BISHOPSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

News for December

Parish News Update

 

Scathing report says government ignored complaints over Post Office closures

An alarming report from the Public Accounts Committee has said the Government ignored complaints over its plans to close 2,500 Post Offices. The committee chairman said the brief consultations were "nothing more than a piece of window dressing".

Bishopstone Parish Council wrote letters of strong objection to the closing of the Post Offices at Coombe Bissett and Broadchalke. The response was a standard "catch-all" answer that largely dismissed the points that had been raised. The Council attended the public meeting at Coombe Bissett and there it was only too obvious that consultation was nothing more than stone-walling.

 

The damning document said that the Government did not consider the impact of closures but only the "relatively modest economic benefits". Only a small percentage of people were even aware of the consultation and the closures had caused much "distress" and "upheaval".

The MPs' report said that around 190,000 people across the country submitted their views, but many felt they were "not being listened to properly" or that "the decision had already been made".

Mark Wallace of the TaxPayers' Alliance said the Government was using consultations "as PR" and "tricking people rather than consulting them".

"The Government is pretending to listen to public opinion and then ignoring it," he said.

There are now just 11,500 post offices left in Britain, compared to a peak of 25,000 in the 1960s. Forty per cent of post offices open in 1997 have closed since Labour came to power. Post Office Ltd has been making a loss for the past nine years.

The Public Accounts Committee said the money saved by the closures was "less than impressive". The programme cost million, including million in compensation to sub-postmasters.

The report seems particularly relevant to the muddled planning that surrounds it. In recent months the Post Office has been awarded the government contract for payment and benefits, new work in relation to driving licence renewals and ID cards. And the prime minister has also announced that he wants the network to play a much bigger role, bringing banking services back to the heart of people's communities.

Events celebrate inclusion and achievements of disabled people

A week of events is being held in Wiltshire to promote disability equality across the county.

‘No Barriershich takes place in the first week of December this year, is an annual event organised by Wiltshire Council and its partners including Wiltshire NHS, Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

A special guide is available at libraries, police stations and fire stations giving details of the events that will be taking place.

Among the activities taking place are storytelling, exercise classes, poetry events, sports activities and coffee mornings.

The aim of this annual event is to raise the profile of disability equality and to promote the inclusion of disabled people in all aspects of life in Wiltshire.

Each year the project goes from strength to strength, celebrating achievements and helping to remove any barriers that are faced by disabled people.

Activities planned are:

The Salisbury Area Board will be marking No Barriers at their open, public meeting at Auditorium, City Hall, with a presentation about how the board is working with disabled young people. The public meeting will be held on December 3 between 6.30pm and 9pm. Contact Marianna Dodd 07919 881174 for more information.

Shaw Trust will be inviting people to see the achievements of all the people involved at the Salisbury Development Service (Old Sarum) from December 1 to December 5 between 10am and 3pm. The event will be held at Salisbury Personal Development Service, The Portway, Old Sarum, Salisbury. Contact Penny Greaves on 07967 395984 for more information.

The Salisbury Personal Development Service (a Shaw Trust project) will be selling a variety of craft items, including Christmas decorations, at The Maltings, Salisbury on December 3 and December 4 from 10am to 4pm. Contact Penny Greaves on 07967 395984 or Darryn on 01722 337192 for more information.

Carers Rights Day will be celebrated on December 4 at Salisbury library between 10am and 12pm, with a Carers Coffee Morning, hosted by Carers Support Salisbury District and Wiltshire Council. People can find out how Carers Support and the library service can help people who care for others.

Contact Carers Support Salisbury District on 01722 322746 for more information.

The launch of a special monthly night club called "Go Bananas" for young people aged 13 to 24 will take place on November 29 from7pm. For more details contact Winnie Manning 01722 410963.

We are working with the Job Centre Disability Employment Advisor, Salisbury District Hospital staff as well as voluntary organisations to achieve our aims.

Shopmobility, Action for Blind People and other organisations have organised a project where unemployed and employed disabled people work in different places to show how some disablities do not affect work and others can be overcome by making a few adjustments. This will take place in Salisbury on December 3. For more information contact 01722 328068 and 01722 345440.

For more information about No Barriers on 01225 713000 (textphone 01225 712500) or log on to the Wiltshire Council website.

Business put pressure on Wiltshire Council over parking charges

Salisbury businesses have asked Wiltshire Council to introduce a number of parking incentives over the Christmas and New Year shopping period. The aim is to help overcome the impact of the economic downturn by boosting the number of visitors to the city and to help businesses get their tills ringing during the festive season.

 The proposals were submitted to Wiltshire Council by Salisbury City Centre Management Limited. They are asking the council to:

  • Extend the closing time of the park and ride service on late night shopping Thursday’s to 9.00pm
  • Reduce parking charges at city car parks and at the park and ride sites for the Christmas period
  • Provide free parking in the city car parks and at the park and ride sites on the last Saturday before Christmas, 19th December

 Ian Newman, Chairman of Salisbury City Centre Management said: “Local councils across the country are reducing parking charges in an attempt at helping businesses attract customers during these very difficult times. These include Swindon and Southampton. We understand that Wiltshire Council is committed to supporting businesses in Salisbury and we believe that our proposals provide the perfect opportunity for the council to demonstrate the strength of their support.pan>

 It is understood that the proposals are being put to Councillor Richard Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport. It is hoped that local businesses will hear the results of their appeal by the end of this week.

England's village halls face a fragile future

   Village halls have a crucial role in supporting local action and service delivery, says the latest report by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).

But the future for many buildings is fragile, it warns.

With a total asset value of over a billion, England’s 9,000 village halls represent the country’s largest network of community-owned facilities.

Volunteers work an average of 18.5 hours each week to run their local hall the most significant factor in keeping the building open.

Only 3% of halls receive regular funding from their local authority.

The remainder generate their income through hire charges, services and fundraising support from the local community and parish councils.

The survey also includes feedback on support provided by ACRE's Rural Community Action Network to volunteers managing the halls.

Some 83% of hall committees seeking advice from the network rated it either good or excellent.

Sylvia Brown, ACRE chief executive, said looking after village halls fell almost entirely to local volunteers rather than local authorities.

“The traditional village hall still underpins much of community life in rural areas,e said.

Village halls had an important role supporting local democratic participation and in helping rural people without transport access services.

“While public policy is focused on transferring new assets to communities, we are now very concerned to raise awareness of existing community owned assets that perform such a crucial role for local people.>

ACRE is calling on local authorities to recognise the contribution made by village halls to delivering local statutory objectives at little or no cost.

It believes a local register of rural community-owned buildings should be held in each local authority area.

At a national level, ACRE wants the government to explore the potential for strategic investment in support services for halls facing uncertainty.

Local government too must recognise the value of investing in a comprehensive proactive support service, it said.

This service should be tailored to the needs of individual village halls so their value to the local community was maximised and sustained.

Local government should exercise 100% rate relief on community-owned halls in recognition of their contribution to local well-being.

Are you planning alterations to your home ?

Want a quick guide to what you can do ?

The Planning Portal is an official website that covers absolutely everything to do with planning and building regulations.

Go to their site at planningportal.gov.uk then click on general public then click on household planning rules then play with the interactive guides to find what you want.

Bin Collection heading towards fortnightly ?

It is likely that the controversy over fortnightly bin collections will break any day now. Wiltshire Councillors voted on November 24th that the council should consult “stakeholdersrly in 2010 on options for and implications of waste collection harmonisation. The critics and realists have already been saying that it will mean reducing everyone down to fortnightly bin collections and we can be certain that the council are determined that this shall happen. The Parish Council will be ready at its January 7th meeting to hear any question you may have over this.

 

 

 

 

 

Bishopstone speed limits

You would have noticed the traffic counting strips across the High Road during the first week of November. The results are now available.

The volume of traffic passing that point can be compared to the previous years when the check was done

2009 average of 2492 per day

2008 average of 2606 per day

2006 average of 2491 per day

We have no detailed breakdown of those volumes but a recent study on the A30 in Fovant might well be similar for the C12. In Fovant the split is

0700-2200 hours - 94% of vehicles passing

2300-0700 hours - 6% of vehicles passing

The speed at which vehicles travelled was measured too. The authorities use a measurement that looks at the speed below which 85% of vehicles were travelling. Research shows that the drivers who travel at this speed are the most safe and competent.

2009 % of the traffic was travelling at 38.3 mph or below within the 30 mph limit.

2008 % of the traffic was travelling at 39.4 mph or below within the 40 mph limit.

The results also checked the degree of speed limit adherence.

2009 .8% of the traffic was travelling above the 30 mph speed limit that applied on that stretch.

            26.4% of the traffic was travelling above the speed at which they would be prosecuted.

2008 % of the traffic was travelling above the 40 mph speed limit that applied on that stretch.

            2% of the traffic was travelling above the speed at which they would be prosecuted.

 

A formal request about High Road speed limits has been submitted to Wiltshire Council. They have been asked to reduce the existing 40 mph limit to 30 mph at the western end of the village and to then add a 40 mph limit from the White Hart to a point west of the Flamstone Street junction. This has been done as the first step bearing in mind that it would not be implemented until 2011 even if the council were to agree immediately. It can be expected that a lengthy period of discussion will take place. The Parish Council decided not to ask at present for any speed limits to be introduced on the back lanes off the High Road. It was also decided that we would not be interested in having volunteers standing by the roadside with speed cameras. You may recall the report last month that this was suggested as a step towards finding out if a speed limit was required.

Arts Festival wins Tourism Event Of The Year title

Salisbury International Arts Festival has won the ‘Tourism Event of the Yearaward at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The South West Tourism Excellence Awards celebrate and reward the leading events in the tourism industry.

It recognises the overall success of the festival, which attracted more than 55,000 people.

This year’s event brought in more than llion to the region through tourism.

The judges said it was a fantastic experience for visitors and attracted new people from across the world.

The festival's director Maria Bota, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award, which is a terrific endorsement of all the dedicated work of the team, sponsors, partners, volunteers and friends.

"Without the support of our sponsors - Friends Provident, Wiltshire Council and Arts Council South West -we would not be in a position to deliver a festival that is in the top six per cent of arts festivals in the UK and the biggest in the south west."

The festival will now go on to represent the region at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in 2010.

Do you want funding for your project ?

If you are a voluntary group, club, society, community organisation or small business there is money to fund your project. In fact there are so many sources of finance that you might be spoilt for choice. We wish to draw your attention to two funds that are currently looking for customers. Wiltshire’s Community Grant Scheme has 000 for the Wilton Area to fund local projects that benefit local groups. They are waiting for your claim. Also looking for takers is Sowing Seeds who have 5 million over the next four years to help develop rural businesses in South West Wiltshire and North Dorset. Funding is aimed at small businesses and community based projects. If you are interested then contact bishopstone@talktalk.net so that you can be put in touch. E-mail us too if you want information about funding in general.

Police Reports

Our Neighbourhood Police Team send out regular reports on recent incidents and suspicious goings-on.

9th October 2009

Just to advise that a chrome coloured BMX bike was stolen from outside an address in Stanley Close. This occurred at 2030hrs on 7/10/09. It is believed to have been pinched by a child of about 11years, blonde hair wearing grey trousers and a white top. Any info please let me know.

16th October 2009

Overnight 15-16/10/09 3 ferrets were stolen from an address in Fifield Bavant. Access was gained by driving into the field off the Fovant Road behind Manor Farm House and across to the back gardens of the Thatched Cottages. They then cut another fence to get into the garden. Quite an effort for 3 ferrets. Two females and a male were stolen (one left behind). One female and the male were light tan in colour and the other female was dark brown with a white muzzle (polecat appearance).

19th October 2009

A black 4 x Mitsubishi vehicle index L174GTX was stopped at BEMERTON HEATH SALISBURY and found to have over 300 roofing slates approximately 19 inch by 10 inch in size in the rear. The slates have been seized as police not accepting that the slates were legally purchased.

21st October 2009

Just received a report that at 10.15 last night the occupants from an address on Knapp Hill, Broadchalke disturbed 3 or 4 males who had stripped some lead panels from their roof. The occupants state that they were alerted by banging noises so I wonder if the perps knew if they were in. The owner of the house went outside and saw them climbing into a white saloon car similar to a Mondeo. Only a glimpse of a registration was seen and recorded similar to S158 OU or OB or S168. It had a distinctive loud exhaust whether it was a boy racer or just blowing we don't know. Did anyone see this vehicle last night? Fortunately they got away with nothing.

31st October 2009

Just received this e-mail from a disgruntled resident in Bishopstone! Any ideas who pinched them?

Just to let your know that overnight Wed/Thurs 28/29th October some toe-rag helped himself to my brand new wing mirror backs. I reckon someone local has two new grey backs to the mirrors on their Astra. I have only had them on the car for a week or so. Someone has to havetaken them off as I can't loose two at the same time - can I?

6th November 2009

For those not aware there was a theft reported of scrap lead from a garden in Quidhampton. We also had one reported recently from Broadchalke whereby the thieves stole lead from a roof whilst the occupants were still in! If you have any scrap lying around that you would like to keep please make sure it is out of sight from the road.

11th November 2009

I am sure that some of you may be aware of the practice being carried out by certain undesirables whereby horses manes are plaited to identify ponies / horses that are to be stolen. The simple plait can be clearly seen or felt in total darkness. This has also been publicised in the Horse and Hound magazine so would appear to be coming to our area. Apparently another sign is a stepped cut in the tail. This particular incident occurred this week in Teffont. Please be aware of this and forward to anyone you know who keeps horses.

13th November 2009

Further to my previous e-mail I attach pictures of another 'marking' on a horse at Teffont. If you are travelling through Teffont or surrounding areas - please keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and in particular pay attention to undesirables with horse boxes. Any such sightings 999 please!!

For those that own horses and have not yet done so I would recommend that they are micro chipped so that there is a much greater chance of recovering the animal should the worst happen. There is also a Horse Watch bulletin which has some useful information and I would urge every horse owner to become a member of Horse Watch - complete the registration form and return to John BORDISS . Again should the worst happen then let John know immediately in addition to reporting the matter to the Police as normal. He has excellent contact with other agencies including Ports.

18th November 2009

Anyone lost some Goats? Four white goats were seen at Windwhistle Farm in Bishopstone yesterday morning. Last seen running off towards the Shaftesbury Drove.

 

 

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