Decision Nears on Southwick Court Fields Village Green Status Amidst Delays

A long-standing dispute over a parcel of land is set to reach a conclusion, following multiple postponements and a sustained campaign by local residents to secure its designation as a village green. Southwick Court Fields, situated close to Trowbridge, has been central to numerous planning discussions described as a “torturous” process aimed at safeguarding the site, which was previously earmarked for the construction of 180 new residences. Following a swift change of events since its last deferral, the application is scheduled to be reviewed again by Wiltshire Council’s planning committee this Wednesday. This development follows concerns voiced by the legal representatives of Waddeton Park, the developer, regarding the “continuing and unnecessary” delays by the council in reaching “a final decision.” According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the land is situated on Trowbridge’s southern periphery, where Waddeton Park and Savills successfully appealed the council’s initial rejection of their proposal for 180 new homes on the property. Earlier, residents collected over 150 signatures on a petition opposing the proposed development and formally asked Wiltshire Council to designate the site as a village green. Wiltshire Council decided to appoint an independent inspector to conduct a non-statutory public inquiry, with its findings subsequently presented to councillors during the Western Area Planning Committee meeting held on 10 April. This report recommended that councillors deny the village green application, citing insufficient evidence of “lawful sports and pastimes” taking place on the lower portion of the contested land. Nevertheless, a report submitted to the planning committee this Wednesday indicated that the prior decision to deem the initial village green application invalid contained flaws. During a meeting, Councillor David Vigar asserted that this constituted an error with “massive consequences for the residents of Trowbridge Grove.” Councillor Vigar requested that the ultimate vote be postponed until January, allowing for an additional report to be commissioned that would explore the possibility of processing the application “as it should have been processed originally.”