debate given the balance of support and opposition across the parish. Whether you are disappointed or pleased with the decision, I don’t think any of us can say that we weren’t given the opportunity to have our say in what was a very transparent process.
When developments go bad (not the title of a new Channel 5 series – although I could point producers towards a fair amount of content), residents suffer. For this reason, transparency, engagement and respect between those responsible for developments and those living around them is so important.
A couple of weeks ago as parents and students (less so teachers!) were excitedly awaiting the start of term, the pedestrian crossing outside the Hayfield site sat unfinished. Despite having the entire summer to complete the works, the developers failed in their efforts with various excuses given. To add insult to injury, as the works were abandoned at the eleventh hour, the trench dug across the road was not adequately filled and several vehicles hit it and damaged their tyres. To cut a long story short, the developer has been read the riot act and is expected to complete the works during the October half term.
Sadly, the impact of a developer not taking responsibility for delivering what they were conditioned to do two years ago stretched well beyond the cost of a few tyres. One morning during the start of the new term, a young lad who should have had a nice new light-controlled crossing to aid his journey from West Lavington to Market Lavington on his way to school, instead crossed the busy road a little further up the hill and was hit by a car.
Thankfully the youngster was not seriously injured and the driver, who was not in any way at fault, came to their aid along with others who witnessed the incident.
This accident serves as a stark reminder that planning conditions are imposed for good reason and in the interests of public safety, they should never be neglected.
