In January John Prescott published a document about planning called "Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity".

In chapter 3 it reads: "We intend to put more power in the hands of local people, supported by local, regional and national government, to shape their neighbourhoods and the services they rely on including housing."

In February, I and other spokesmen for our group attended the Planning Inspector's inquiry into yet another appeal by developers Robert Hitchins to allow them to build on the 11 acres of allotments at the Spitalcroft.

We presented a petition with nearly 900 signatures to protest against them doing so. Numbers like this are a big enough sample to indicate that the great majority of our town population are against this development.

We presented our case, including being able to point out that both the town and district council have voted to oppose this development, and that it is not in the Local Plan. In view of the apparently serious attention given to our evidence by the Inspector, and the guidance given by the Deputy Prime Minister quoted, you would think we were on to a winner. It seems we are not.

The Inspector's decision is summarised as: "The appeal is allowed, and planning permission granted subject to conditions set out below in the Formal Decision."

There is one small loophole. Alternative allotments of similar quality to the Spitalcroft must be provided before work can commence. Hitchins intend to convert Grade 3 land east of Windsor Drive, which has never grown quality crops without chemical help, into Grade 1 allotment gardens suitable for organic cultivation. The Inspector states: "If, for any reason the appellant were to be unable to deliver the soil amelioration programme to produce a satisfactory standard of soil at Windsor Drive, this proposed development at Spitalcroft would not take place." We know it cannot be done but it is vital now that our town and district councils take a vigorous interest in seeing that the experts they employ to monitor the quality of the soil improvement do their job.

To the many people who have put so much effort into this cause, thank you for all your work and support. It may not yet be in vain.

A Padwick

Save our Spitalcroft Action Group

Devizes