PRIME Minister David Cameron chose Chippenham's Siemens Rail Automation as the business from which to announce his draft EU reforms today (Feb 2).

Staff joined the national press to hear the Conservative leader, who visited Corsham to kick off his party’s election campaign last May, during what could be a landmark moment in his leadership.

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette and Herald after his speech, he explained how he came to Wiltshire to emphasis the strong British businesses in the area.

“I think it’s the heart of the country,” he said.

“I wanted to come to a strong manufacturing business; a company, Siemens, that has invested a lot into the UK and wants to invest more. 

“I thought it was a very good venue to come and talk about the opportunities in our economy and how we secure them in the future.

“That’s all linked to our getting this issue of Europe right so I thought it was the perfect place to come.”

 

Wiltshire Council should use their judgement

The council must do ‘what they think is right’ in response to the huge influx of planning applications for new homes in Chippenham according to the PM.

The Chippenham Site Allocation Plan, a major strategic development document for the town, was suspended in November by a Planning Inspector.

The Prime Minister’s comments would appear to be good news for developers who are already part of the Plan despite criticisms of Wiltshire Council’s evidence by the Planning Inspector.

Mr Cameron said: “It’s a matter for the council. They are able to take decisions on the basis of existing plans and they should take a view on what they think is right for locality.

“Lots of areas in the country have had this situation and you can take decisions based on emerging plans.

“Everyone needs to get their local plan in place, that’s important, and we should encourage the council to do that.

“Before the plan comes in place you can take decisions as a council accepting or rejecting planning applications on the basis of what you think is right and the council should use their judgement and they can also do it on the basis of emerging plans.”

Wiltshire Council has received plans for 200 homes opposite Stanley Park, 700 homes off Cocklebury Road and 1500 homes in the East of Chippenham since the hearings into the plan were suspended.

Inspector Patrick Whitehead warned of government intervention if the Plan, which is due to recommence at the public hearings stage in September, was not complete by the end of the year.