Local residents are being asked for their views on Warminster’s green spaces and historic assets as part of the updated Warminster Neighbourhood Plan.
The plan sets out strategies to safeguard local green spaces, protect non-designated heritage assets and preserve key views.
Warminster Town Council is seeking feedback on 15 green spaces, including Folly Lane Rehobath, Tynings Allotments, Fore Street Recreation Ground, Warminster Common, Portway Field, Sambourne Field, Grovelands, Ashley Coombe green space, Copheap, the land around St Denys’ Church, Damask Way, Bradley Road Community Garden and Warminster Community Orchard.
The council is encouraging people to provide feedback on these locations if they believe them to have beauty, historic significance, recreational value, tranquillity or richness of wildlife.
“The community has identified more green spaces to protect from development,” said a council spokesperson. “In Wiltshire, only Neighbourhood Plans can designate Local Green Spaces, which is a powerful protection equivalent to green belt. We are calling on residents to provide feedback to show the examiner why these sites are special.”
The Warminster Lake Pleasure Grounds has also been identified as a Green Amenity Area for protection for its recreational and wildlife value.
The council has also attempted to address biodiversity loss by focusing on the Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) strategy.
“The Plan’s goal is to create a Nature Recovery Network of wildlife corridors and GBI across the landscape,” said the spokesperson. “This network aims to connect habitats with major internationally important areas like Salisbury Plain and the Cranborne Chase National Landscape.”
The Plan also includes a focus on the town’s Non-Designated Heritage Assets which are considered crucial to local feel and character. These cover a variety of things that are important to Warminster’s local heritage but are not listed, such as the Old Fire Station, the Bandstand in the town park and Boreham Mill.
Key Views in the town have also been identified to ensure they are protected when considering future development applications.
Residents are being asked for feedback on these proposals. The consultation runs until Monday 23rd March.
For more information about the Neighbourhood Plan, see the centre pages or visit warminsterplan.com, phone 01985 214847 or email admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk
Pictured: Cllr Philip Keeble, Steering Group Chair; Rhianna Cowdy, Town Development Officer; and Cllr Andrew Cooper, Mayor of Warminster
