DEVIZES people have called for a special area of land near Drews Pond and its nature reserve to be protected.

The land at Greenacres has been included as a potential development site in the town’s local development plan.

The land borders the former railway line and locals say it has become a haven for bats, birds and deer.

Pheasants and squirrels were spotted foraging there when the Gazette visited the site.

Angela Taylor, who moved to Devizes from Cornwall , said: “You rarely get space like this, it’s really special. I’m disabled, and it’s also one of the few green places I can access and enjoy properly, I really don’t want to lose it.

“It has so much to offer. More housing, if needed, is fine but not here.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Previously, the land was used by patients to help improve their mental health conditions through outdoor activity.

Another local resident, who did not wish to be named, suggested that the land could be used for a similar project, rather than housing

She said: “I can’t believe with everything going on with the current lockdown that Wiltshire Council are going ahead with their planning consultation. The only bit the public are invited to is the online consultation, and that’s not been well advertised.

“We’ve seen the importance of green space in the last year for people’s mental health and we’re losing it left right and centre. It’s housing over health.”

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have also joined calls for the precious land to be spared from future developments.

Damian Haasjes, who once explored the idea of using Greenacres as a base for the charity, said: “About five years ago the Trust considered purchasing the land to relocate the current headquarters.

"At that point I spoke to the Property Development Manager at the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, who stated they had no desire to sell it and were waiting in the hope that it would be rezoned for residential housing and would then be work significantly more.

“Our big concern is that if this area is rezoned for residential use then that will have a huge impact on the surrounding environment, particularly Drews Pond Woods which is already very well used. To create successful habitats for wildlife, it is important that there are times where the wildlife is not disturbed and they have areas of refuge to return to where they are safe.

"Drews Pond Wood and the surrounding area is already such a popular spot already that bringing in more housing and more people will have a hugely negative impact.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

“Currently there are Bechstein Bats found in this area and they are a priority species, protected in the UK and are a near threatened species with decreasing numbers. Increasing housing and footfall in an area like this is will have negative consequences for a range of species in the area and is not something the Wildlife Trust supports.

The Local Plan says “any development on the site should take account of impact on the setting of the Grade II listed Roundway Hospital” and that “any adverse impacts on bats known to be present in Drews Pond Wood must be explored and avoided.”

Owners of the land, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, said any potential developments on the site would be discussed at length with the town council.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning said, “The Government requires every Local Plan to be reviewed at least once every five years, and as the Wiltshire Core Strategy was adopted in 2015, the Plan is now being reviewed.  A pool of potential development sites is being consulted on for Devizes but only one or two of these would be required in the town. 

"The consultation gives everyone the opportunity to choose the most appropriate sites for development and identify ones that should be protected.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Coun Toby Sturgis

“This current consultation builds on those held previously and runs until 9 March. There will also be a further consultation on the draft Local Plan later in 2021.

“This consultation has generated more engagement at this stage than any previous Local Plan consultation we have held, and the number of people attending online engagement sessions has far exceeded the number of people that attend face to face sessions.”