THE fate of Quakers Walk field in Devizes was sealed last Thursday, when Kennet's Planning Policies Committee reconfirmed it for development, failing to take the opportunity offered by the Kverneland inquiry inspector, to take out or de-allocate this greenfield site from housing.

The voting pattern was significant, with only two councillors seeking to deallocate the site.

The councillors putting up their hands to develop it, despite it not being convincingly proved necessary to the housing programme, were all of the Conservatives on the committee, from Ludgershall, Burbage, Seend, All Cannings, Marlborough, and Urchfont, and an Independent from Pewsey.

The debate was also monitored by three heavyweight enforcers from the Conservative majority group, the Leader and members for Devizes North and Devizes East. Why the Conservative group displayed such zeal in pursuing the development of this greenfield site is a curiosity.

Did I miss something here?

Only one member other than myself voted to deallocate the Quakers Walk site from the housing programme, Katherine Callow, the Lib Dem for Roundway.

A handful of the public attended to witness the debate; perhaps it was all too obvious how the odds were stacked.

But why? Certainly, the officers were against deallocation, which makes sense, in view of the extra work involved for them.

It was also argued that deallocation would cost Kennet a fortune in legal costs, but this was not supported by any evidence.

At the end of the day, it was clear that the Conservative lead group were pretty determined not to let Quakers walk escape development for housing, and they got their way.

I thought it a sad outcome for Devizes, and I said so in no uncertain terms.

JODY

Guardians District Councillor

Devizes South