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 be installed in June, however, it has slipped back to August. I don’t now why this has been delayed, potentially an issue with SSE who need to do the work, or a decision by the Council. The installation of the cabling will now commence in early August and is expected to last five weeks.
The actual signals will be installed towards the end of the cabling work and so will commence in early September. In total the project includes 4-way traffic signals, junction resurfacing, and drainage improvements.
As we get closer to the completion of the project there will need to be some temporary closures for side roads (Worton and Broadway) and it is expected that over-height vehicle access to Broadway will be retained. My advice has been to limit closures to nights; further Information will be published mid-July. I have also advised that work should shift forwards as much as possible to coincide with school holidays.
We also have a new development of 47 houses being planned in West Lavington in the field behind White Street. This has been a shock to many residents and feels huge given the recent developments the village has seen At Holloway Rise and Hedges House. A consultation is being organised for the afternoon of the 9th July, at the Churchill Arms. Like many residents I will be in attendance to learn more about the proposal and discuss my concerns with the community; impact to the roads, schools and doctor’s surgery surely top of the list.
Two worrying updates have come from Council officers in the last week. The first is that radioactive material with readings above the safety threshold was uncovered on a Council owned site (a former RAF base in Melksham). What is really alarming is that officers found out about this in January and kept it from councillors and the local community until June.
The same week we found out about this, councillors were also told that the balanced annual budget that officers had forecast at the end of the last quarter had miraculously turned into a £5m overspend. I accept that this represents just 1% of the overall budget, however, it is inexcusable that £5m in costs can magically appear between the point the previous administration shut the doors and turned the lights off and the new administration entered the building. Something doesn’t add-up (excuse the pun) and so the upcoming Cabinet meeting will be very uncomfortable for officers, the new Leader and his team.
