Chairman’s report 2023/2024
4th May 2024
Our parish councillors work as non-paid elected members wading through the mechanisms of local government. I therefore extend my thanks to my fellow parish councillors for their volitional work across the year; Maintaining assets, working with the parish steward and looking at planning applications.
Particular thanks to Graham Worsnop in his capacity of highways officer for regular attendance of Wiltshire Council’s (WC) LHFIG (local highways footpaths improvement groups) and keen follow-up on agenda items.You may be aware of our efforts to find a compromise with WC for improvements to the C151 in Ford. Work has now started though I believe there is some remedial work to be done as some lines were not correct and signage is not in place yet etc. A crossing for pedestrians at Ford has also been agreed and is at the funding decisions stage. I’ve worked closely with Graham and WC on trying to reduce the speed limit at The Shoe. Unfortunately things were delayed again as there was a change in portfolio holder in the cabinet for highways within WC. I contacted the new portfolio holder 1 week in to his tenure. He was very responsive and visited the site at Easter with our By Brook Division councillor Nick Botterill. Nick Holder is currently discussing the matter with his officers. WC have suggested a crossing at The Shoe and we await their plans to see what they are suggesting. Signage renewal work has finally been carried out in North Wraxall.
In addition to his highways work, Graham also successfully undertook the task of smartening up the telephone box at Ford and was instrumental in the North Wraxall Parish tree planting for the Queen’s Green Canopy. Particular thanks also to Bill and Cherry Edwards plus Patrick Shervington and Mark Cannings. The Parish Council (PC) procured Royal British Legion steel plaques which I then mounted on solid stone slabs with brass screws.
At The Shoe we planted a native wild cherry which I think was very apt given the amount of work Cherry Edwards put in. At the Mountain Bower, Castle Combe and North Wraxall junction, Guy Hollis planted a beech tree which he had grown. Thank you to Anthony Little who gave his permission to plant a locally grown native oak on his land next to the public footpath.
We have acted upon various matters raised by residents across the year. This includes getting drainage improved in various areas (more follow up needed!) and have also been feeding back about pot holes and the atrocious state of the Fosse Way so we hope to improvements there soon.
Thanks as ever to our Clerk, Glenys, for her input and support in all matters.
I have continued to cover the IT needs of the parish council and have maintained our government website pages posting the minutes, agendas, rolling action lists and bank reconciliation details after meeting. I have written and posted various articles both in the parish magazine Take5 and on our website covering events such as the tree planting and the litter pick we organised and held in July at Ford.
We have completed various surveys at the request of WC on matters such as Wiltshire Bus Review Stakeholder Survey, Cultural Strategy, Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and Wiltshire Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (CAJSNA).
We continued with usual mechanics of a local parish council and made comments on 18 planning applications in 2023 and 10 so far this year.
I look forward to working with you all in the coming year to the benefit of our parish. We have approved funds for planters and edging to make village entrances to The Shoe. If we are successful in our attempts to reduce the speed limit, we will have more options open to us as a parish council.