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Litterpick invite

RESIDENTS of Drynham ward in Trowbridge may be interested to know that Cllr Denise Bates and I are holding our first Drynham Community Litter Pick and Weeding Session. We would be delighted to welcome any fellow volunteers. Equipment will be supplied but you are also most welcome to bring your own. We will be meeting at the corner of Ramsbury Walk and Wiltshire Drive on Saturday 27th July at 1.30pm for a two-hour session. Helpers can stay for as little or as long as they wish.

Although the responsibility of street cleaning lies with Wiltshire Council, we are very aware there can be significant gaps between cleaning schedules and that these are not always comprehensive. We hope that such community sessions can become a regular feature within Drynham. If you are intending to join us it would be helpful, although not essential, if you could let us know by emailing andrew.bryant@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Cllr Andrew Bryant, Wiltshire Council, Drynham Ward

Is Plan pointless?

IN November 2011 Urchfont Parish Council enabled the setting up of a Steering Group to produce a Neighbourhood Plan. Detailed in its visions and objectives was a statement ‘Local people have access to a home they can afford’ which was backed up by a further statement ‘Develop sufficient land for small-scale market affordable housing to meet local need.’

A housing needs survey produced for the Neighbourhood Plan indicated that the community wanted 1, 2 and 3 bed houses, with over 50% requiring 2 bed houses. The housing section of our plan indicated ‘Support will be given to development proposals on appropriate sites which: a) make efficient use of land, b) show a predominance of 2 & 3 bed houses and/or include small scale housing units for older people.’ Great – that’s what the community said they wanted and voted for when the Plan was adopted in April 2017.

To date 9 houses built on allocated sites have been sold, or are for sale, at an average cost of £690,000. A further 2 sites with 9 more houses have been approved by Wiltshire Council which will probably bring the average cost of new houses to approximately £600,000. Included in these 18 houses are just two 2 bed houses and a pair of semi-detached 3 bed houses. The semi-detached houses were marketed at just under £400,000 and based on similar prices per square metre the 2 bed houses will probably cost £300,000 plus.

It appears to have been pointless to spend time, effort and money producing something which just gives licence to developers to build only for maximum profit and for Wiltshire Council to have an excuse for approving anything put in front of them. At Urchfont Parish Council meetings our Wiltshire Councillor has told us that we cannot tell developers what we want them to build and there will always be a natural conflict between Neighbourhood Plans and statutory planning rules which are paramount.

One must ask why we bothered.

Richard Hawkins, Peppercombe Close, Urchfont

Let’s be civilised

IT is right that people should be allowed to change their minds, and that is not my bone of contention. Rather, it is the main reason behind the People’s Vote campaign’s existence - that we are all stupid bigots who didn’t know what we were voting for.

I would love a more civilised discourse as much as anyone, but it goes both ways, and until people realise that most of us did know what we voted for, and voted how we did because we have problems with how the EU works that we don’t think can be reformed, then that civil discourse isn’t going to happen because people like me will hit back when we are patronised in such a way. We’re not fascists and we’re not trying to destroy the country, and people would do well to remember that.

James Bools, Melksham

Get Tough for us

MENINGITIS Research Foundation (MRF) needs people from Wiltshire to take part in the south west’s Tough Mudder race on 17 and 18 August and to raise money for the charity. We have spaces available on this great day out.

Meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases that strike without warning. One in ten people affected will die and a third of survivors will be left with after-effects, some as serious as brain damage, amputations, blindness or hearing loss. Babies, toddlers and teenagers are the most at risk but anyone can be affected at any age.

MRF would welcome anyone running the Tough Mudder, regardless of whether they’ve been affected by the disease personally or not. The money that runners raise will help support MRF’s lifesaving research into the prevention, detection and early treatment of meningitis and septicaemia and will allow the charity to continue raising awareness and supporting those affected.

Bring friends or family as spectators, and when you are done conquering the 8-10 mile course, celebrate with your team. Waiting for you in the Mudder village in Badminton will be entertainment, street food, craft beer and good times.

To find out more or contact me on erint@meningitis.org or visit the meningitis.org site and search for Tough Mudder.

Erin Taylor-Dods, Community Fundraiser, Meningitis Research Foundation

Sign of the times?

THE recent Wiltshire Council by-election in the Drynham ward in Trowbridge has seen the Conservatives lose one of their safest seats in the county to the Liberal Democrats.

With the Wiltshire Council elections just 18 months away there must be some very worried Conservative councillors, along with them our Conservative MPs must be wondering if they will soon be looking for new jobs.

Terry Chivers & Eden Grove, Whitley, Melksham