Points of interest from the meetings held in Jan 2019.

The December 2018 full council minutes were signed off on Monday 14th January. They are too large to put on the noticeboards so please look on our website (above) or email the Clerk for a copy to be emailed to you.

A reminder is given about home security as there continues to be burglaries in the area. Please keep all doors and windows locked on houses; outbuildings and vehicles. Do not leave valuables on view and try to leave a light on if possible when you are out.

Memory Café

The next café is Friday 24th January from 10.00am in the Church Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Wellington Street Swindon

Leave extra time for train journeys from Swindon Station at the moment as Wellington Street is closed. You will have to park your vehicle further away and buses will not be stopping outside the station whilst improvement works are in progress.

Draft SHELAA responses to Swindon Borough Council

At the Full Council meeting on 10th December the Parish Council voted to reject the sites known as SO0027 and SO0028 from the Borough Councils draft SHELAA document (Strategic Housing & Economic Land Availability Assessment). These sites are both situated along New Road.

The Council voted by a majority of 10/5 to recommend the inclusion of site SO0078 on Hodson Road in the draft document.

Swindon Borough Council will hold another public consultation in Spring 2019 with a final draft being agreed in Autumn 2019.

Queries on this process can be directed to the Parish Clerk or your Ward Councillors.

Local Parish Council’s Clerk job adverts

Broad Town and Erlestoke Parish Councils both have vacancies for part time Parish Clerks. Please see our website if you would like more details (News page)

Handyperson role with the Parish Council

The Parish Council is looking to employ a part-time self-employed handyperson for work around the Parish. Full details can be found on our website or email the Clerk for information.

A brief summary of duties are:

  • General DIY (No electrical or plumbing)
  • Painting and Decorating
  • Weekly maintenance checks of the Sports Pavilion & Recreation Hall
  • Litter Picking – tools provided
  • Deliveries around the Parish
  • Updating Noticeboards
  • Fortnightly checks on 2 Parish AEDs (Defibrillators) – training provided
  • Collection of small loads of fly tipping
  • Meter reading
  • Purchasing of supplies – refunded as expenses subject to receipts.
  • Other jobs as mutually agreed between the successful candidate and the Parish Council.

The hours can be flexible and we welcome all applicants. Deadline for applying is Friday 8th February.

Scam emails – HMRC and TV licence

We have received notice that there are scam emails and phone calls at the moment for HMRC and TV Licences. If you are contacted to say you own money, please verify this independently and do not rely on an email or phone call to be accurate and genuine. A legitimate company will be happy for you to verify their identity.

Never give out bank details or login details without checking the identity of the person requesting it.

Allotment plot and thefts

We currently have one allotment plot vacant on New Road – please contact the Clerk if you would like to know more.

An aluminium incinerator was recently stolen from the site. Can all allotment holders carefully consider what they leave on site as aluminium thieves do seem to be around at the moment.

A message from Chiseldon Netball Team

Dear all,

I hope you have all enjoyed the festive break because we’re back every Wednesday at Ridgeway School (6pm for the juniors and 7pm for the adults) to blast away those Christmas excesses. Just pop along and give it a go.

What a fantastic year it has been for Chiseldon Netball Club!! We have gone from being an idea with my daughter in a casual conversation to now running two sessions a week with Tarlia, our dedicated coach, regularly training 20-30 people both young and slightly less young! This could also not have been possible without the support and enthusiasm of our committee members, who continue to make this a fun, friendly club and don’t take it all too seriously. For that, I truly appreciate the help and commitment they have all given to making this idea work so well. Thank you 😁

2019 will promise to be an exciting year too as we look to develop teams so that we can enter some fun leagues and hope to visit Tarlia’s regular team play in a match to see how the juniors and adults need to pull all the training together for a match situation. We also hope to introduce some team kit too.

Also, new for this year will be the introduction of monthly subs. Unfortunately, due to the high costs of court hire, our small club cannot support the pay as you go option. The cost to play remains the same but it will now be a monthly fee based on weeks in the month which will follow the School term timetable, except for the summer holiday.
For example, subs for the next two months will be as follows:

  • Adults – Jan £20. Feb £15
  • Juniors – Jan £16. Feb £12

We now have the added benefit of playing at Ridgeway Leisure Centre with the challenge of a full sized court and will be looking to move outside as soon as the weather permits.

Thank you so much for supporting this new club in its first year and we are all looking forward to a healthy and active 2019!

Best wishes to you all.
Fiona Allen & Committee

Grit Bins

All grit bins in the Parish should have been topped up in 2018 by Swindon Borough Council. Please alert the Clerk or SBC if you notice stocks are low in a bin. The grit is for use by members of the public on public highways and pavements.

Chiseldon Parish Council support for the South Swindon Protection Group (SSPG)

The Parish Council agreed to help spread the word of the SSPG. You can read more on their website https://www.sspg.org.uk/ as they try to stop the proposed Science Park at Inlands Farm Wanborough.

5 year plan consultation groups

The Parish Council are keen to start work on a long term plan of what changes the Parish and residents would like/need to see. With this in mind we are hoping to set up consultation groups, made up of all demographics of residents from all areas of the parish. More information to follow on how you can get involved to shape the parish for the future.

Defibrillators – a reminder

A reminder that the Parish has 2 defibrillators – one outside Cameo Hairdressers on High Street, and one outside the Calley Memorial Hall on Draycot Road. Both units are accessed by calling 999 to gain the code for the box. You cannot use these defibrillators on someone who doesn’t need it as the machine will not work. It also provides audible instructions on how to use them

Norris Close new layby parking area

Progress is still pending the amended drawings from SBC and also confirmation of whether planning permission is required. We are talking to SBC and will get information out to residents of Norris Close when we know more. We will undertake a full consultation with residents before any work is agreed on.

Recreation Hall on Norris Close

The Hall is available to hire on an hourly/morning/afternoon/evening basis. Please contact the Clerk on the details above to make an enquiry about prices, or availability. We can also arrange pitch hire for Football or Softball games– please ask us for details.

The hall has undergone a tidy up and now has new carpet and cleaned/painted walls. It makes an excellent space for a gathering/party/occasion.

Chapel meeting space hire

After its refurbishment last summer the Chapel on Butts Road is now a fully functioning meeting space, as well as being the Clerk’s office.

There is table space for 10 people with extra seating available. There is access to a projector and screen and free wi-fi. Tea and coffee making facilities are provided; you just need to bring your own milk.

This useful local space is available for hire for only £35 per morning/afternoon or evening session subject to availability. Discounts are available for registered charities.

Please contact the Clerk for more information.

Grants and Donations fund

The Parish Council have an annual fund that we can donate to worthy causes within the Parish. If you are a group, charity or society that believe you could benefit from this fund then please contact the Parish Clerk for further details.

Calley Memorial Hall fund

The trustees of this fund are also able to approve grants and donations to worthy causes within the Parish. (This doesn’t have to be connected to users of the Memorial Hall). Please contact the Parish Clerk in the first instance who can provide you with an application form.
(It should be noted that this fund is not connected to the Parish Council)

Works required within the Parish

We continue to report on any issues that need attention in the Parish, either to SBC if it is their responsibility or to our contractor to deal with.

A full list of responsibilities in being compiled and will be on the Parish Council’s website and linked to the Parish Facebook page so people can understand who is responsible for what items with the Parish.

Home Library Service

There is a Home Library service for Chiseldon Parish. It is run by volunteers and covers all areas of the parish and can deliver books based on your preferences. Call 01793 465 495 for more details.

Next meetings

The monthly Borough Councillors Surgery which will have a Parish and Borough Councillor in attendance will take place on Saturday 2nd February 2019 11.30 to 12.30 in the Calley Memorial Hall on Draycott Road.

This is an opportunity for residents to discuss any concerns with both Parish and Borough Councillors so do come along and say hello.

The next Full Council meeting will be on Monday 11th February 2019. This will start at 7.30pm and will be held in the Recreation Hall, off Norris Close. Residents are welcome to attend and there is a public recess at the start of proceedings, after which residents can choose to leave.