Wiltshire County Council's reputation sank to a fresh low with its unilateral media announcement of the date of the Westbury Bypass Planning Inquiry.

When Wiltshire County Council issued its PR 'news' this January, there had been no confirmation of the date by the Planning Inspectorate.

Six months notice is usually given before the start of any major planning inquiry, in order to give all parties time to commission expert advisors etc.   Obviously, all parties have been aware of this intended planning inquiry since July '07, but only Wiltshire County Council has had the resources (funded by Wilts tax payers) to have all of its experts, plus an early-involvement management contractor, plus WCC's many consultants, on retainers and engaged and available at all times.

The Planning Inspectorate in Bristol had maintained that the date for the Inquiry was yet to be confirmed, but subsequently was in effect ready to whitewash over Wiltshire County Council's sly pre-emptive action by backing starting the inquiry in April.

But there are actually two main players with the Rule 6/7 Inquiry Status, ie: Wiltshire County Council, the eastern bypass plan promoter, and the White Horse Alliance which represents a wide collection of objectors.

Plainly, there should be equal fair treatment for everyone.   My own observation was of relative deference towards Wiltshire County Council, with seemingly all actual discussion being only with the County Council, leading to arrangements being made to suit WCC's requirements, with the objectors being told afterwards.

We were even told that the venue for the independent inquiry was to be Wiltshire County Council's offices.

After challenging this plainly one-sided choice of arrangements, there has since been a shift.

Thankfully, the unreasonable April start date for the inquiry was postponed to 17 June by the Government. And the venue is now to be the Laverton Hall in Westbury.

Why was Wiltshire County Council so keen to push through the Westbury Bypass scheme inquiry process?

The Draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy Examination in Public Panel Report, published in January '08, recommends various transport schemes for our region, inclusive of other roads and railway improvements, but does not include any Westbury Bypass.

Wiltshire County Council was delaying the Westbury Bypass Planning Inquiry, with its late circulation of its proposed CP & SR Orders and in fact by also asking the Planning Inspectorate for a delayed start for itself.

But, after reading the new SW RSS EiP Panel Report, WCC suddenly became very anxious (to the extent of issuing its pre-emptive and untrue briefing, which first appeared in the Warminster Journal of 25 January '08 in a Westbury Bypass NOW! letter) to rush the Inquiry through before the EiP Panel Report recommendations are endorsed by the Government.

Wiltshire County Council's tricky tactics have failed.

This is further good news.

Local people objecting to the eastern bypass plan at the pre-inquiry meeting at County Hall.

And hardly looking like anti road-building protestors bussed in from afar.