A COMMUNITY development trust in Melksham has made its director redundant and will remain a ‘dormant company’ until its role in the new unitary authority becomes clear.

Carolyn Beale, community trust director of Melksham 1st based at Crown House in Market Place, will step down from her role next Friday.

The future of Melksham 1st, described as a company limited by guarantee with members instead of shareholders, remains in limbo until new community area partnerships are established by the unitary authority this summer.

Projects Melksham 1st has been involved with include the Spring Festival in King George V playing fields and town enhancement projects, as well as homework clubs in the town.

Melksham 1st’s board of directors said this week that community partnerships like them would come under control of Wiltshire Council’s area boards, meaning changes to the way they work, are funded and the roles of personnel.

The statement added: “The new authority is committed to supporting community partnerships through the boards to develop local plans and projects and we are exploring all opportunities to continue our involvement and build on what we have already achieved.

“We have received many complimentary comments from local organisations with which we have been involved, all thanking us and particularly praising our community trust director’s commitment and professionalism.

“ We wish to thank our supporters and funders for their support and help in working to achieve this.”

The board said it would continue to provide support to local groups but work was needed to help the firm remain in a ‘dormant but viable’ position, enabling it to pick up where it left off in the future when its position under the new authority becomes clear.

Mrs Beale said she was “sad” at the decision, but added: “If it (Melksham 1st) was to get funding from other places then it could again continue to work in the community in an independent, non political way.”

Wiltshire County Council said the formation of area boards would be finalised after the unitary authority elections in June, when town and parish councils, local businesses and community groups will be invited to be a part of them.

A spokesman added: “The council is keen to support the development of a new community area partnership that can work closely with the council, other public services and the local community.

”There will be more funding available than in the past to support local projects. This will be allocated by the area boards and local organisations will be encouraged to apply.”