NEIGHBOURHOOD plans have been devalued and democracy thrown out the window, residents say.

The remarks come after a number of controversial planning applications were recently approved by Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee, despite vociferous opposition.

In many cases, the proposed developments flew in the face of the local neighbourhood plan, leading many to question the value of such a plan.

One Highworth resident, Tamzen Isacsson, who lives just yards from a site on which councillors last week voted to allow the erection of 50 brand new houses, has become disillusioned with the neighbourhood planning process.

An exasperated Tamzen said: “What's the point of developing neighbourhood plans, or having local referendums? This decision is against the wishes of Highworth.”

Neighbourhood plans allow, in theory, communities to develop a vision for the area in which they live. It gives people the chance to shape the development and growth of their local area.

Reflecting on the council’s decision to allow the 50-home development to go ahead, Tamzen said: “It really makes a mockery of the whole system of creating a neighbourhood plan and means the referendum was a complete waste of time when the decision was going to be ignored anyway.”

Labour councillor Chris Watts, who represents the Liden, Eldene and Park South wards, claimed the problem was “a failure of the borough council to defend” neighbourhood plans.

He said: “They have been devalued to the point where they are using up resources and assets and, in the end, might not be worthwhile.”

Due to Swindon lacking a five-year housing land supply, proposed developments that do not appear in a community’s neighbourhood plan will likely go ahead even if they are refused by the borough council.

But some people have come out in support of the neighbourhood plan, or, at least, the theory behind them.

Wroughton parish councillor Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn stressed the benefits they bring to the community.

She said: “I would stop short of calling them a waste of money. They allow people to come together and discuss their future and what makes their community special.”

Talis said that central government needed to do more to protect communities against unwelcome developments.

Liberal Democrat councillor Stan Pajak also spoke about the problems neighbourhood plans often encounter.

He said: “They are very good things, but completely useless if they are not enforceable. It’s good that residents want to fight for their community, but they have to be able to stop unwanted development.

“Unfortunately, it often seems as though democracy is being thrown out of the window, and that’s not what we want.”