August 29, 1969.

CASTLE COMBE: Although a High Court judgment on June 11 quashed the Minister of Housing and Local Government’s decision to limit motor racing on the Castle Combe circuit to three years, no definite action has yet been taken to determine the future of the track. The next normal move would be for the minister to write to all parties concerned to let him have their views and observations, but a spokesman at the ministry said on Friday that this has not yet been done. In the public inquiry held last October the circuit operators sought a 20-year planning extension to use the track and Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council opposed the application. Nearly a year after the inquiry and more than 10 weeks after the High Court proceedings, the future of the Castle Combe circuit remains uncertain.

September 1, 1989.

SEMINGTON: Canalside development at Semington has been ruled out by West Wiltshire’s district planners because they think it will spoil an attractive rural area. Nearly 10 acres of land would have been used between Pound Lane and the Kennet and Avon Canal to the west of the village. Semington Parish Council said the development would alter the village too much and the present 800 population was already a very large increase over the past 10 years. It did not want to see the village swamped under the influx of new housing which could threaten the existence of Semington as a village. Villagers objected in force and sent 25 protest letters to the district council as well as a petition with 104 signatures against the development. They were backed by the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

September 3, 2004.

HILPERTON: Residents and civic leaders are concerned a new housing development is inevitable at Hilperton Gap if a relief road is built. More than 170 Hilperton residents went to an open day to see plans and fill in questionnaires. The day was organised in response to a planning application submitted by developer Persimmon Homes to build a road connecting the A361 with the B3105 at the junction of Wyke Road, Canal Road and Horse Road. Resident Robert Washbourne, of Princess Gardens, said: “What it boils down to is how many houses are going to be built. It’s not the road that is the problem as such.” In October 2001 Persimmon Homes agreed to give cash for the relief road in return for permission to build homes on the Paxcroft Mead development. The Hilperton side of the relief road is not allocated for residential use in the district plan which is renewed in 2011. A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said: “This planning application does not contain any residential development.”