DEVIZES Mayor Roger Giraud-Saunders is to speak on behalf of the town council when a second planning inquiry starts on Tuesday (5) into plans for 350 homes near Coate Bridge.

Protesters against the scheme by Scottish builder Mactaggart and Mickel are expected turn out in force at Braeside Education and Conference Centre, Devizes, for the four day hearing in front of an inspector.

People in Devizes, Roundway and Bishops Cannings were disappointed when the Government decided to allow the builders a second appeal after the first was thrown out by then communities secretary Erik Pickles.

They were even more angered when the developer tried to claim the Devizes Neighbourhood Area Plan should be disallowed but the High Court refused to allow the challenge to go ahead.

Now campaigners who fear a new large estate of homes close to London Road would add to the area's traffic problems hope the now adopted neighbourhood plan will hold sway at the inquiry.

Mr Pickles put great emphasis on the plan when he went against an inspector's recommendation to allow the new homes to be built.

But Devizes Town Council and Roundway and Bishops Cannings Parish Council know they will have a fight on their hands next week.

Bishops Cannings Parish Council chairman Paul Robinson was outraged that the developer had tried to undermine the neighbourhood plan which received huge support when a referendum was held last autumn and was then adopted by Wiltshire Council.

Bishops Cannings Parish Council chairman Paul Robinson was outraged that the developer had tried to undermine the neighbourhood plan which received huge support when a referendum was held last autumn and was then adopted by Wiltshire Council.

Bishops Cannings chairman Paul Robinson was angry the developers had tried to overturn the neighbourhood plan. He said: "It shows complete contempt to the process. We will all be doing everything we can at the planning appeal to stop the houses being built.

"There is a real danger that the green space between Devizes and Bishops Cannings will eventually be completely eaten away."

Wiltshire Council in a written submission has also pointed out that the county's core strategy is now in place. It says: "Wiltshire Council formally adopted the Wiltshire Core Strategy on 20th January 2015. The appeal site lies outside the limits of development for Devizes."