In his speech on July 24, Michael Gove vowed to “build the right homes in the right places where there is community support. 

Community support is vital in making these plans a success and the Housing Secretary has been clear any developments must be beautiful, come with the right infrastructure and designed with locals in mind.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a BBC report that developments would be done 'in dialogue with local communities' and that Westminster should not 'ride roughshod' over their views.

In Salisbury, as throughout Wiltshire, we know the worth of these hollow words.

We are urged to register our objections to plans for housing in the wrong places, we are told that Neighbourhood Plans are important and will be taken seriously, we are assured that the Localism Act would protect and respect the rights of local people – but none of that seems to matter.

The cabinet and leadership of Wiltshire Council appear to be entirely cynical in their approach to local democracy.

They will not allow amendments to be voted on, and they will not listen to communities who are united in opposition to wildly inappropriate development proposals.

How strange indeed that these hard-faced autocrats describe themselves as ‘Conservative.’ What precisely are they conserving? Shameful, shameful...

David Lovibond

Chair, Milford Area Preservation Group

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