Friday 8th November 2013
Clare Hancock, of Church Street Mews, Warminster, says nearly 500 people have signed the petition against residential development of the fields at Dorothy Walk, Warminster. Redrow Homes have submitted a planning application for 60 houses which will surround the Minster Churchyard. Campaigners against the development say any building at Dorothy Walk will add to the flooding problems already suffered at Rectory Close, and exacerbate the drainage difficulties at Manor Gardens, both adjacent to the proposed site. These houses will be accessed by a new road over wet marshy ground – a road that will cross the much-used footpath that connects Church Street with Portway Playing Fields. Many people now fear the worse for the area’s wildlife too. Local residents have formed a Save Dorothy Walk Action Group and have already held one meeting. Clare, says: “We are all very upset about this. We are not going to let big developers ride rough shod over us. We can only hope the planning authority will give this application a very large red light.”
Clare and her husband Tim have written the following letter ~
“We write to protest, in the strongest possible terms, against the proposal of the building of houses by Redrow Homes behind the Minster Church in Warminster.”
“This area is one of the last beautiful and natural remaining areas left within the spreading metropolis of Warminster. It is a haven for wildlife and provides wonderful walks for the locals. It is deeply depressing to think we might lose this most wonderful area to yet more houses. Why is it always down to profits before people?”
“Most of the local residents are wholly against it. In fact we have not met one single person who is for it.”
“We walk within this area daily, and have regularly seen roe deer, foxes, water voles and innumerable species of birds, plus the resident bats in the trees. The beautiful matured trees lining Dorothy Walk are the most majestic avenue of trees in Warminster. Between the Bath Road Industrial Estates and the sprawl of Warminster remains the last idyllic pocket of paradise, just let it be preserved for the future generations of the town. It has a very special and spiritual ambience around the historical church.”
“The development will increase more heavy traffic to the area, causing environmental pollution and noise, and disturb the natural flood plain. There is regular flooding occurring in the meadows and paths in the area. How will our already over-burdened infrastructure of schools, doctors, emergency services, employment, etc., cope? The whole road system will need serious consideration to ensure the safety of the children at the local private school.”
“On Redrow’s plans, they state there is a conservation area next to the proposed development, when, in fact, it is a graveyard!”
“Warminster is already twinned with Flers in France. Perhaps we should re-think our twinning strategy and pair up with Bradley Stoke, one of Redrow’s previous developments, as we will have a lot in common with that place and this is indicative of how we may become.”
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The Save The Dorothy Walk Action Group petition can be signed atVintage et Al, Sweeny Todds, and Harris Hill & Gibbons vets (all at Silver Street, Warminster) and The Cock Inn (at West Street, Warminster).