WESTBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Response to the Site allocations and Management of Development document (SAMDev)

The following is a summary of parishioners comments at the Public Meeting held on 22nd June:

a. The stated county wide target of 8500 homes with 6500 in the town of Shrewsbury was thought, in the current economic conditions, to be overstated. Councillor Roberts also thought that future housing developments might be lower density than before, and the consensus at the meeting was that houses needed to be where employment was; people did not want to travel miles, possibly on dubious public transport, to get to jobs.
It was also stated that it made no sense to develop prime farm land in the name of housing.
b. It was noted that the Westbury school roll is very low at present (approx 52 children was stated), and that there are several empty properties in the village, both of which tended to suggest little housing was required.
c. Of the 66 parishioners present or sending in statements, 28 wanted no development in Westbury, and 19 wanted some development (infill type). No persons wanted any significant development, and there were no requests for new enterprise areas or similar.
d. The meeting did not want Westbury or Yockleton designated as a Hub or Cluster settlement. Nor did it want Development Boundaries scrapped.
e. Any development in Westbury had to be linked to an extension of the sewage system, and a check on all storm drainage arrangements. It was noted that some properties in Westbury are already ‘loaded’ for flooding so far as insurance costs are concerned. Westbury and Yockleton also need better broadband services.
f. The parish had to push for better rural public transport, with the needs of younger people considered as well (possible later services to allow night time travel to town),
g. There needed to be more employment opportunities particularly for single parents. Ideas mentioned were to push for a convalescent wing to the surgery, and for sheltered housing.
h. Road improvements to be suggested were the B4386/Station Rd/Hinwood Rd. junction and the hump back bridge at Yockleton. There are traffic problems also in Westbury caused by large HGV’s.
i. The parish needs to protect and/or develop the existing playing field areas, and the public house.


R L Groome Clerk to the Council                                             24th June 2010