Minutes of a meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 13th October 2025
Minutes of a meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 13th October 2025 at 7.00 pm in the Andy Young Pavilion, Duchy Manor, Springfield Road, Mere, Wiltshire. BA12 6EW.
Note: Meeting recorded for minute-taking purposes
Present: Councillors Sandra Catley (Chair), Rachael Hansford (Vice-Chair), Debbie Beale, Nick Beale, Aubrey Colman, Sam Dean, Clive Hazzard, Glen Ings, George Jeans, John Jordan & Steven Pester.
30+ members of public + Diccon Carpendale, Planning Partner of Brimble Lea.
Presentation from Mr. Diccon Carpendale, Planning Partner of Brimble Lea on Outline Planning Application PL/2025/07327
– Outline planning application for up to 28 dwellings.
– Approval sought for principle of development and access; other matters reserved.
– Indicative layout includes access, drainage, biodiversity net gain, and 30% affordable housing.
– Reports submitted: transport, ecology, drainage, heritage, odour, policy context.
– Wiltshire Council’s housing land supply below five years, triggering presumption in favour of sustainable development.
– Statutory consultee feedback includes archaeology survey request, affordable housing requirement, education contributions, and drainage support.
Public Session – Key Discussion Points
– Concerns about affordability and definition of affordable housing.
– Site suitability questioned due to waterlogging and drainage issues.
– Impact on local character and overshadowing of existing bungalows.
– Pressure on local infrastructure: surgery, dentist, schools, roads.
– Roads not built or suitable for extra traffic that further development will generate.
– Ecological concerns: biodiversity net gain, wildlife impact.
– Clarification that this is an outline application; detailed design to follow.
– Residents encouraged to submit comments to Wiltshire Council by 23 October.
- Apologies for absence received from Councillors Philip Coward, Raymond Hill & Alan Mead.
- To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests from Councillors on matters to be considered at the meeting.
- None received
- Planning
- a) Applications for consultation response:
| Application No: | PL/2025/07327 |
| Application Type: | Outline planning permission: Some matters reserved |
| Proposal: | Formation of new vehicular and pedestrian access and erect up to 28 dwellings (outline application to determine access) |
| Site Address: | Land at Woodlands Road, Mere, Warminster, BA12 6BT |
| Planning Register Link: | https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000GYeoE |
Discussion:
– Site is outside settlement boundary and on greenfield land.
– Questioned public benefit and need for development given recent brownfield projects.
– Calls for more social/low-cost housing and bungalows.
– Concerns about urbanising rural edge and visual impact.
– Transport and access issues highlighted.
– Clarification requested on biodiversity net gain calculations.
Decision
– Council voted to object to the planning application on the following grounds. [In order not to compromise his position as Wiltshire Councillor, Cllr. Jeans abstained from voting on this matter.]
- Site is outside the settlement boundary (greenfield).
- Overdevelopment and change to character of the area.
- Insufficient consideration of transport and traffic impacts.
- Concerns about sustainability of local infrastructure (doctors, dentists, schools).
- Visual and landscape impact.
Actions
- Submit formal objection to Wiltshire Council citing the above grounds.
- Encourage residents to submit individual comments to Wiltshire Council by 23 October.
- Investigate land covenants and terms of previous owner’s will.
- Consider requesting yellow lines or parking controls if development proceeds.
Meeting closed at 8.13 pm