January 16, 1970.

CHIPPENHAM: A great grand-daughter of Charles Dickens visited Chippenham on Tuesday to advise a group of students from the Bath Academy of Art at Corsham Court on their project to design a series of postage stamps to commemorate the centenary this year of Dickens’ death. She was Mrs Terence McHugh of Baunton Fields, Cirencester, whose grandfather, was also named Charles, was the Dickens’ eldest son. She was gave the students a considerable collection of rare documents to help them in their work. Graphic art students were invited to do the project by Mr David Phillips, the sales director of Picton Instant Print, of St Mary Street, Chippenham. His company was asked by the Inter-Government Philatelic Corporation of New York to submit designs for a group of four stamps to be issued in six countries in the West Indies. “At this stage this is a competitive project and even if we do not win the contract, it should prove an interesting for them,” he said. Mrs McHugh supplied detailed knowledge of Charles Dicken’s travels in America and the West Indies.

January 19, 1990.

TROWBRIDGE: Twentieth-century technology on a nineteenth-century listed building has angered Trowbridge town councillors. But only 24 hours after complaining about the six 20-foot-high aerial masts on top of Ashton Mills, councillors discovered they had recommended that planning permission should be given. “We made a mistake, it’s as simple as that,” admitted Mr Brian Mitchell, who complained about the masts at Tuesday night’s town council meeting. “I missed the planning application when it came up in summer.” Peter Rushforth, who runs an electronic service business from Ashton Mills, said: I have always admired the character and solid Victorian construction of the building... the effect of these masts and aerials is disastrous. I cannot imagine why permission was granted. Shall we soon be having neon advertising on the Handle House?”

January 21, 2005.

BRADFORD ON AVON: Long-awaited plans for a multi-million pound development on the Kingston Mill site in Bradford on Avon have been delayed again. Deputy mayor Peter Leach, who has been heavily involved in a monthly consultation between the developers and key town groups, said: “I think in fairness the original schedule that was agreed was a very, very tough schedule and I am hoping the delays have been positive.” Gerald Milward-Oliver, chairman of the Community Development Trust said: ”We don’t want to have a site so crammed with houses that it is a rabbit warren.”