Planning is the one subject sure to fill a Parish Council meeting because, as residents, we care about what is being built around us.
A starting point for decision making is a document called the Local Plan which has been revised by Wiltshire Council and is out for consultation from Wednesday 27th September. The Local Plan sets out the vision and framework for housing, infrastructure and land for employment growth for the next 15 years. Once adopted, all planning applications will be determined against the plan, making it the most important place-shaping document for Wiltshire. Wiltshire Council is holding 16 drop-in events at libraries and leisure centres around Wiltshire and a live webinar-style online event. More information can be found on the Wiltshire Council website. I urge you to take a look and have your say!
Having had to repair an alloy wheel damaged in a pothole last winter I am pleased to hear that Wiltshire Council is to invest an extra £10m into road resurfacing to improve Wiltshire’s highways. The £10m bonus is in addition to the £14m being spent this financial year on maintenance. The additional money will be spent on preventative maintenance and a road resurfacing programme including small, local repairs to the highways and verge repairs on rural roads. The B3098 from West Lavington to Great Cheverell is looking great, I hope that the same road between West Lavington and Eastcott will receive the same treatment soon. It is worth saying that Wiltshire Council was able to spend an extra £10m (whilst so many other councils are going broke) due to excellent financial management and budgeting through a very difficult few years.
Mention CCTV to some people and they grimace and mutter something about “Big Brother”. I have always been of the view that if you aren’t doing anything wrong you don’t need to worry; I feel safer with CCTV than without it. I mention this because last month one individual, who drove onto a football pitch and churned the grass up by doing “donuts”, found himself in court pleading guilty to a criminal damage charge before being ordered to pay compensation to the parish council concerned. This was possible thanks to the state-of-the-art CCTV which covers the entire village hall building, carpark and playing field, and provided clear video evidence of the crime, including the vehicle numberplate and the driver sat in his car. CCTV is being used across all the villages by parish councils and residents to protect property on behalf of all of us. Our playgrounds, pitches, buildings, footpaths, and community spaces are part of the fabric of our community. It is right that we work together to protect them and I hope you will feel comforted by the fact that CCTV exists and action will always be taken against anyone damaging “our” community.
A final note – I’m really keen to gain as much crash data as possible related to Black Dog Crossroads to supplement the limited data held by Wiltshire Police from “serious” accidents. I have added a short survey to my website. If you have ever been in an accident at the crossroads, however minor, please complete the survey by clicking here.
You may contact me about this or any other matter by email to dominic.muns@wiltshire.gov.uk or by phone on 07585 394 178.
