'Brazen land grab' opposed by councillors

The "attempted takeover" of an urban area, which has been branded as an "unsolicited and brazen land grab", is being opposed by councillors.

Devizes Town Council has voted to extend the boundary of the town to encompass the Northfields housing estate and other parcels of development land to its northern boundary.

A hastily arranged extraordinary meeting of Bishops Cannings Parish Council on Thursday attracted 50 residents of the housing estate, making it their "best-attended meeting in many years".

At the meeting, councillors voted to fight the move by Devizes Town Council.

Devizes Town Council said the people of Northfields "identified as being from Devizes", and were often unaware that they lived in Bishops Cannings.

The parish contains three villages, two hamlets and the Northfields estate, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

More than 2,000 residents live in the urban area, while 537 live in the rural part.

One resident told the meeting: "Our kids go to Bishops Cannings School, the only church I have used is in Bishops Cannings, and my community is Bishops Cannings. To say I identify as living in Devizes is wrong."

Councillor Philip Whitehead, who represents the Urchfont and Bishops Cannings division at Wiltshire Council, told the meeting: "From a Devizes Town Council point of view, when I look at this area I see budget.

"They will say you live in Devizes. I think this community is different from Devizes.

"If you want to keep your community, it's up to you – you have huge influence."

Submissions to the Electoral Review Committee must be made in February, and the committee will publish its draft recommendations in March.

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