A HIGH court case starts in Cardiff today which, whatever the result, will have a huge impact on the future of Chippenham. 

As part of the Future Chippenham project, Wiltshire Council wants to build a distributor road in the south of the town, as well as around 4,200 houses. 

Its detractors say the council has ignored the results of its own consultation, and that: "It is driven by an outdated ideology to build unnecessary highways and commuter executive homes on precious green fields".

A judge granted permission earlier this year to begin the process for a legal review into the proceedings surrounding the project.

Last year, Dr Helen Stride launched her judicial review bid in response to a Wiltshire Council cabinet decision to provide for a “southern section of the distributor road from the A4 through to the A350 junction at Lackham roundabout that would deliver between an estimated 3,800-4,200 new homes and associated infrastructure”.

A judge then ruled that the case merits proper consideration at a full hearing, a decision Dr Stride called a "good day for local democracy".

Dr Stride also then held a meeting at her home earlier this month to try and raise extra funds for the campaign to stop the project.

The Campaign against Urban Sprawl to the South of Chippenham says Wiltshire Council has ignored the results of its own consultation and conjured the revised portion out of thin air.

The group says the road will not ease congestion "as the council likes to suggest but will add between 8,000 to 10,000 more cars to the area", and that "by their intended actions Wiltshire Council is showing a total disregard for the Climate Crisis".

The group are also worried about the impact of the proposed Melksham Bypass, which it says will bring more traffic through Lacock. 

The campaign has also raised almost £25,000 for its cause through an online fundraiser. 

Earlier this year, leader of the council, Richard Clewer said the council would "robustly" defend its position.

"As previously stated, the Future Chippenham programme does not determine where and if development takes place, that decision is subject to the Local Plan review," he said.

"Development proposed by the Future Chippenham programme will be subject to the Local Plan review and the statutory planning process following the same rules that apply to any other landowner that wishes to propose development in Wiltshire.”

The road would be paid for by the £75m Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) cash given by Homes England – though because the plans have been drastically altered there are ongoing talks with the government body.

The Judicial Review starts at 10.30am in Cardiff, on May 26.