This petition seeks your support to demand that Wiltshire Council halt the proposed housing development plans for Harnham and that they properly consult with us, the residents of Salisbury and those visitors to the area, through appropriate formal and legitimate process.  This petition explains why this has not happened and sets out the impact of these development plans on all of us if they are allowed to proceed. We urge you to sign this petition.

As concerned residents of/local visitors to Harnham, Salisbury, we are deeply troubled by the lack of consultation – known as ‘Regulation 18 consultation - regarding the proposed housing development plans for Sites 8 and 9 in the Wiltshire Council Local Plan. These developments, on beautiful greenfield land in between Coombe Road and Odstock Road, threaten to irreversibly alter a beloved community, destroy precious greenfield land, exacerbate traffic congestion, harm local wildlife habitats, and strain essential services across Salisbury.

Harnham is not just a place that residents call home; it is a sanctuary that offers breathtaking natural beauty and tranquillity. The proposed housing developments would see vast areas of agricultural land transformed into concrete jungles. This loss of green spaces not only diminishes quality of life, mental and physical health, but also poses long-term environmental consequences.

The roads in Salisbury and Harnham are already struggling to cope with existing traffic demands. The addition of hundreds more households across Salisbury and Wiltshire will result in further strain and increased pollution on our already congested streets, especially at the critical Harnham Gyratory. Commuting times and ambulance response times will likely increase significantly, impacting residents' daily lives, businesses' productivity, and the safety of the medically vulnerable and those in need of emergency services across the city.  The 2021 Atkins Transport Review was clear that Salisbury could barely support the 700 houses planned at the time let alone the 1530 new homes in the Wiltshire Council 2023 Local Plan.

These developments also threaten the delicate balance of nature that currently thrives in Harnham. Our area boasts diverse ecosystems supporting hundreds of species, including many birds and insects that are rare and protected. By encroaching upon their habitats without proper consideration or mitigation measures in place, we risk endangering local wildlife populations and disrupting vital ecological processes.  There will also be an irreversible impact on the Ebble River and its tributaries.

Other implications extend beyond Harnham's borders as well. With increased demand for schools, doctors, dentists, and other essential services resulting from population growth due to these housing developments, resources across Salisbury will be stretched thin. This could lead to longer waiting times for medical appointments or overcrowded classrooms for our children – consequences that should not be taken lightly.

We question if these new build homes on greenfield sites in Harnham are really necessary, and whether they help those most in need of housing, or simply swell the coffers of land owners, developers and the council. The Trowbridge-based Council has ignored the 400+ homes that could be built on Wiltshire Council-owned ‘Brownfield sites’ across the city, as well as choosing to discount the 2,850 homes that would become available as ‘Windfall sites’ over the planning period, as set out in Salisbury City Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (SNDP). These could more than offset the need for new build greenfield developments. We also demand that Wiltshire Council explain why housing numbers for Salisbury have increased from 940 new homes in the 2021 ‘Planning for Salisbury’ consultation document to 1530 new homes in the 2023 draft Local Plan – at a time when most local authorities across the country are expecting housing targets to decrease under the new method of statistical modelling being adopted by central government.

It is disheartening that residents of Harnham and Salisbury have been left out of the decision-making process concerning the community and environment that we live in.  We deserve transparency and meaningful engagement when it comes to matters that will directly impact us and future generations.

Therefore, I urge you to sign this petition to demand that the Wiltshire Council halt the proposed housing development plans for Sites 8 and 9 in Harnham and properly consult with residents through the ‘Regulation 18 consultation process’.  This would force Wiltshire Council to reconsider their current plans and what is considered to be a ‘superficial’ next consultation process  - known as a ‘Regulation 19 consultation’ planned for October/November this year - that won’t result in any change the Local Plan nor the intended housing development on Sites 8 & 9.  After that, the Local Plan will be examined by an appointed Government Inspector in early 2024 and housing development could start as early as December 2024.

Let us ensure that our voices are heard, and our concerns are taken into account before any irreversible damage is done.

Together, we can protect Salisbury’s natural beauty, ensuring sustainable transport and services, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Thank you for your support!

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