Locals oppose 'inappropriate' industrial estate

Concerns have been raised over the proposed development of an "inappropriate" light industrial estate in a country village.

The Crown Estate wants to build the estate at Moorhouse Farm in Netherstreet near Bromham in Wiltshire and has applied for planning permission as well as launching a community consultation.

Local residents have opposed the scheme - with concerns raised about the impact on the environment and nearby historical sites, noise pollution and the lack of suitable roads.

A spokesperson for the Crown Estate said: "The existing buildings are unfortunately no longer fit for modern farming operations, so we are exploring the possibility of repurposing the site for new tenants."

"While we are in the early stages of our proposals and the consultation, we have deliberately put forward the full breadth of potential future options to ensure transparency and will be providing updates when possible," the estate added.

Local councillor Ian Tuckett said the council's opinion was that the development was "inappropriate" for the surroundings.

"The single lane track cannot cope with the traffic it has got at the moment and certainly not with industrial traffic.

"The view [from Roundway Down] is unobtrusive - if we put an industrial park there, that will change.

He also expressed scepticism at a "noise impact statement produced by the planners, which suggests that the noise will be less from an industrial park than a working dairy farm."

Netherstreet lies on the edge of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape with a number of scheduled monuments nearby, including the site of the civil war Battle of Roundway Down.

Local resident Clare Bromell attended a consultation event that was held on 10 February.

"I was less than impressed with information provided and the lack of answers we were given by the Crown Estate representatives.

"The hillside is too special and too important historically to have its view scarred."

The planning applications related to the development are expected to be decided on by Wiltshire Council in the spring.

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