Points of interest from the meetings held in September 2021.
Co-opt a new Cllr
Following the resignation of Andrew McDonald the Parish Council is now in a position to co-opt a new councillor. Please see the advert at the end of this article.
Castle View play area flooring update
The Environment, General Purpose and Amenities committee approved a significant expenditure to replace the old worn out flooring at the Castle View play area. Work began on 8th Sept and you can see the finished work below along with some work in progress images.
Request to Swindon Borough Council to assess New Road/A346 junction
The Planning, Highways and Transport committee have submitted another request to our Ward Cllrs to lobby SBC for an assessment on the speed limits and safety of the New Road/A346 junction, especially the difficulties in turning right and whether the 40mph speed limit is adhered to. The Parish Council have requested traffic lights for this junction to allow safe exit from New Road and control speed.
Rec Hall Hire for Table Tennis – pending check of the equipment
The hall now has a table tennis table, with nets for hire within the hall. We do currently have some spare balls but not bats. Please see our website for hiring details or contact the Clerk on the details above. Please make sure you have your own bats and perhaps some spare balls in case ours go missing.
Christmas tree on New Road plans
The September Environment, General Purpose and Amenities Committee will be considering the plans for the Christmas Tree on New Road, lights and carols for this year. Look out for an update in the next edition of the Bell, on Facebook or our website.
Marquee hire
The Parish Council is the custodian of 2 6×12 metre marquees which are available for hire at £50 per marquee per 24 hours. The fees for the hires is donated to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charity. Please contact the Clerk on the details above if you’d like to find out more.
M4 Bridge at Hodson Update – from National Highways
“National Highways operates, maintains and improves England’s motorways and major A roads.
I’m writing with an update on the works we’re carrying out to the Broome Manor Lane bridge deck that crosses over the M4 between junctions 15 and 16.
Further to the postcard we sent you in July 2021, we’re writing to update you on works to this bridge deck. We had planned to reopen the bridge deck at the end of August 2021, but this has now been delayed. We have identified some additional issues which require some re-design work and further concrete repairs to maintain the structural integrity of the bridge. These works will ensure that the structure is safe for all users and will avoid the need for extra closures in the future. The bridge will now re-open on 31 October 2021. Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.”
We always aim to work to programme, however unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes. We’ll keep you updated via advance roadside warning signs. You can keep up to date on closures affecting the M4 beneath this bridge by monitoring www.trafficengland.com If you would like further information about this work, please contact National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 open 24/7, who will direct your enquiry to the most appropriate person, or email: info@highwaysengland.co.uk For information on all our works in the South West please follow us on Twitter @HighwaysSWEST or www.trafficengland.com
Chiseldon Parish Neighbourhood Plan
At the September full council meeting, Cllrs voted to go ahead with the creation of a Neighbourhood plan for the parish, with the assistance of an independent consultant. This is a long process (at least 2 years) and required the assistance and input of residents of the parish but it should afford the parish additional protection to ensure development is sympathetic and appropriate to the character of the area, as well as other advantages. Grants are available to cover the main costs of the NHP which the PC will be applying for.
Tennis Court hiring to the public.
Did you know Chiseldon has tennis courts? Situated on the Rec field off of Norris Close, the public court is available to hire via the Chiseldon Tennis Club. (Flood lit for winter/evening use)
You can email info@chiseldontennisclub.co.uk or call 07753 199 950 and the club can make arrangements for you.
Local skills needed:
The Parish Council are investigating the feasibility of removing the old Recreation Hall which is at the end of its life and replacing it with a new multi-purpose community space.
This is at the very early stages but if you are local and have any skills or knowledge in this area, we’d welcome your assistance.
This could be:
- Planning knowledge
- Architect and building design
- Legal knowledge
- Building skills and knowledge
- Project Management
- Fund raising and grants.
Please do get in touch with us if you can help at all with this community project.
The Parish Council did a survey around 6 months ago to gain an idea of what residents would like to see for this area but if you would like to offer any suggestions then please let us know.
Plaque to remember a long serving Cllr:
Councillors and staff wanted to remember David Hill, a long servicing Cllr who retired in 2019 and sadly passed away in 2020. We held a private collection to place a plaque on a local bench on the council’s path between the allotments and the farm shop.
First Memory Café returns.
The popular memory café returns Friday 1st October 10.30am at the Church Hall off Butts Road. The café was created for anyone who wants some company and a chat over a cup of tea or coffee. Also for carers who look after anyone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s to come along with their loved ones. There is singing and dancing, all very informal and fun. There is no charge to attend.
Recreation Hall, Recreation field and Chapel hire:
The Rec hall off Norris Close, the Rec field in the same location and the Parish Council Chapel offices are all available for hire for events, meetings or parties.
Please contact the Clerk on the details above who can advise of charges, availability and what space would suit your needs.
Defibrillators – a reminder
A reminder that the Parish has 4 defibrillators – one outside Cameo Hairdressers on High Street, one outside the Pavilion on the Recreation Field, one outside the Calley Memorial Hall on Draycott Road and one in the BT Box in Badbury. All 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.
There is also a defibrillator on the outside wall of the school in Ogbourne St George.
NOW OPEN FOR NEW SUBMISSIONS – 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)
Next Parish council meeting
The next Full Council meeting of the Parish Council will be Monday 11th October. This will start at 7.30pm at the Rec Hall off Norris Close. There is a public recess at the start of proceedings, after which residents can choose to leave the session. Covid restrictions state we must adhere to max. number of attendees to be safe, so regrettably we may need to turn away extra visitors if space does not allow. Please register your interest in attending a meeting with the Parish Clerk, or send in a written report to be read out on your behalf. Meeting locations may change so please verify the location before making a journey. Our committee meetings will now meet in the Chapel Office on Butts Road.
PARISH COUNCIL OF CHISELDON (Chiseldon and Lawn WARD)
VACANCY FOR COUNCILLOR
Notice is hereby given that by reason of the resignation of Cllr Andrew McDonald, a vacancy 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 Friday 10th September 2021 in order to be eligible to join at the September Full Council meeting.
Applicants should be free the evening of Monday 13th September 2021 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.
The candidate (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 2nd September 2021
Signed: Clair Wilkinson, Parish Clerk
The Old Chapel
Butts Road
Chiseldon Wilts SN4 0NW