INFRASTRUCTURE

Struggling for resources

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The size of the proposed new development is more twice that of the existing parish settlement and would completely overwhelm current services as well as destroy the visual character of the area. The development would extend along the entire frontage of the canal in Hilperton Parish, to byway 21 to the east.

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The proposed development may be provided with schools and nurseries, but there is no provision for support to vulnerable groups, currently provided in the parish through the auspices of the church, lunch clubs, and mother and toddler clubs. The church also supports the schools as governors.

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The existing parish staff are already stretched to capacity and with no new church within the development people will be turning to the current churches in the Canalside Benefice for weddings, baptisms, funerals and there are insufficient resources to support this such as parking, staffing etc.

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The Health services in Trowbridge are already stretched and will not be able to cope with this big increase of patients; hospital and care services are also very stretched in this area. It is very difficult to recruit new GPs as found in Devizes, so a new practice is unlikely. In the Paxcroft Estate a GP surgery was planned but none was forthcoming.