Author Archives: Dominic Muns

Over the last few months there has been no shortage of debate about Wiltshire Council’s new HRC booking system. The new system now requires residents to book a slot online before visiting the tip. Cabinet argues that the changes will help “manage demand, improve efficiency and reduce queues”. Critics (like me) have questioned whether the […]

I have been busy over the last month helping residents defend against a planning application, this time 47 houses in West Lavington. As you probably know, this has come on top of 19 new homes in the village last year and 50 homes the year before that; significant growth without any extension of local infrastructure. […]

Last night I was incredibly honoured to attend the formal induction ceremony for our new priest, Reverend Sam Park. Sam has joined our community with her family and will work across the CofE churches in West Lavington, Market Lavington, Easterton, Great Cheverell and Little Cheverell. The ceremony was a lovely celebration of Sam and her […]

Last month I mentioned that we would shortly see the work at Black Dog Crossroads completed and I am very pleased to say that it is now fully operational. The first few weeks since the lights have been in operation have seen a significant reduction in queue times thanks to the intelligent sequencing helped by […]

I won’t apologise for being political this month; you’ll see why. Six months after Wiltshire’s elections left the Council in “no overall control”, the Liberal Democrats scraped together votes from Independent councillors and concerns are growing over their leadership. Previously, Council finances were so well managed we were able to invest an extra £22m into […]

I am currently preparing for the Council’s annual budget meeting on the 24th February. This year, due to the “No Overall Control” situation, we will discuss not just a Liberal Democrat budget but also an alternative Conservative one. With a revenue budget of over £500m, it is essential we agree on an approach that works […]

Firstly, sincere apologies for not providing my usual update last month. So much was going on inside County Hall, as well as locally with several issues I was helping with, I didn’t find a spare minute to sit and write my usual update for locals.   The electricity cable is now under the A360 and […]

I hope you all had a lovely summer and found some time to enjoy the sunshine, see friends and family and have at least one BBQ! The weather has been amazing although my lawn would disagree if it could talk. Driving past the Crammer in Devizes it is now nearly empty. I have never seen […]

Now that the Council is back in full swing following the elections in May (in Wiltshire at least; Kent is apparently not holding any meetings still) it has been interesting to receive some updates from the new administration. A main issue that impacts us locally is Black Dog Crossroads. The electricity supply was due to […]

Well, what a month it has been! I was honoured to be re-elected as Wiltshire Councillor for The Lavingtons at the beginning of the month and I look forward to continuing my work to support our communities. I have literally just come out of the first Full Council meeting since the elections in May. As […]