“Absolute right decision to take”, say campaigners as Highworth golf course housing plan to be reviewed
Swindon Borough Council wants to build homes on 42% of the site
Campaigners are welcoming a request to review the decision to build 700 houses on Highworth's Old Golf Course.
The plans were made at a meeting earlier this month - with almost 500 campaigners in attendance.
Now, four of Swindon’s Conservative councillors have “called in” the decision, specifying they do not disagree with the decision itself but with how it was made.
April Thrush, one of the leaders of the Action Group for Saving Highworth’s Old Golf Course, told Greatest Hits Radio: “We believe the plan to scrutinise the 4th June's Cabinet decision is correct. We believe that due process was not followed, that the decision had already been predetermined by Cabinet, and that the Chair of the meeting went against his own Legal Officer's advice.”
This reflects the concerns raised by councillors Steve Weisinger, Nick Gardiner, Vijay Manro and Daniel Adams, the shadow cabinet member for new communities and parishes.
Additionally, they argued that it had not been clear that all members of the cabinet had read the report which recommended the houses to be built as well as that Cllr Jim Robbins had not counted the votes before saying the matter was agreed.
While Councillor Robbins said that he was “quite happy for local Councillors to use their right to call in the decision”, he also expressed surprise at the reasons for which they did so.
Before making the recommendation to cabinet, councillors and council officers were presented with two further options for the Old Golf Course, one featuring 400 homes and the other featuring a nature reserve.
“What I would like to see our councillors do is put every option on the table in a fair manner”, said Ms Thrush.
“Not just the 700 homes, but present the 400, present the country park and include the full proposal of Highworth’s business development plan for that area.”
While Highworth Town Council have been “cooperative” in working on a solution with Swindon Borough Council, they have been functioning as a representative for the people of the town.
Together with the action group, they have drawn up a business plan that outlines the use of the site as a nature-themed park with a café and education centre, nature trails and boardwalks.
Ms Thrush added: “The fight continues. We’ve been fighting really hard for the last four years and we will continue to do so. We are not going anywhere and the residents of Highworth are completely backing us one hundred percent.”
The review will take place at an extraordinary meeting of the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee at 6pm on Wednesday, July 16.