It is good news that the County Ecology Team have objected to the Damask Way Application and you can read it by clicking on the link below.  It went on the planning portal on the 27th April.

Wiltshire Ecologist Objection

HOWEVER  .. IS THIS TRANSPARENT PROCESS?

• The County Ecologist's original objection was dated the 18th February!! Sustainable Warminster gained access to this through a Freedom of Information request
• What happened to this letter and what went on for two months?
• The current objection is dated the 26th April, was uploaded on the 27th April.
• Everything in the two objections is the same apart from one addition.
• In the 26th April objection the second paragraph of the objection (Apppropriate Assessment for the River Avon SAC) has been added. 
• Why was this change made?
• The original (18th Feb) one never made it to the planning portal.
• In the outline stage the same thing happened. The County ecologist objected but at the last minute the decision was changed to "no objection"
• This then led to the Outline Permission being given - and Warminster being in the position where we are on the verge of losing this special place and it's biodiversity to UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING.

The planning portal is still open for objections. So please send your objections quoting application number 20/07214/REM ( Land East of Damask Way) to :

developmentmanagement@wiltshire.gov.uk