News

There are Town and Parish Council elections on May 1^st. Many people interested in standing for their local council may have questions about the role of Councillor.

Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) have put together an online session to help prospective candidates better understand the role of the Town and Parish Councillor. The session will feature a panel of an experienced Councillor, a Clerk and a member of Wiltshire Councils Legal, Democracy and Governance team. The hour-long session, scheduled for 6pm on March 5^th, will start with a short presentation by the panel, talking about their respective roles, the rest of the session will enable prospective candidates to ask questions and better understand the way Councils work.  Please click on the link below for further information:

https://www.wiltshire-alc.org.uk/council_events/your-parish-council-needs-you-march-5th/

Consultation is open from 29 January to 19 March 2025.

Documents

The Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and associated Non-technical Summary (NTS) have been published on the Project website. 

A Document Navigation Booklet and Project Information Booklet have been produced to provide further details about the consultation and proposals for the Project.

In addition, printed and online versions of a Project Feedback Form are available so people can share their views on the proposals with comments being specifically invited on areas including:

• the strategic masterplan for the solar sites;
• the cable route search corridor for the underground grid connection; and,
• proposed measures to reduce the environmental effects of the Project.

All the documents listed above are available to view and download from Documents section of the Project website HERE. They will be available to view at in-person information events taking place (see below) and can also be found at community access points in hard copy format.

Lime Down are inviting individuals to come along to in-person and online information events they are holding over the course of the consultation period and speak with members of the Project team to find out more about the Project, what they are consulting on and how you can take part. The schedule of events is set out below.

• Wednesday 05 February 202518:30 – 20:00
  Online (Zoom) - register to attend via Project website or by clicking here.
  
• Friday 07 February 202514:30 – 19:30
  Sherston Village Hall, High Street, Sherston, Malmesbury, SN16 0LQ
  
• Saturday 08 February 202511:00 – 15:00
  Hullavington Village Hall, Hill Hayes Lane, Hullavington, Chippenham, SN14 6EB
  
• Wednesday 12 February 202514:30 – 19:30
  Grittleton Village Hall, The Street, Grittleton, Chippenham, SN14 6AW
  
• Thursday 13 February 2025 14:30 – 19:30
  Corsham Town Council Hall, Town Hall, 65 High Street, Corsham, SN13 0EZ
  
• Friday 14 February 2025 14:30 – 19:30
  Malmesbury Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 9BZ
  
• Saturday 15 February 202511:00 – 15:00
  Luckington Village Hall, Bristol Road, Luckington, Chippenham, SN14 6NP
  
• Tuesday 25 February 202514:30 – 19:30
  Goss Croft Hall, Startley Road, Upper Seagry, Chippenham, SN15 5HD
  
• Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:30 – 20:30
  Shaw CofE Primary School, Corsham Road, Shaw, Melksham, SN12 8EQ
  
• Thursday 27 February 2025 18:30 – 20:30
  Online (Zoom) - register to attend via Project website or by clicking here.

In-person information events will take the form of a drop-in session at which interested parties will be able to view copies of the consultation documents, maps and plans and speak with members of the Project team. Anyone wishing to do so will be able to join one of the online events, which will take the form of a webinar, via telephone of the internet. These will take the form of a presentation followed by a moderated question and answer session.

Those wishing to attend an online event are requested to register in advance via the Project webpage.

Anyone with questions about the Project or requiring further information can contact the Community Relations team directly using any of the following methods:

• Freephone: 0808 175 6656 (open 09.00 –17.00, Mon-Fri)
• Email: info@limedownsolar.co.uk
• Mail: FREEPOST Lime Down Solar (no stamp required)

Community access points

• Malmesbury Library - 24 Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9BG

• Chippenham Library - Timber Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3EJ

Also at Corsham and Melksham libraries.

Are you about to begin your university journey?

Wiltshire Community Foundation is offering University Bursary grants to support young people in Wiltshire and Swindon with the costs of studying for an undergraduate degree. Each bursary provides £1,600 per year of your course, helping with essential expenses like travel, books, or general living costs.

As long as your circumstances remain the same, you’ll continue to receive the grant for each academic year of your degree.

Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, you must:

1. Have parents/guardians (or yourself) claiming at least 2 Means-Tested Benefits or 2 elements of Universal Credit OR be a Looked After Child (in the care of Wiltshire Council or Swindon Borough Council)
2. Be aged between 17–24 years when you apply
3. Have lived in Wiltshire or Swindon for at least 2 years (or have your family home there if you’re already at university)
4. Be eligible for funding through Student Finance England.
5. Be planning to study (or already studying) for your first undergraduate degree at a UK university, college, or institution

Don’t Miss Out! Applications close on 11 April 2025 – apply today by visiting www.wiltshirecf.org.uk/grants-and-support/individuals/university-bursary-one-degree-more

Wiltshire’s residents can now download a refreshed strategic policing blueprint for the county as the Police and Crime Commissioner unveils his latest police and crime plan.

Making Wiltshire Safer: Police and Crime Plan 2022-25 runs until April next year. PCC Philip Wilkinson is ensuring the next plan is readily available to the public to show how Wiltshire Police will continue to deliver policing across the county from 2025-29.

The new plan - which reflects detailed consultation and engagement with residents, operational advice from policing, local stakeholders and commissioned services - aims to tackle key safety challenges while ensuring an effective, efficient, frontline policing service which is highly visible, protects the vulnerable and encourages greater trust and engagement with communities.

The four strategic priorities of the Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029 include:

1. A Police Service that meets community needs – emphasising responsive and visible policing with a focus on public trust.
2. Reducing violence and serious harm – proactively tackling domestic abuse, sexual violence, and serious organised crime and violence.
3. Tackle crimes that matter to local communities – including anti-social behaviour, rural crime, and road safety.
4. Improve the experience of victims and deliver justice – ensuring victims feel supported throughout the justice process.

The plan sets out how Wiltshire Police and the OPCC’s commissioned services for victims will continue to contribute to Making Wiltshire Safer, such as investment, where necessary, to improve 999 and 101 response times, increased visibility in all communities, especially rural ones, and a comprehensive package to tackle serious violence and reducing knife crime, alongside enhancing satisfaction among victims of crime.

It also includes measures to engage young people and underrepresented groups, with initiatives like more effective community policing after new operating models were introduced and the continuation of youth mentoring programmes - all while balancing demand and communities' needs with an ever-challenging financial landscape.

PCC Philip Wilkinson said: "This plan is a blueprint for Making Wiltshire Safer and continues to build upon the successes of my first police and crime plan.

“Wiltshire Police has been making serious strides in progression since it was placed into Engage early in my tenure and the hard work paid off when it was finally lifted from this earlier this year.

“While there is always more work to be done to improve how effective and efficient Wiltshire Police can be, communities are telling me they are seeing improvements in frontline policing, in better visibility in communities and in better outcomes for victims, and revamped leadership and learning and development for all officers, staff and volunteers.

“But the Plan cannot succeed without the involvement of everyone—police, community groups, and residents alike. Together, we can build stronger, safer neighbourhoods where people feel confident, safe and protected.

“Wiltshire Police is dedicated to the principles of this plan, and the Chief Constable has committed to working with me, my office and our communities to address the concerns that matter most to them."

You can download a copy of the new Police and Crime Plan from this week on the PCC’s website: www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk (update bitly link!).

Next month, PCC Philip Wilkinson will be launching Use Your Voice: Police Precept survey and the police budget will be discussed in detail at Wiltshire and Swindon's Police and Crime Panel.

Wiltshire Police is urging anyone who has concerns about the safety of public places in their area to report it via a dedicated service.

StreetSafe allows people to report any issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where they feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing them.

This is completely anonymous and takes no more than a couple of minutes.

By completing the report police can target the main areas of concern and work with partners to make the county a safer place to live.

Click on this link for further information StreetSafe Wiltshire | Wiltshire Police

Click on the link to report:  StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk).

L-R: Jilly Rice, Emma Rice, Roger Budgen, Chair St. Paul Malmesbury Without PC, Martin Rice, David Hide, Chairman MLOF, Ray Sanderson.

Milbourne, in St. Paul Malmesbury Without, is the latest local parish council to receive a life-saving defibrillator from the Malmesbury League of Friends (MLOF).

The defibrillator is installed in an old telephone box in Milbourne Lane and has been dedicated to former local resident Phil Rice, who sadly passed away last year. He had been a MLOF trustee and was very active in the local community.

21 local parish councils have already received funding from MLOF to install defibrillators in their villages and others are still considering the offer from MLOF for funding towards their installation.

Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) have been described as the single most important development in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. Designed for use by untrained lay persons, they have improved the outcomes of literally thousands of people who have suffered from cardiac arrests.

MLOF chairman David Hide said: “We are delighted to have worked with another local parish council to enable it to have access to this potentially life-saving equipment.”

St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council Chairman Roger Budgen said: “We are very grateful to MLOF and to be able to dedicate the defibrillator to Phil Rice, a wonderful local resident who did so much for Malmesbury and District”.

You may already have seen some of the following press releases  Road safety campaign launched following the death of 13 people on Wiltshire's roads so far this year | Wiltshire Police and Road safety campaign 2023 | Wiltshire Police due to the increased number of people killed or seriously injured on Wiltshire’s roads.

The cost of living crisis means that many of us are finding it difficult to manage rising energy, food and other costs.  Malmesbury Town Council, Wiltshire Council and other local organisations have partnered together to provide a network of support and information to help people cope with the crisis.  You can download the advice on the link below. 

St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council

WESTPORT WARD

The Parish Council has a vacancy remaining from the May 2021 election for a Councillor, which will be filled through the process of co-option.

Co-opted Councillors have the same rights and responsibilities as those who obtain office through election. They are expected to attend the regular meetings of the Council and also to serve on a number of committees. All meetings are normally held on the 4^th Wednesday of the month. The role is varied and enables local people to use their skills and experience to enhance the work undertaken by the Council for the benefit of the community.

· Do you want to serve your Community?

· Do you have time or expertise which could benefit your Community?

· Do you want to make a difference to those around you?

· Are you concerned about your local area?

· Do you want to represent the views of local people?

If you would like to make a difference, and be involved in shaping the future of your local Community, why not step forward and apply to fulfil this role? All members of the community are welcome to apply.

If you are interested, please click on the attached expression of interest form.

If you would like more information, please contact the Clerk at clerkspmw@outlook.com or 07859 937917

To be able to stand for co-option to a local council, an individual must meet certain qualifications (by law), these are:

· Over 18 and a UK, Commonwealth, ROI, or EU Citizen and

· An elector for the parish, or

· For the last 12 months, have occupied land or premises in the parish, or

· Work in the parish (principal or only place of work), or

· Reside within 3 miles of the parish boundary

Please see attached leaflet for further information and an application form.