Tag: copheap-lane

Access On To Copheap Lane, Warminster ~ Where Cars Speed ~ But No Planning Reason To Object To Building Of Three Dwellings Behind No.32, Adjacent The Dolls House Shop

Monday 30th September 2013

At a meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee of Warminster Town Council, held at the Civic Centre, Warminster, on Monday 30th September 2013, Councillors Jamie Cullen, Andrew Davis, Nick Dombkowski, Sue Fraser, and Rob Fryer, voted unanimously in favour of a planning application to demolish an existing garage and shed to facilitate access and the erection of one terrace of three dwellings, on land at the rear of 32 Copheap Lane, Warminster, BA12 0BG. 

Councillors recognised that the application referred to land behind 32 Copheap Lane (a bungalow) and the neighbouring Dolls House shop. Recent concerns about speeding traffic on Copheap Lane were quickly expressed. Councillor Fraser said “There was an accident on the road there recently. Issues are being raised about speeding at Copheap Lane.” 

Town Clerk Heather Abernethie said “There is a need for a zebra crossing at Copheap Lane but there is no suitable site to place one.” 

Councillor Davis referring to the plans for the application said “Demolition of the garage and shed gives new access to No.32, while what was the entrance to No.32 then becomes the access to the proposed dwellings. That’s what they’re doing.”

Councillor Davis went on to say “I don’t think I like it but I can’t think of a planning reason to refuse it.” 

Councillors agreed all new properties come with parking. Councillor Fraser said “It’s not the houses that are the problem, but the access in and out, on to Copheap Lane, is the thing.” Councillor Cullen said “Three houses means six cars.” Councillor Davis said “Yes, the properties have car parking. The only thing against this is highways. There’s a drive there at the moment but it’s probably only being used by one car, not six.” 

Concerns about the access to a highway where cars speed along continued to be debated for some minutes. Councillor Fryer stated “I was overtaken by a car at the roundabout at Copheap Lane. The car went the wrong side of the roundabout to overtake me.” Councillor Fraser said “Cars do go so very fast there.” 

Councillor Fryer proposed in favour of the application. Councillor Fraser seconded. [13/03702/FUL]

32 Copheap Lane, Warminster.
Photographs by Danny Howell.

Planning permission is sought for
the demolition of the garage adjacent
32 Copheap Lane . . . 

. . . and the shed behind the garage.

The land behind 32 Copheap Lane, Warminster.
Planning permission is sought for a terrace
of three dwellings here.
Photograph by Danny Howell.

The land behind the Dolls House shop
at Copheap Lane, Warminster.

Photographs by Danny Howell.

Councillors are concerned about cars from
three new dwellings built behind No.32
having to come out on to Copheap Lane
at the location pictured above.

Councillors are aware that many motorists
drive their cars at considerable speeds
along Copheap Lane, and the access for
the proposed three dwellings is near a bend
on the brow of Copheap Lane,
not far from which was an accident recently.

The cars in this photograph, taken by Danny Howell,
were travelling under the 30 mph speed limit.

Copheap Lane, Warminster

Wilfred Middlebrook in his newspaper serialisation ‘Highways And Byways In Warminster’ noted:

“Copheap Lane is a very ancient trackway indeed, linking the Westbury Road and Portway with the Imber Road and Woodcock. Blind Man’s Gate once barred the entrance to the lane from Westbury Road and Elm Hill, a thatched cottage demolished in a single day in June 1959, where John Toole took the tolls in 1883.”

“A lovely, tree-shaded lane, it is still classed as an unadopted road, barred entirely to military vehicles, and for many years was ankle-deep in chalky mud. Indeed, one worthy citizen of Warminster, floundering along the muddy lane in the dark, fell full-length into the slime, losing a quantity of loose change from his pockets in consequence. To this day he vows that archaeologists of the future, digging Copheap Lane to find out how the citizens of Warminster lived in the ‘dark ages of the 20th century,’ will come across sundry silver and copper coins that are rightfully his, and put them into a museum for the wonderment of a race that does not know the meaning of money!” 

“The lane is no longer muddy, and much building has taken place in recent years, though it still remains a charming rural lane, skirting the foot of the strange hill [Copheap] from which it takes its name.”

This part of the serialisation was published in the Wiltshire Times, Friday 22nd April 1960.