CHIPPENHAM:A new gym could be coming to the town after permission was given to turn unit 2 on the Bath Road Industrial Estate into a ‘fitness facility.’ Applicant James Bassett-Smith has had his proposal approved by planning officers. Four full time jobs will be made in the process as the owner takes over the formerly empty site. The town council supported the application and said: “The fact that the proposed development would facilitate a starter business, would have sufficient car parking, would not affect residential amenity, and would provide a health and leisure facility in an area of the Town where there currently is no such facility would, on balance, outweigh the loss of an existing employment use."

HILMARTON: Dauntsey Car boot Sales will be able to take place more often after permission was given to turn farmland at Beversbrook farm into the site for car boots up to 60 times a year. The area can host up to 200 sellers and a further 600 cars. The car boots will take place on Sundays and bank holidays from mid April until the end of September from 6am - 2pm. Parish councillors said the event had caused traffic problems in the past. Responding, the council said: “Hilmarton Parish Council are only happy to support this application as long as the organisers/owners enforce the condition to ensure traffic approaching the field from the Hilmarton direction are directed to go around the round about and not make a right turn into the field which causes unnecessary congestion.”

CHIPPENHAM: A children’s tree house style ‘camping pod’ will be created in a garden by their parents who have received the green light to build the play structure. Set above the garden in Kington Langley, officers approved the “erection of an elevated timber outbuilding, described as a ‘camping pod’, within the existing curtilage of the dwelling. The applicant confirms that this is for private use by their children. The building has a floor area of approximately 5m x 3m with an external terrace extending approximately 1.5m x 3m. The pod is to be constructed upon stilts approximately 2.5m from ground level making it 5m high overall. Timber clad elevations and painted timber roof shingles are proposed.” Plans were changed to make sure that the pod, which is eight metres from a neighbouring building, would not overlook into private property.

CORSHAM: Mr and Mrs Slateford, of Pickwick Road, have been given permission to replace a conservatory with a single storey rear extension and conversion of an existing garage. Corsham town council did not raise any objections.

WESTBURY: (pictured) Permission has been granted to build a new driveway and new garage at a home in Leigh Road, Westbury. The current garage will be demolished and the drive way will be closed off. Objecting neighbour Hannah Edwards said: “When I erected the fencing to the rear drive of my property I took great care to ensure the fence dropped to enable a clear vision line of the walking/cycling children and school traffic travelling up Springfield Road, a garage obstructing the sight line (i.e. in line with the side of 20 Leigh road) is an accident waiting to happen.” However planning officers said that the proposal will not impact highway safety and did not raise an objection.

GREAT BEDWYN: Plans have been turned down to turn a Grade II listed barn, on land off the A338 North to Shalbourne Road, into two flats. The old threshing barn will not become homes after planners ruled it would cause harm to the protected building. Officers said: “Proposed thatching of historical former threshing barn; alterations to interior and exterior of barn as ancillary domestic accommodation, (including 2no. flats), also involving the replacement of an existing modern portal-framed barn.” The parish council had supported plans however they were turned down.

TROWBRIDGE: Retrospective planning permission has been refused in Summerleaze for a fence that has been put up too high. The 1.8m high fence has been up since March and may now have to come down. The town council said: "The fence would be incongruous in the street scene and represent poor design. Only 1m fences should be allowed in this location adjacent to the pavement." Officers said: "The fence does not respond positively to the existing townscape and landscape features."