TENSIONS ran high at County Hall on Tuesday as it was decided that Trowbridge would expand its boundary into some parts of Hilperton and West Ashton.

The proposals had met much opposition at public meetings held to discuss the Community Governance Review, which aimed to review parish boundaries to reflect the identities and interests of their communities.

The plans for Trowbridge had already been deferred to allow for more consultation with residents. It was finally decided on Tuesday that while the Hilperton Gap fields would remain part of the village, some parts of the parish including houses south of Hilperton Drive on Paxcroft Mead would be transferred to Trowbridge.

Cllr Ernie Clark, who represents the ward, made a last-ditch attempt to keep part of Paxcroft Mead in Hilperton but his bid for an amendment was ruled out by other councillors.

He said: “The people in the area feel that they are part of Hilperton and to override that because you think the boundary looks neater is an absolute disgrace to democracy.

“If Trowbridge Town Council are so keen on using main roads then why don’t they go down Leap Gate. There is no consistency in their ideas other than trying to get as much land as they can for whatever reason they want.”

It was also agreed some homes on Wyke Road would remain part of Trowbridge, and that Old Farm estate and employment land, both off West Ashton Road, will become part of Trowbridge.

White Horse Business Park and the West Ashton Urban Extension will remain as they are.

Trowbridge Town Council clerk Lance Allan questioned the amount of evidence the working group had based their recommendations.

He added: “What I’m surprised at still is the information provided in the report which is the key piece of information that the councillors have used does not present the information in a clear, concise, consistent and coherent way.

“The question is where is the evidence because it is clearly not in the report?”

Stuart Wheeler, cabinet member with responsibility for governance, said a decision on the CGR needed to be made before October in order to be taken into account for next year’s Wiltshire Councillor elections.