Points of interest from the meetings held in November 2019

Welcome to our new Cllr

The Parish Council welcomes Steve Duke as our newest Cllr. Steve has lived in Draycot Foliat for over 20 years with his family, and has served full time and now part time in the RAF for nearly 40 years.

He brings a great deal of organisational skills to the role and we are really pleased to have him on board

Christmas tree and lights

The date for the grand switch on is Wed 4th December 6.00pm. We will be inviting local children’s groups along and have the fabulous “10 in a bar” singing carols for us and mulled wine and hot chocolate afterwards at the Chiseldon Sports and Social Club who have kindly opened their doors to us again. Please do come along and join us. A number of local groups and individuals have donated towards the costs of the tree and lights.

  • Sandstorm Studios in Badbury
  • Landmark Hotel
  • Cameo Hairdresser
  • Local Chiseldon resident
  • Three Trees Farm Shop

We will be holding a free raffle on the night for one of the children to do the lights switch on and will also have a children’s competition for best Christmas jumper….

Memory Café

The next memory café is Friday 29th November at the Church Hall from 10.30am and is the one year anniversary of this volunteer scheme. Everyone who has Dementia, and those caring for someone with Dementia is welcome to attend. There is a relaxed atmosphere with singing, and music from local musicians. There is complimentary tea, coffee, cake and biscuits. You can contact 07920 798824 for more details.

Community Speed Watch

The group are looking for more volunteers to be trained to do speed watch activities on roads in the parish. Full training is provided and results are given to the police, letters and a police visit can then be triggered when a threshold is met. This is not a Parish Council led initiative but one of our Cllrs heads-up the local group. Please contact the Clerk if you wish to discuss this further and I can put you in touch.

Planning Application for 2 drive-thru outlets on the land on the A346 adjacent to the Esso Station. S/19/1465

The Parish Council voted to object to this planning application. You can see the full reply to Swindon Borough Council planning department here:
www.swindon.gov.uk/planning. Selecting “View or make comment on a planning application” and entering S/19/1465 in the search public access section.

M4 J15 Works

The latest update from Highways England is that work will not start until early 2020. Once work starts DayHouse Lane will close for around a year to allow bridge widening work to be carried out.

Local artist and writer donates towards the fund for a third parish defibrillator.

Joy Woodhams has kindly donated some of her royalties to the provision of a defibrillator to go on the Chiseldon Recreation field to be used by anyone accessing this space. If you would like to donate towards this fund please contact the Parish Clerk.

Neighbourhood Watch meeting

The next meeting is Monday 25th November at 6.30pm in the Recreation Hall off Norris Close. All residents are welcome to go along. The next meeting is Monday 27th January 2020.

VE Day 2020 – Friday 8th May 2.00pm onwards

Update – A request has been submitted to have a RAF flypast from a Spitfire and Lancaster bomber. We won’t hear back until early 2020 if we have been successful.

We have booked the Wiltshire & Dorset Rainbow fire engine for the event and have booked our first food stall – Rays ice cream from Old Town.

We also have Total Eclipse, who are a fantastic and established duo consisting of Swindon’s Got Talent 2018 Winner, Nathanael Parker and incredible songstress Jeanette Etherington.

Joining us also is Swingout Swindon – who offer wide range of classes from the 20’s 30’s 40’s and 50’s will be treating us to a dance performance featuring popular dances from the 1940’s and also doing a workshop for anyone wanting to have a go.

Latest in – Swindon Brass Band have just signed up also!

The Old Town Rotary Club will be running a soft toy tombola stall

We will be following up with more information shortly such as stall availability, further activity bookings and requests for volunteers, equipment and donations. If you are a band/choir/singer or dance group that would like to be involved on the day please contact us on the details above.

We are currently Co-opting for New Parish Councillors

Want to help make the parish a better place?
Want to work with like-minded people?
Want to be involved more in local matters and give your time and expertise?
Perhaps being a Parish Councillor is the perfect match for you….?

As the election in May was uncontested this leaves the Parish Council with a number of vacant seats that need to be co-opted. This date for this will be Monday 11th November at the next full council meeting at the Old Chapel on Butts Road at 7.30pm. The Co-option notice is at the end of this article. Our website will also have a copy and also further information on the attributes and duties of a Parish Councillor. Please do contact us if you are interested as we will need to have a covering letter and some information from you on why you believe you could be a Parish Councillor.
We are hoping to do a leaflet drop shortly so if you are able to deliver some leaflets to encourage new Councillors, we’d love to hear from you.

What is Co-option?

Co-option is a method whereby a Parish Council can elect new Councillors by majority vote. This can happen after an election if not all seats are filled (an un-contested election), or upon the resignation or death of a Cllr between election periods.
Candidates would present themselves to the existing council members at an applicable council meeting who would then vote on the successful applicant.

Local grants and funds available

The Parish Council have set up a short term sub-committee to look into grants and funds that are available to benefit the parish. The committee will look to set up a “wish list” of what the parish needs and can then look at what funds are out there. There is the scope to add residents to this committee so please contact the Clerk in the first instance if you think you can spend some time to help investigate this.

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 Draycott 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

Recreation Hall on Norris Close & Chapel on Butts Road

The Hall is available to hire on an hourly/morning/afternoon/evening basis. 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. We can now offer free 4G wifi in the hall for all users.

After its refurbishment summer 2017 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, large flat screen monitor 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.

Parish Council Grants and Donations fund & Calley Memorial Hall 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.

The trustees of the Calley Memorial Hall 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)

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 for Chiseldon Ward which will have a Parish and Borough Councillor in attendance will take place on Saturday 7th November 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. These sessions can be attended by residents of Chiseldon and Badbury Ward.

The next surgery for Ridgeway Ward is December 14th 9-11 at Wanborough Village Hall.

The next Full Council meeting of the Parish Council will be on Monday 9th December 2019. This will start at 7.30pm and will be held in the Old Chapel, Butts Road.

Residents are welcome to attend and there is a public recess at the start of proceedings, after which residents can choose to leave.

PARISH COUNCIL OF CHISELDON (Chiseldon and Lawn WARD) VACANCY FOR COUNCILLORS

Notice is hereby given that by reason of an uncontested election on 2nd May 2019, a number of vacancies has occurred among the members of the Parish Council.

Any person willing to fill this vacancy should apply to the Clerk in writing (email is acceptable) on or before Friday 6th December 2019.

Applicants should be free the evening of Monday 9th December 2019 to attend the Parish Council meeting at 7.30pm for the co-option voting procedure.

Being a Parish Councillor is an opportunity to provide time and knowledge to the area where you live in order to help make it a better place.

You will be working with like-minded people who come together as volunteers for the good of the parish.

The applicants name must appear on the current register of the Voters List or the applicant should during the whole of the 12 months preceding the relevant date have resided in or within 3 miles of the parish or the applicants only place of work during the whole of the 12 months preceding the relevant date is in the parish.

The applicant must not be disbarred from standing as a councillor. Applicants living in Badbury Ward meeting the above criteria are also welcome.

Candidates (if successful) should be able to attend Parish Council meetings which can be seen here: https://www.chiseldon-pc.gov.uk/committees/parish-council/

Dated 14th November 2019
Signed: Clair Wilkinson, Parish Clerk
The Old Chapel
Butts Road
Chiseldon Wilts SN4 0NW