PLANNING enforcement officers are investigating the demolition of a wall on the edge of a proposed development in Corsham after residents raised the alarm. Councillor Ruth Hopkinson, chairman of Corsham Town Council, and members of the Pickwick Association alerted Wiltshire Council after it was confirmed that Redrow did not have planning permission to remove the wall on the A4. She said: “Redrow do not have planning permission for these works and in all the plans, which are still subject to condition 22, the wall is to be retained, but that appears to have gone out of the window. “They are using bullying tactics again so that when push comes to shove, it looks as if the decision to go ahead with the site has been made.” Planning inspectors told Redrow in September that it had to satisfy conditions relating to noise and vibration tests for the houses, which would be built over a working stone mine, before work on the 150 homes could go ahead. A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We received a written allegation last Friday stating that a wall was being partially demolished on land adjacent to the A4 in Corsham. “We are investigating to determine whether any breach of planning control has taken place and, if so, what action is required. “The wall is not a listed structure so no criminal offence has taken place. However, any work carried out on behalf of a landowner without planning permission is done so at the landowner’s own risk.” A spokesman for Redrow South West said: “A section of the existing stone boundary wall is being removed to facilitate diversion of utilities media. “Wiltshire Council has confirmed that the removal of the section of wall for this purpose does not constitute commencement of the development. The wall will be re-built when we begin the development.”
Wiltshire Council is investigating whether developer Redrow was in breach of local laws when it removed a wall on the A4 in Corsham without planning permission. Councillor Ruth Hopkinson, chairman of Corsham Town Council, accused the developer of using "bullying tactics" at the site. The council said that while there had been no complaints about the wall, which has since been rebuilt, it would be looking into how to prevent similar incidents happening again.