From:
Margaret Broughton
(Mon 16th Jan 2012 at 09:26)
It is a disgrace that the expenses for the Town Mayor are being increased.
I seriously suggest that we have no desire or need for a Town Mayor and the money saved could be put to far better use in the town.
How about the Town Council having a public vote on that?
SD Replies. I totally agree as Warminster having a mayor totally offends my sense of history. Unlike places like Salisbury, Wilton and Devizes which have had mayors for centuries, Warminster was never an borough. So it shouldn't have a mayor but should have a chairman. Those in charge in Warminster have no sense of history either as they would never have landed us with Tirana House (the Assembly rooms) and left the town hall to rot.
From:
Mike Hawkins
(Tue 22nd Nov 2011 at 17:30)
At last Paul is standing for election at least we will now have a say on the council because the people on it now don't listen well done Paul you get my vote.
MANY thanks for your support Mike
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Sun 20th Nov 2011 at 17:58)
Are you using Cicero as a type setting tool or as a comment on Warminster Council or, perhaps, both at once?
SD Sorry - as you suspected it is just importable text I was using while we were having some tech problems. Your comment is perhaps the first time in recorded history that Cicero has been mentioned in the same paragraph as Warminster Town Council. Another first for VFW!!!!
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Sat 29th Oct 2011 at 21:15)
It is indeed good news that Paul Macdonald has decided to stand for election to Warminster Town Council.
Let us hope that all of us who have so despaired of the bad and expensive decisions made by the majority of the present Council, will be able to look forward to having a Councillor in Paul,who will join the present few members who work for the wishes and the good of the majority in our Town instead of the minority.
SD - Couldn't agree more
From:
May Law
(Wed 12th Oct 2011 at 23:28)
I watch 2 cars have parking tickets put on the windscreen, In the carpark by Argos. The car park attendant watch the drivers of the cars leave Argos then walk into town. So beware when parking in this carpark or the Lidi car park
Carpark attendents do patrol and issue fines
SD - Sound advice - I always bike
From:
keith
(Sat 17th Sep 2011 at 14:26)
So Now our police are officially on the move can anybody explain how traveling back and forth to Trowbridge is going to save money. This obviously is a ploy to get rid of the police station completely sell it of and be policed from Trowbridge,surely a town this size deserves its own police station.
Is our MP going to involved to stop this stupidity or is too concerned about saving his own job
SD - I;m sure you are correct - Wiltshire Police Authority members are meeting this week. The last item on the agenda is about the police estate (In secret of course)
From:
Keith
(Mon 5th Sep 2011 at 11:58)
So it seems that an offer has been accepted for the Town Hall. It begs the question why the buyers missed the auction.
I assume Planing permission will not be hard to get as it will save Warminster Council a lot of embarrassment and they can claim they saved the building from declining into further disrepair
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Sat 20th Aug 2011 at 14:44)
Regarding the new Tesco supermarket drive thru' in Southampton, I hope customers will use it and they will then realise, whilst waiting in the queue[probably longer than the check-out queue] that as always it will be Mr. Tesco who laughs all the way to the
Bank.
From:
Raymond Pilkington
(Sat 6th Aug 2011 at 12:39)
These offensive matters, of the unelected council inflicting their personal plans on the residents of this town, has gone far enough to demonstrate,surely, to even the slowest learner, that this town is a ROTTEN BOROUGH as was designated in the 18th century. They haven't even had to do it in an underhand or sly way...they just ignored YOUR existence.
My point is,that anyone who still holds the opinion contrary to the facts that,'choosing to stay in power until they have got their own way is NOT standard operating procedure under a Monarchy without a written constitution',is wrong.This leaves the electorate with the only alternative of violence in the face of this degree of contempt. This council MUST therefore be reliant on their police for the physical perpetuation of the power they wheedle , as they are NOT on the electorate
Anyone who thinks the above extreme, is extremely servile.
You are not Citizens,that came with the first Republics,you are Subjects and therefore subject to what your "betters" want.
To see medival servility in action,observe the behaviour of the serfs of Horningsham on their village fete days awaiting the arrival of THEIR LORD, accompanied by women of various races,to open their yearly Revels, curtsying and bowing...have they no self respect?....National Geographic if interested in this anthropo, need not hurry....as this country is most comfortable on its knees.
England has an ancient history,...non of it worthy of pride. As Napolean said "The only Englishman with any Guts,was Cromwell"
SD replies - some strong views expressed. The decision to extend the life of the Warminster Town Council was a county wide one but one which has served the the people of this town so badly in view of the crazy plan to refurbish the Assembly Room and force the community to pay out two million pounds over the next 20 years without any democratic mandate.
Yes they have ignored us but our day is coming in May 2013 when all councillors in Wiltshire, town and county, can be removed via the democratic process rather than by a revolution.
From:
Elsa-Marie Kitching
(Sat 23rd Jul 2011 at 22:45)
Hello Steve Et Al,
What we really need in Warminster is a Speaker's Corner.
Somewhere where we can, unimpeded express our views.
There would of course have to be a rota set up for occupation of the corner as some of us could easily stand there most of the time...day and night!
Where else can one spout off unedited?
My point topic would be the ghastly ghetto
behind Victoria Road. Craftily spaced at the beginning to make it look better.
Condensed without a care for people's need for
space and privacy behind.
Second up would be the decimation of
our deciduous trees, felled almost weekly ...see the Planning Apps Colums.
We are becoming shadeless. Soon my garden
will be the only one with trees in it.
Here is a little tree poem for your amusement:
Don't tell secrets under trees
Cos trees can lift them to the breeze
The breeze could pump them full of air
And send them off to who knows where.
(I am a writer of comic and curious verse )
Steve replies - a novel idea. The nearest we have is the town hall steps I suppose.
I stood on them for a couple of hours on Friday and got to speak to quite a few people. It was amazing that so many people had so much to say - one thing they seemed to want to raise without prompting was the total waste of money on the Assembly Hall/Rooms/Civic Centre or whatever they are calling the benighted place this week.
From:
Barry Bustard
(Thu 9th Jun 2011 at 11:20)
War-ming-ster getting a Waitrose?! That's like Portsmouth getting a branch of Fortnum and Mason. Most Warminster residents don't even know what an avocado is and if the booze section isn't stacked high with White Lightning it's going to go bust in short order.
AND OI! Lay off using the Stonehenge pics because that’s in Amesbury - an altogether more salubrious settlement!
STEVE ANS You obviously don't know Warminster well - the favoured brand of cider here is Rich's of Highbridge not white lightening. Stonehenge belongs to Wiltshire so as a Moonraker I feel entitled to use it.
I've been to Amesbury - no railway station, no hospital, no newspaper of its own, no historic buildings in the High Street, no carnival - no Waitrose. It is better than Westbury though.
I admire the valuable information that you added in your site thanks
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Mon 21st Mar 2011 at 17:45)
Your latest article about the Council and the Assembly Rooms gave me joy; not because of the rubbish put out by the Council but because I have found someone else who cares about the correct use of "less" and "fewer". O frabjous day!
From:
David Miller
(Sun 13th Mar 2011 at 14:37)
Having received "Your Council Tax Explained" leaflet, a few things need explaining on the Warminster Town Council entry re The Assembly Rooms.
It states "The Council will move into the rooms", so much for your Parish Poll.
Also it predicates a budgeted income from The Assembly Rooms of £39000 up from £34900 last year even though they will be closed for most of the year.
The total budget does not mention the Public Works loan or it's repayment.
SD replies - they make it up as they go along - pinning them down is a bit like nailing jelly to a wall or bottling fog!
From:
Keith
(Sat 5th Mar 2011 at 11:58)
Steve I fully support your letter in taking WCC to task I also was a signatory for the parish poll but I was not informed of when the vote was to take place so my vote was not recorded.But as WCC and Warminster Council seem to be in bed together I feel the ombudsman is the only answer
SD replies - thanks Keith. They are in bed together but I think the legal department at County Hall is actually very good and straight so we may not have to go to the Ombudsman. Time will tell!
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Fri 4th Mar 2011 at 13:15)
Steve,
I strongly support your letter to the Chief exec.
Do you have an email add. for Andrew Kerr Ç I will write to him.
Good to see that AM is trying to put pressure on.
Margaret.
will be in touch
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Fri 4th Mar 2011 at 11:49)
Well done you! You don't give up and you're brave! You know I'm behind you.
From:
colin french
(Sat 19th Feb 2011 at 22:27)
The plans for Yeates meadow were nothing more than suggested plans, intended to open up a discussion into what people wanted from a scheme, that would, after all, enhance the site. The only voices heard were those that opposed it, using the unfounded fear of housing development. A closer look at the issue exposes the fact that a single user group has full run of the field excluding others from benefitting from the amenity. The scheme suggested that the wider community could have use of it also,increasing the species count and making it far more attractive than the present grassy meadow.
Funding for this scheme is being sourced and the need to build on the site to raise money is, it is hoped,not required.
If anyone has support for the scheme then please make your voice heard, it belongs to us all not just a limited group. Steve you may be able to enjoy this field again if plans to enhance it tempt you back again. The time is right for this type of creative idea, food production and community effort will become more and more vital long after our dependance on road transport and supermarkets.
From:
Chris Dyer
(Fri 11th Feb 2011 at 14:27)
I, along with other traders have been asked to a meeting on the 21st of February about the new parking charges and the council's idea that traders should refund the 40p first hour charge to shoppers and claim it back from the Town Council.
I e-mailed all the councillors and asked them why I should bother going to a meeting when they have completely ignored the wishes of the town's people and gone ahead with the assembly room move.
It was fairly obvious from the wording of the letter that the scheme has already been decided on as we apparently are meeting to finalise the scheme and to agree the two part ticket design to be used - doesn't sound like there is too much to discuss there!
But apparently not so. I have misunderstood the letter and It's all open for discussion and I should bring my ideas to the meeting. All this came in an e-mail reply from Sue Fraser copied to some of her friends on the council but not others - suprise, suprise.
So I asked Sue to supply me with some figures as to how many tickets are issued on an average month in the car parks under discussion. Surely she must have that information to come up with a figure of 2000 tickets at which a cap is brought in. But she won't or can't tell me. She says that the figure is based on the number of available spaces.
I smell a con coming here somewhere.
SD - Replies. Good for you for reminding them of their bad faith about the Assembly Hall. When it comes to car parking they are at least trying to do something - even if they were a bit slow off the mark.
I'd give them a fair hearing and ask some searching questions at the meeting. The last government, which didn't understand market towns, continually goaded major councils like Wiltshire to charge for parking. Now they are doing so at time when footfall to the nation's High Street has fallen by 20 per cent over the past two years - and in Warminster by more as a result of the town centre improvements snarling up our main street.
I'll be writing more on this subject as I have recently seen some interesting information which I will send on to you.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Wed 26th Jan 2011 at 07:09)
Great news for the Great Bustard and congratulations to the Group - they have been doing a wonderful job and well deserve the means to carry it on.
It is a group visit well worth while to take and helps their funds too.
From:
primrose Kirkman
(Mon 17th Jan 2011 at 07:48)
Amazing how that letter In the Warminster Journal from L. Bohanna naming me as one of the truth speakers/trouble makers sounded exactly as though it had been written by Tony Nicklen! How in accord the two of them must be!
SD Writes = You are not the first to think such a thought - they say great minds think alike. Perhaps Tony was too busy stroking his cat to write.......
Good luck with your campaign. I have sent off letters to Officials , in support.
The next election of the Warminster Town Council
will, I hope will be one of EXCRETUM EXTRACTUM !
Sincerely, Elsa-Marie.
SD replies - Many thanks for your support and interest. My knowledge of Latin is improving markedly!
From:
Raymond Pilkington
(Fri 7th Jan 2011 at 10:57)
I've just moments ago,listend to the BBCc's so called 'flagship news program R4', announce the presumably grave news to the nation; (1)'That today, the risk of terrorist explosive attacks on railway stations has been elevated to EXTREME' (2)That 'Britains got Talent' TeeVee will be stopping doing auditions in Mewcastle..reasons undisclosed.
(3) That an unfortunate young woman in Bristol has been murdered. .....(4) That some blokes are having a game of bat and ball in Australia. All announced with the same gravitas.
This is the day Ive waited for all my life...without it being possible for me now or ever, reasonably to be accused of bad taste or being barmy.
Therefore, I nurture the hope that Warminster Railway Station will be blown up sometime,early morning, when even less 'contestants' than usual are trying to prise a space within the two wheeled containers that constitute the owners opinion of what is 'fit' for us English, (pardon my use of the last word).
I live within hearing distance of their Tannoy so I know what I'm on about!
Only several trains a day use this line at most,(there were non during the snow).
This I hope, may have the Socio/Fiscal benefit of having the Station demolished and the lines sold to India for scap,and the remaining route being cheaply converted into another B road route, twixt Salisbury/Warminster/Bath
Apart from 'cosmetic'sections of dual carriageway along this route,non of this existing Trunk road,comes close to what Hitler sorted out in germany in the 1930's.
Bonus Fact;the last time this station was refurbished was when yer Prince 'Big Ears' visited His,(not yours)Army here several years back.The security cameras that were installed weeks before by his police gunmen presumably,were removed within a day or two after.They were there to watch you,not for your benefit.You just paid.
SD Interesting stuff about old big ears - I know the royal train caused a lot of inconvenience since we no longer have any sidings in Warminster. However the trains did run through the snow as they took me to work (I don't trust my rear-wheel drive vehicle in snowy conditions) although the journey took longer than usual.
From:
lynn
(Sun 19th Dec 2010 at 13:20)
having read your reply to my letter i once again feel i must answere. You talk of impulse buying, and yes, that can be true in many ways, but once again if trying to save money you don't look at other things, and the same goes for these other places thats visited. When you go into Reeves for your bread etc, thats not all you see, can you say you've never been tempted to buy 1 of those cakes etc looking at you? I never mentioned any names as i didn't want to start a war, but seeing as you've mentioned some, including Robins, i must say that watching meat being delivered to the shop from a lorry, parked on the roadside, carried across the pavement with people walking all around, all UNCOVERED, with cars and lorries of all discriptions driving past with thier fumes, dust etc, hardly entices people to enter and purchase. you talk of milk lasting a week and then tasteing diff, in most households milk dosn't last that long!
SD - A visit to the cake shop does take will power. However I would suggest that supermarkets spend millions annually researching sophisticated product positioning and subliminal messages to get people to impulse buy - Reeves just relies on the quality of its products.
PM says - I enjoyed my festive shopping once again in our town (and very close by) although I have to admit buying just one present from outside of Warminster as our bookshop had closed and i had set my mind on a Paddington Bear anthology for the grandchild.
I say thanks to shops like (amongst others) Warm Wishes in the Cornmarket, Footprints in Chinns Yard and the garden centre at Crockerton for presents, and others like Plain Ales and the Wylye Valley Vineyard shop for nice little thank you festive cheer.
And we must say a big thanks to our local postmen and postwomen who worked so hard to deliver the presents and cards through what was one of the worst weather leading up to Christmas!
From:
lynn
(Sat 18th Dec 2010 at 13:36)
I feel that i must say something about the fact that people keep saying about supporting local, smaller shops. Many of us would love to give our support to the local and long standing trades people, but sadly money does not allow, in these times at the moment we have to shop where we can find things cheapest, and if that means supermarkets etc then so be it. The difference between some items is so big that it cannot be ignored, 2or3 cheaper items make for 1 more item to be bought. 1 example is milk, i would love to be able to give my support to the local milkman, and have the pleasure of not having to hump it home but the price difference is so huge its unavoidable i can get 4pints for a £1 in 2 of the supermarkets. Like i said at the begining, unfortunatly money/costs do not allow as wished sometimes.
Steve replies - You make a valid point and this subject covers a multitude of topics. There's no doubt that people who shop smartly can save a great deal by using a supermarket but these companies haven't built up into the huge monster businesses they are by being charities.
One area they use is impulse buying which means that many people buy more items than they need and end up throwing lots of food away.
I've always had my milk from the milkman and yes, it is more expensive, but you know that it will be on your doorstep come what may and it means you don't have to make unnecessary trips to the supermarket just to buy milk. The bottled stuff also tastes better because it hasn't been in contact with all that plastic for days on end. The fresh milk from the milkman also has been less subjected to heat treatment than the supermarket stuff which can last a week in your fridge (but it doesn't taste the same).
The same applies to bread, pasties and meat - Reeves' bread, Tidi Oggi's pasties and Chris Robbins' ham are all far superior to the stuff offered by Morrisons.
From:
Keith
(Thu 9th Dec 2010 at 15:06)
ref Journal article "Move will go ahead" 3rd December
I attended the Council meeting on the 22nd November. Obviously the Council "spokesperson" wasn't there because at no time was it mentioned or implied that the council offices were to be move to the Assembly Rooms.
Why are they claiming they have to be there because Wiltshire County Council will have a hot desks there.
The original proposal as I understand it was to carry out essential maintenance,essential compliance and building improvements.It appears some of the councillors are using any excuse to get what they want and taking the public for mugs Surely they know there is no mandate for this move.
I would like to commend Councilors Ridout And Fryer on there letter in the same issue but would point out the loan was to be £500,000 not £450,0000
From:
David Smith
(Wed 1st Dec 2010 at 15:49)
I observe in the agenda for the meeting of the Wariminster Parish (let's not fool ourselves about its true status) Council's Communications Committee meeting there will be debate as to whether the council should spend some of our money wishing us a merry christmas via the Journal. I think I can comfortably live without such a greeting.
From:
David Smith
(Wed 1st Dec 2010 at 15:45)
I wonder how much the site of the white elephant Assembly Hall would yield if sold for housing development? I really cannot see the point of throwing good money after bad by spending even more on the ramshackle outdated eye sore.
ANS - Sadly not as much as we thought. It seems the county council owns the land surrounding the building, thereby creating a ransom strip!
From:
keith
(Mon 29th Nov 2010 at 13:55)
Having read The Warminster Journal over the weekend An article on the back page caught my eye,apparently Warminster Information Centre are investigating the possibility to extend there building at a cost of £300,000 this will give them rooms to rent a personal care/support room a base for Wiltshire Council officers to visit the public etc. This sounds very familiar to another plan that costs nearly twice as much.Is this a case of lack of communication or just muddled thinking
From:
keith
(Tue 23rd Nov 2010 at 14:40)
Having attended last night's council meeting I am wondering what we are getting for our money as there was no break down or summary of the estimated costs & STILL NO BUSINESS PLAN.
At the meeting on the 26 October in the Assembly Rooms I had the impresion we were talking more of a figure around £500,000, now it seems it has risen to approx. £701,000 which is not much less than the original £800,000. The council are now planning to borrow £500,000 with repayments of approx £35,000 per annum combined with the current losses from the Assembly Rooms of approx £54,000 per annum (councilor Nicklin's figure); we the tax payers of the town will be lumbered with a debt of £89,000 + for 20-25 years. How can they look at themselves in the mirror and think what a wonderful job we've done.
Steve's Reply - Thanks Keith. You mentioned cllr Nicklin's figure which was supported by the account person the council had invited along. However an economist, looking at the opportunity cost of the Assembly Rooms, would see the true annual cost as being the 'opportunity cost' of this financial disaster. Then it would be £104,000 this year - as this figure would include fees charges not just the 'trading loss'. Of course some 'loss' on community facilities is to be expected but this community facility is woefully underused. If we are to be lumbered with it then we must ensure is is much better used.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Sun 14th Nov 2010 at 17:26)
As the Council seem to have spare money to spend on public 'consultations', maybe the next one should be on the need for the glossy 'Engage' publication - so long as there was to be only one question and with only a Yes or No answer permitted -[as in our overwhelmingly successful Parish Poll the result of which the Council chose to ignore]
From what many other residents also say, Engage is adding considerably to our refuse.
From:
Ray Pikington
(Fri 12th Nov 2010 at 16:45)
Apropos nothing relevant.
Three cheers for the Warminster military.
In todays Warminster Journal I read that the extreemist doggy human rights faction have been banned from letting loose their "he wont bite you's" onto Cradle Hill. Driven there, to be 'emptied' there, rather than around their own homes...Crafty! A month or two ago, after myself/wife &7 year old grandson had lost nerve whilst walking there,I telephoned the police at Devizes to inform them of, amongst others, a Staffordshire Bull terrier,and two Rot Weillers on the loose there:to be informed that it was not against the law!
My point: Police are not an element in public safetey: Local councillors are not an element in public democracy.
Power lies in the hands of those who wield most force/power... the County Council Commissioners and the Military, respectively. Village elders count for nought.
ANS.. They may not count but they can still cost us....
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Sun 31st Oct 2010 at 20:13)
I like the poem on the Assembly Rooms although I think that really a piece of prose in the style of Swift might also be called for. Your next effort perhaps O Boreham Bard.
I was thinking more Edward Lear!! SD
From:
Simon Purkiss
(Fri 29th Oct 2010 at 20:57)
Re: Assembly Rooms.
Hi,
I have no doubt that some well known local building contractors could benefit from the 'improvements' to the assembly rooms, but what about the wider population?
As far as I can tell the service culture of our local authorities is grudging at best and I cannot see it changing any time soon. And so a brand new bright and sparkly assembly hall will not be anymore welcoming, or any more loved than the present shabby old one.
PS
Well said Alan!
From:
keith
(Wed 27th Oct 2010 at 11:37)
Having attended the council meeting Tuesday 26 October I'm amazed & embarrassed at the incompetence of our council - why didn't they know about the VAT, why didn't they have estimates for all options not just the full monty. Were some of them so arrogant they thought the consultation document had won them the day. Now it's all rush & tear to get estimates & who knows what we are going to get now - I suppose we'll just have to wait for another extraordinary council meeting!
From:
Monica
(Wed 27th Oct 2010 at 09:04)
All the discussion about loans and improvements regarding the Assembly Rooms, yet, I have never seen a figure to tell us what the market value of the Assembly Rooms will be when it is refurbished. I would like to guess that it is far short of the money they wish to spend.
If you have a chance please could you ask this question because they are putting the whole town in hock for 25 years for something which will not appreciate in value to correspond with the interest we will have to pay.
If the mayor ran her business in this way the shop would close very quickly.
Monica.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Wed 27th Oct 2010 at 08:48)
Following the disastrous decision last night by our largely unrepresentative Town Council,our only hope is that the huge loan application will be refused now that we are in an ongoing period of public and personal financial restraint.
Those who have no desire to fund this new home of The Council should not be saddled with the debt.
From:
may law
(Mon 27th Sep 2010 at 22:48)
Steve,
Both my Partner and I always listen to WCR and take part in the phone in's
I have even been to the studio and had an on air chat with Ricky Lee
I for one would like a daily broadcast.
Reply - Good - I'm not against them but would like to hear more concrete evidence of interest before funding them - public money is in very short supply of course. I wouldn't dispute that it is a well run and professional operation.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Tue 21st Sep 2010 at 21:20)
Following the Full Council Meeting on 20th September, it is now obvious that the Town Council is pressing ahead with their plans to 'take on' the refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms - this, despite the huge 92% vote against, by the people of the Town and Villages. We do not want a huge loan, even with the input from WC.and we do not want The Assembly Rooms. Surely that land must be worth far more than keeping that building on it and could be put to far better use.
As for the Council'questionnaire', [many questions but not one asking if the wish is to keep the A. Rooms building]- the exercise is an expensive waste of money, not anonymous or random and not worth returning.The Parish Poll was allowed one question with a 'Yes or No, only, and the Council chose not to accept the wishes of the voters.
How about sorting out the mess of the parking problems in the town [which is already affecting the many small businesses] and doing more to get all the long-empty shops brought back into use.
Warminster town needs a 'lift' - we have some lovely old buildings with much history and great appeal and they need to be cared for as other towns care for theirs.
ANS - We'll have to see exactly what decision they arrive at - not all councillors are keen on facing up very angry public opinion or want to be seen as undemocratic. Some of them actually live in the town and do talk to members of the public.
At least things are moving forward with the town hall.
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Mon 13th Sep 2010 at 13:51)
I have just picked up my questionnaire about the Assembly Rooms, being pretty sure that I would not be included "randomly" on the council's list.
We are not being asked whether or not we want OUR money spent on this project (which of course they know from the Parish Poll) but whether we think crockery should be included in the deal when it is let out and some other detailed questions of the same sort. And, tucked away in the midst of the verbiage a question about the use of the Rooms by the Council.
It is a very cleverly thought out form since the answers (yes or no) will be seeming to back up what the Council wants unless people add their own comments. So, if you have received one, do think carefully before you fill it in.
Steve Says. Thanks for that Primrose. The Mugabesque way the question are framed stand in stark contract to the straightforward and non-leading nature of the parish poll question which was designed to be completely fair and unbiased. I'm sure a couple of town councillors are a little bit embarrassed at what is going on in their name.
From:
Keith
(Mon 23rd Aug 2010 at 13:09)
I attended the council meeting on the 16 Aug & after thinking about it for a week I'm still disgusted with some of our councillors.
Councillor Davis seemed bored with the whole thing & did not appear to know what was going on at the end wanting to discuss the WCR situation which he had just voted on.
Councillor Nicklin - I was at the previous meeting & heard what he actually said not the doctored version he claimed at this meeting.
Councillor Baker did not seem to under- stand that Warminster people do not want the Council's vision of the Assembly Hall (hence the so called negativity).It doesn't do him or the council any favours by castigating the people attending over their views & I was insulted that he was permitted to address the audience in this manner.
If they want the true views of the electors why not hold a referendum instead of the 'random' survey which is planned where fewer votes will be cast than the Parish Poll which the council have ignored.
From:
Helen Davies
(Sat 3rd Jul 2010 at 14:17)
Hello, I feel really encouraged that Warminster has a civic voice and acts on it! I live not far away in the beautiful town of Mere and am becoming increasingly fed up by the lack of parish counselling and the apparent disregard for the protection and conservation of our historic centre. To the point that I feel the only way to protect our lovely town is for residents to step in and create their own civic society. Can any members offer any advice on how I might go about setting this up in terms of registration and official status (my aim is for the civic society to have an active voice in planning matters particularly related to planning application in the area which is meant to be protect by conservation). Apologies if this is not really the right forum to ask! Regards, Helen Davies
ANSWER - We would suggest contacting Warminster Civic Trust for advice. Their contact details are on our links page.
From:
louise
(Sun 20th Jun 2010 at 19:31)
I have been trying to find out how the mountain bike time trials were allowed to run on the fields of Smallbrook Nature reserve today.
I admit that very few people took place this year - but how was it even given the go ahead. Conservation/nature area - cyclists !
I first found out on Friday 1700hrs - spoke to someone at Wiltshire County Council who said that the Town Council should of informed all local residents of the possible disruption/noise near their properties - After speaking to my neighbours - not one of us were informed prior to this, so we couldn't voice our objections.
Doesn't this sound familiar - with the advent of councillors only elected for a 4year period,trying to tie the town into a £800,000 debt !How many palms have been crossed with silver over this !!
Who do they think they are? They a local elected people to help the people and community of Warminster,not Demi-Gods deserving of an ivory tower to live in
Do the Town Hall up and move into this wonderful historic building
From:
Rae
(Thu 17th Jun 2010 at 12:34)
If I wanted to live in a place with no character or soul with and interesting street scenes then I could live in Imber training village with cardboard cut out houses.
Persimmon should now be told they have had their lot as far as Warminster is concerned.
The town has just about right balance of housing.
I am cross how they knock down one house and put up three or four.
Thank you for your informative website and the coverage you have been giving to the good things that are happening in our town.
More people with a vision and understanding of how the town clicks are needed.
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Wed 12th May 2010 at 17:39)
Do we know, or is it possible to find out, what firms are being asked to tender for "improvements" to the not wanted Assembly Rooms? Is some local company or local people set to make money out of it?
ANS This information is usually available. The town clerk should give you this info if you ask.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Fri 7th May 2010 at 16:56)
Does anyone have any enforceable ideas to stop the mindless vandalism to our young trees in the park? [The cameras apparently do not cover the trees area]
These were mostly replanted due to previous stripping of the bark with knives and now it is happening all over again.
It is unacceptable that we have to tolerate this behaviour which denies so much pleasure and benefit to the environment.
From:
Nick Dombkowski
(Sun 2nd May 2010 at 14:04)
I\\\'m pleased to say I was one of the lucky one\\\'s to have voted in the Parish Poll at the Assembly rooms though I too would of missed it had it not been for my supervisor that very day when he had to deliver the polling booths there at very short notice!!!!..So I got down there to cast my Democratic vote and whilst waiting Facebooked all my friends on my phone why it was so important to get down there to cast a vote....what would we do without social Networking!!!:D
Thanks Nick..Glad you understand social networking we're far too old and wrinkly for Twittering and Facebook!
From:
Ray Pilkington
(Mon 26th Apr 2010 at 21:23)
EUPIt\'s all apparently very \"even handed\" of you, to offer your site to the \'pretenders\' from the three major political parties to express their \'wares\',for the purpose of obtaining the five year, £k75 (plus similar\'expenses\')per annum jackpot job in this MOTHER of all Parliaments,in your \"attempt to foster interest\"in the upcoming farce . Your action does nothing to express the general contempt of anyone I know,of all politicians...As an ex lifelong Conservative voter,(due to the performance of the present incumbent for example, who took no stand against the corruption during the period I last voted him in No wonder he suffers \'permasmile\'. In my own irrelevant opinion.
This country is not yet ready for party politics; not until it is a modern democratic Republic,where the amoral \'trousering\' of cash, can be written into a constitution and made criminal law that even THEY can understand.
Please pardon the overt bitterness of the above,but I now know that I have been made a fool of all my adult life. I am convinced however for the need for a Republic written constitution of the state, to include imprisonment of any politician who treats the electorate,with this much contempt ever again. My intended contribution to democracy is not to touch their election, as to do so is irresponsible.
From:
Keith
(Sat 24th Apr 2010 at 16:48)
I was shocked and annoyed when I read the Journal yesterday to see that I missed the parish poll. The minimal notification given may have been correct but an advert in the Journal the previous week would have ensured more participation. Obviously this resulted in a poor turn out. Was this a deliberate ploy to ignore the result due to the low percentage of voters and carry on with the expensive refurbishment only certain people want - I hope not! I anxiously await the decision of our Town Council.
ANSWER - The democratic principle is central to the way we do things in the UK so I would hope that the town council heeds the poll. It was a landslide and given the time factor an astonishing number turned out. We would suggest that you write to the town council and say you would like to be added to those opposed.
From:
Jo
(Fri 23rd Apr 2010 at 09:52)
I have today received a copy of this week\\\'s journal to discover from the front page article that I have missed my opportunity to vote in the parish poll as this was held yesterday!!
I am disappointed that this important event had not been more widely publicised as I would have taken the opportunity to lodge my vote against the waste of money associated with the move to the assembly rooms. Further, there was a meeting a few weeks back at the assembly rooms to discuss this matter, unfortunately I was unable to attend as it was during the children\\\'s bedtime - 6pm, had this meeting taken place at 7pm, when ALL other town council meetings appear to be held, then I would have been in a position to attend and to have had my voice heard.
The town council are clearly paying lip service to residents, as this matter really is not being dealt with on an inclusive basis.
**Steve's answer: Thanks for your comment and I think the town council now knows what members of the public think. However it is the county council (Wiltshire Council) that has the questions to answer. Why was Bradford on Avon given two weeks longer to debate and promote its poll on the new bridge. County Hall has to answer this if the public is not to lose faith in it the new council. The old WCC was a trusted if unweildy brand in public eyes but the unitary council (Wiltshire Council) has already something of a tarnished reputation in many people's eyes.
From:
Nick Dombkowski
(Mon 5th Apr 2010 at 17:09)
Apologies Paul for not attending the Meeting at the Assembly Rooms as regards to the Question the call for a parish poll. By the time I opened my emails on the day of the meeting I discovered the one you sent me the previous evening too late as I usually check them on returning from work. unfortunately on this occasion I hadn't:-(
ANSWER - Quite a few people were unable to attend for one reason or another - now we must ensure a good turnout in the poll itself.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Tue 23rd Mar 2010 at 08:55)
What is it going to take to have the soon-retiring Mayor to understand that the people of Warminster want our Town to be an inspiring, attractive place to live-in/visit and do NOT want the uninspiring and unattractive Assembly Rooms - to be renovated at such huge cost to them.
As one member of the Council has pointed out, the sensible way would have been to do a marketing survey as to who would want to use the rooms and at the cost that will have to be charged to help service the massive loan being considered.
If the Councillors need more space, why can the Main Hall of Dewey House not become the Chamber?
From:
David Smith
(Thu 11th Mar 2010 at 16:36)
IF, and its a pretty big IF, a parish council can provide services at less cost than a higher layer of local government, then the cost reduction should be reflected in the call on the council tax payers pocket. I have little faith in the ability of our current bunch in that respect, given my experiences of their inability to understand simple submissions concerning traffic issues, an area of activity outwith their statutory responsibility and authority and demonstrably, beyond their competence.
SD replies: If after a year they parish councils find it is costing them money rather than saving then the services can be passed back to County Hall to run.
From:
David Smith
(Tue 2nd Mar 2010 at 19:08)
First of all, "statue" should have been "statute" and I think the statute in question is the Local Government Act 1972. Personally, I would not favour increasing the responsibilities of parish councils. More responsibility = more resources = more staff = greater calls on the public pocket. They are insufficiently accountable at the moment.
Answer - If anything we need more parish/town councillors - unlike unitary councillors they are totally voluntary and unpaid and should be encouraged. The finances are a bit complex but as with local management of schools which came in in 1991 the money would follow the service and shouldn't see any increase in cost. If the town council can do things for less than it can pocket the difference to the benefit of local taxpayers.
I can see no need for a mayor and a chairman would be a suitable substitute. As far as Warminster is concerned, I think two councillors for the East and two for the West would be sufficient (by preference living within the constituency they represent, with a separate town vote for the fifth member, the chairman.
As far as the current hot topic is concerned, I would be happy if it became an issue of confidence and the best way to settle this is for the entire council to resign and put the matter before the electorate.
From:
David Smith
(Mon 1st Mar 2010 at 12:53)
Delusions of grandeur appear to condition the minds of the town councillors, with the honourable exception of Cllr. Batchelor, for this council is no more than a parish council with the limited by statue authorities and responsibilities of such bodies. I object most strongly to their silly notion concerning the assembly rooms, with the consequential burden of debt to be carried by present and future generations.
Given the very limited statutory authorities and responsibilities of parish councils, I am given to wonder why on earth a population the size of Warminster's requires twelve councillors to take care of the trivial areas that parish pump politicians are allowed to dabble in, and why these people are also now proposing to spend around £1000 on regalia for the deputy mayor, given that mayor himself has about as much power as the mayor of Toytown, strutting around in regalia which looks as if it came out of a christmas cracker.
I would also urge people to visit the Council's own website and read the minutes of the various committees that sit in meaningless pontification, thus being able to see for themselves the remarkable speed with which these committees get through their business.
Answer - Thanks for that - which is true to a large degree. However minor local authorites do have the ability to take on extra work. If they can do so more cheaply, efficiently more geared to the needs of the locality than the big council then let them. Street cleaning is a case where this may be so. There is of course no need for a mayor - some towns in Wiltshire have a chairman who sits for for several years in the chair, gains real experience, and doesn't get sidetracked by the chains etc.
Should we go back to having a chairman?
From:
Nicola
(Sun 28th Feb 2010 at 16:11)
I have to agree with Primrose Kirkham. I had already noted that the Mayor only seems to use the word 'I' and forgets that he is in a position to represent the people of this town not his own interests. Of course, he won't see thse comments because he doesn't read'vanity websites!' Maybe he should he would get a better feel for what the people of this town are feeling and thinking. The Councils questionnaire had no space for additional comments and I had to ask for paper so that I could leave additional comments. There seems to be no mention about what will happen to Dewey house if the Assembly room/civic centre(!) plan goes ahead - will it become another Town Hall fiasco?
ANSWER - While the mayor has been at the centre of the storm we should perhaps ponder that 11 of the 12 town councillors have given this idea their backing in some way or other. Pressure can be applied to the others - their details and email addresses can be found on the town council website.
From:
Keith
(Sun 28th Feb 2010 at 11:18)
We were incensed yesterday after speaking to the Mayor regarding the Assembly Hall debacle because we came away convinced the 'proposal' was already cut & dried as a contractor appears to be lined up already for a start date in June 2010! He admitted it would be a 'GAMBLE' whether organisations would hire the facilities because costings couldn't be done until the project was completed. Let us see some alternative costings for refurbishment of Dewey house/Town Hall. We understand that TIC had a petition in their office last week but how many locals go in there. We're all for a PARISH POLL because it appears from letters in The Journal & public opinion that it's only the majority of councillors in favour.
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Sat 27th Feb 2010 at 15:45)
After seeing the mayor in action at "his" day this morning I realise that the words - dialogue, discussion and listen are not in his vocabulary. His style seems to be that of speaking loudly and at length with no intervention allowed.
From:
Ray Pilkington
(Sat 27th Feb 2010 at 15:14)
ASSEMBLY ROOMS 66 years ago I was born in my grandparents council house in Shropshire, due to my father being away until I was three years old attending a World War he\'d voluntered for,(My grandfather had attended the one 20 years ealier on the same basis and as a result he was very poor, never even able to buy a wheelbarrow.TRUE) That this State provided them with a house, I am proud of, as they were part of \'the deserving poor\'.
(With exeption of the \'wheelbarrow,the above is similar for my wife of 45 years).
BUT:My opinion is that these Assembly Rooms should be sold off ASAP to allow Council houses to be built there. This would result in the following benefits to us who have paid our way and taxes throughout our lives, under threat of police violence, and have had only one husband/wife,and who\'s offspring know who they and we, are. There will be huge saving in the cost of taxi fares to and from Morrisons supermarket,(from conversations I\'ve involuntarilly heard in there)to and from social houses,that we taxpayers will no longer have to find. WE have not doubled the number of houses required as a result of loosh breeding of communes of children who are split between parents who then demand I pay for their subsidised and multiplied requirements for shelter as a result of \'walking off\',or those who have circumvented the need to work by the import of disabled foriegners to live of the surplus of the state aid they are expert at obtaining and who\'s morality I deeply disagree with.
That the employees of the people,(council workers) will not then be given free car parking, as is the offensive case at Trowbridge as we speak. THEN only to have to pay for a Delux haven for all of the above,to operate in warmth from! I am all for support to the \'deserving poor\' but this is not any version of Socialism that my grandparents would recognise.
I hold out little hope, as ALL politians today seem \"socialists\"
From:
Elaine Allan
(Fri 26th Feb 2010 at 21:58)
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe the details of the loan were first reported by the Journal. If we are to back any local protest it would be nice to believe we are backing our towns interests rather than personal political gain.
STEVE'S ANSWER - We were first to raise the issue on 20 January in our 'Hot Topics' section. In fact this website and our views were quoted in the Journal's first story about this matter. That isn't important though - we run this website year in, year out, at our own expense purely to benefit Warminster. The parish poll is our idea but the only way to stop this crazy loan - whether people support it is of course entirely their business. But we should have been consulted before the decision was taken - as money has already been spent.
From:
Kevin Tarr
(Fri 26th Feb 2010 at 15:52)
The seating in the three Horshoes Mall has been removed. I understand this is mainly because of groups of youths in the evenings drinking and leaving mess within this area. Also some damage or grafitti has been done. On the basis of this one would think the removal of the seating is a good idea. However I believe that this decision is bad because once again it sends the wrong message to the disruptive minority. Once again this minority do not suffer or pay for the damage and littering they do. The people who will suffer, will be the elderly and infirm who like to take a rest during shopping or sit there for a chat with friends and other members of the public who like to take a short break in the mall. We have CCTV and community police surely a combination of these is able to either catch the culprits whilst in the process of their misdemeanours or CCTV should be able to identify them at the time or later. Once identified they should be named and shamed. If the parents do not take action, the parents should pay a fine for their youths actions. If the offenders are over eighteen they should be fined direct. When are we going to make these people responsible for their actions? Once again it is the innocent that suffer the lack of facilities while the offenders move on somewhere else. The whole country has gone backwards. Return the seating for those that use it properly and deal with the minority offenders with a suitable punishment or are we to give in on every occassion.
From:
Nick Dombkowski
(Wed 24th Feb 2010 at 19:11)
Thanks for the answer Paul/Steve as regard's to the Frank William memorial fountain In the park. Well hopefully I may bring this up at the Mayor community day at the Assembly rooms this Sat 27TH Feb,if I remember not to forget to go!!
From:
Nick Dombkowski
(Tue 23rd Feb 2010 at 16:47)
As regards to my letter which appeared in the Warminster Journal on 5Th February entitled Wasted asset meaning the old town hall going to rack and ruin set against the ridiculous proposal by the town council to take out an £800,000 loan to convert the Assembly rooms into it's offices, my argument is that if the asking price for the town hall is say £400k then why can't the council purchase this Iconic building if not then damn well sure their current home could be converted and extended for a lot less and cheaper! Like I said if they're making a loss on the Assembly building why not sell or lease it to a private leisure company to convert it in to a cinema or ten pin bowling alley or what ever. Their shaping the future for Warminster plan seems all too hollow to me like yeah not in my life time sort of thing. J D Wetherspoon the pub chain howevver, I hear are always out looking to do up old buildings and incorporating the old Public Toilet block behind I'm sure they would express an interest this would undoubtedly smarten up this area no end and consign the eyesore to the history books. this is just my idea that could bring an end to the sorry state of affairs that just linger on and on. Finally on one last note you know of the memorial fountain which is situated in the town park. Would it be a good idea to have it reinstated to where it was originally erected by the old post office, now that all the market place is so beautiful with it's wide pavements I think if it was set on a plinth and turned into a water feature( though there would need to be some remedial work to repair the crack at the top as it has been hit by a skip lorry in the past in the park) with a tank and pump beneath it that would be the icing on the cake Lol!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would like to hear your view's Paul or Steve.
ANSWER - An interesting idea about the fountain and it would certainly lok better in its orginal position. I'm not sure who owns it but I believe the last member of the Morgan family living locally died in a car accident in Longbridge Deverill in the early 1990s so we can't ask them. My best guess is that it now belongs to Wiltshire Council.
From:
Kevin Tarr
(Mon 22nd Feb 2010 at 21:22)
It is absolutely crucial that there should be a parish poll regarding the crazy proposal the majority of our town councillors have voted for.
It is the inhabitants and taxpayers of this town that will have to pay for this enormous loan.
In the worst recession ever known where the banks have to had to be bailed out, there has been a huge rise in bankruptcies, council housing is still almost none existent, need I go on, and they want to move offices at a cost of over a million pounds. No way should they be allowed to make this decision alone.
We must insist on a poll and the people of this town should get behind this now before they try to steamroller this ridiculous idea of a loan, through.
Really, angry, frustrated and amazed Warminster resident.
Kevin Tarr
From:
Ray Pilkington
(Sun 21st Feb 2010 at 15:40)
Unlike the several modern Republics that I have lived in during my life, Warminster,like averywhere else in this Septic Isle, is ruled by a system of patronage that would be recognisable to tribal village elders and chieftains in colonial Africa during the 19th century. They may have been the Head Men of their villages,(elected or otherwise)but their ability to legislate was irrelevant,as control was completely in the hands of unelected appointed District Commisioners, (conjugate the words, Head Men,Trowbridge planning Office and Central Government,for District Commissioners to get the picture).
To live under the status quo, is to live in fear of the powerful....I wish I\\\'d thought of that!
I support your hopes, and wish you well in controlling those with their hands on our cash collected by the threat of police violence. I fear that it will take a lot more than talk, to bring this about.
From:
GeoffreyThomas
(Sun 21st Feb 2010 at 11:49)
Hi,
You may have seen my letter in the Journal the other week as I do so agree with what you are trying to do and trying to stop the Council from mortgaging the town for 25 years on a white elephant.
I used to live in Warminster when I 1st came to the town and used to run the carnival was, vice president of the Twinning Association for 25 years,and got involved in orgainising the Queens jubileel celebrations so I have a considerable commitment to the town and what happens in it and to it.
I still run the Warmister and Westbury Talking Newspaper.
I have lived in Crockerton for over 30 years and as such would not be eligible to vote in any Town vote but I would like my views and many other people who have contacted since the acticle to be heard.
I have not had anyone disagree with your or mine point of view.The Town Council cannot surely dimiss this ground swell of disapproval?
£800,000 could get a brand new civic center and some social housing on the sight to be proud of.
Some thing has to be done to that building to try and stem the hemorrahaging of cash from the Town\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s revenuue budget.
Not sure how I can assit in the fight but I fel very stonly about it that I would like to be involved.thsi is not a matter of Politics as a general election looms it is a matter of commomn sense prevailing.
Geoff Thomas
ANSWER: Thanks for your support. It certainly isn't about politics and we have people from all parties and none on our side.
Although you can't vote you could get involved by standing for election to the town council as you live within the qualifying area.
Perhaps you could clarify the history of the Assembley Hall.
I have heard that the Assembley Hall was built and paid for by the people of Warminster. Was this capital asset handed over and by whom? (by the town council perhaps)
I feel that your 'vision' for the Assembley Hall is in contradiction to your objections for its improvement.
Your aspiration for a community centre is admirable but naive. Who would run the centre? Not volunteers. The voluntary sector has been systematically strangled by government legislation.
In my opinion Warminster rate payers cannot support Dewey House, Assembley Halls and the Town Hall. The town council only needs ONE premises.
Thanks again for this message board.
STEVE's ANSWER: It is of course an evolving picture. I'm a lifelong native of the town but my memories of the early 1970s are of things other than who was responsible for new buildings. However even if the the hall was the work of the Warminster UDC (the was no town council until 1974) it would have passed legally to the then newly formed West Wilts District Council on local government reorganisation.
We would agree that the town council should not have to fund three buildings but the Assembly Hall/Rooms could be handed over to a charitable body such as a development trust or specially created not-for-profit charity which would therefore free the building of paying national non domestic rates and have many other financial advantages.
Whatever happens the Audit Commission only this week made it clear that local authorities MUST take more note of and make preparations for the ageing population and to do this Warminster must have a building for such work. Of course I've a vested interested in this as I'll be able to have a bus pass in less than nine years (unless the rules are changed which they probably will).
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO STOP THE CURRENT COUNCIL FROM FETTERING US WITH THIS CRAZY LOAN FOR THE NEXT QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
Well done with your gallery of other town halls. I think this proves the point nicely about civic pride.
Clearly the assembly halls are no longer viable. Even the model railway exhibition is moving from the hall next year.
Surely with some generous planning permission a substantial sum could be raised from the sale of the assembley halls.
Many thanks for this website.
Reply: Thank you for your supportive comments, Simon. The options for the Assembly Hall as an entertainment venue are limited as times have changed. When the housing market recovers the site would have a major capital value though we would suspect that when ownership of the building was transferred the legal document would have contained a clawback clause for a 20 year period in which time any capital receipt would go to the old district council (and its successor authority) rather than the town council - that is quite usual.
It is of course a public building and there should be a use for it perhaps as a centre for organisations trying to cope with our rapidly greying population. We have outlined this potential use in our chapter in The Vision document.
From:
George
(Fri 19th Feb 2010 at 09:49)
Rergarding the Council\'s move to The Assembly Rooms = I cannot see why they need to move!If they need more room why not put up a Pratton Hut behind the building. They are good enough to teach children in and would save a great deal of money. Plus how can they even think about taking on the Town Hall as well,if they go ahead with this. It is just now Possible!
The reason for the loss in revenue at the Assembl Rooms was the Hike in the charges and groups could not afford to rent it for their meetings or anyone else for that Matter.
Answer: I think we agree with what you say George though there has also been a change in tastes and preferences - and the law in relation to weddings - which has seen the popularity of the assembly rooms decline. Warminster no longer has a register office for marriages and many upmarket venues now provide a wedding/service all in one.
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Sat 6th Feb 2010 at 12:12)
Dear Paul and Steve
URGENT
Please will V for W organise a public meeting asap so that a plan can be formulated re Town Hall and Assembly Rooms and aob as needed. I think we all need to act quickly. There must surely be some kind of funding available for purchase and renovation of the Old Town Hall. You two must have expertise in this kind of matter. We are relying on you. Primrose(one of your original supporters!)
ANSWER yes we agree and have discussed this matter in detail at our regular Saturday morning meeting. Will be in contact with supporters this week with a view to them signing the request for a public meeting to stage the parish poll.
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Thu 4th Feb 2010 at 18:00)
Rather than moan about the council's grandiose money-wasting scheme and the disgrace to Warminster in the shape of the crumbling Town Hall, we need to take some kind of direct action.
Can we hold a meeting to discuss the problems and what kind of publicity-based action we could take? I feel that democracy is not the name for what is happening in Warminster and we need to try and take the power back into the people's hands.
I should be interested to hear other views on this.
ANSWER - Yes agreed we need to have a public meeting quite soon - more on this soon.
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Fri 29th Jan 2010 at 21:21)
Dear Readers,
I wholeheartedly agree with the letters in this week's Journal[29/01] on the subject of The Assembly Rooms and congratulate Paul Batchelor on opposing the plans put forward by the rest of the Councillors.
It would be quite unacceptable to spend that amount of public money on that building.It is a a very unappealing design both externally and internally with no historic value whatsoever and my suggestion would be to demolish it and build well designed housing.
Surely, it must be financially possible to solve the access problems and bring back our true Town Hall for the people of Warminster.I feel sure that there would be a lot of support for such a solution and the town would become so much more appealing to residents and visitors alike.
sign, Margaret Broughton
ANSWER - There is a lot of support for that viewpoint in the town. One sticking point has been that there's no parking outside the Town Hall. WELL PERHAPS CERTAIN PEOPLE SHOULD WALK 50 YARDS FROM CHINNS COURT
From:
Helen Astill
(Sun 10th Jan 2010 at 18:19)
Dear Readers
I would like to add onto my previous message, that the shops and facilities we presently have in Warminster are good, I frequently shop local as often as I can - as it's far more convenient than travelling out of town and it's good to support the local economy. Having more local ammenities though would enhance the town that much more.
From:
Helen Astill
(Sun 10th Jan 2010 at 17:55)
Dear Readers
Is there any chance Warminster could follow in Frome's footsteps? I've lived in Warminster for 7 years and love the fact we've got some beautiful old buildings, breath taking countryside on our doorstep and friendly locals but feel the town has so much more potential. I hear people often moaning about the town, there seems very little injection of creativity in the place. I've been told that Frome 15 years ago was once like Warminster but Frome has come on leaps and bounds compared to here - why? with it's arts centre, cafes, nice shops, theatres, cinema and it's anuual Frome festival it offers arts, culture and a positive place to live. The people I know who live there are proud of their town. I know people from London who have moved there and love it! Frome gives the impression it's a positive town with some get-up and go. Frome is even Kevin McCloud's (Grand Designs) favourite town in the UK!
Why can't Warminster be this way? It would attract in more tourists and people from other towns, therefore helping the local economy, it could help improve the stagnant housing market here and create a positive place to live.
Who is at the helm to make this happen?
Come on Warminster - get creative!
Steve replies - You are correct. Frome suffered hugely when out of town shopping took away trade and the agricultural market moved to Standerwick. It has benefited from a more dynamic town council over the past 15 years - that sort of dynamism is something we seek to encourage on this site. But it can't all be achieved by the council - people need to get involved.
From:
Leslie Rocker
(Sat 19th Dec 2009 at 10:17)
Paul : Congratulations once again on an excellent web-site. And thanks also for mentioning my book of poetry in your suggestions for local Christmas shopping.
You ask why I wrote the poem "The Devil and Mrs Brown". You have to consider a young man lying in bed listening to the sounds of London, his mind full of what he has read during the day. He has learnt of the Provencal civilisation, devastated by the Albigensian Crusade, and of the legends that arose from the poetry of the Troubadours. Perhaps only a very young man would be so foolhardy as to contemplate producing a mini-epic in blank verse on the subject !
So far as the final poems in the book are concerned they are, of course, an attempt to introduce the Golden Ratio into verse, perhaps again not entirely successfully as the mathematics had to relate to words rather than syllables !
Leslie
Gents
It would appear from Pauls comments in Hot Topics that you are not being kept informed like the rest of us regarding the (Old) Town Hall.
Under the chantry heading,Paul wonders what is happening regarding the town hall.
The building/owner has gone into receivership, this means that the bank are forcing the sale of the building to recoup their money. This is another harsh casualty of a crippling recession and once a bank take this decision, there is little that can be done to reverse the process.
The asking price for the building is £400,000 and unfortunately due to the work needed inside and out and the impossibly difficult financial climate, I do not believe that a buyer will be found anytime soon.
Therefore unless the council come together to organise their own purchase of his important building, you will need to get used to seeing it in its redundant state.
With regards to your sentiments about an alcohol free bar in the basement, part of the reason the basement bar was closed and not reopened was because of the change in legislation regarding disability access. The costs of conversion to make it available to all run into many tens of thousands and this cannot be avoided, I know because we had a full disability survey carried out and the results were not good.
I am suprised to learn that some local councillors have said they are waiting for firstly the sale listing of the building to go live and secondly the release price. The particulars of sale for the building have been online for over 3 months, I have provided these for you below.
I understand the need to continue raising awareness of the building and its potential but dont forget, this is owned by a businessman who had a genuine desire to improve the building, revamp it and reopen it to the public, it is not his fault that the recession has come along and done the damage it has. Try not to be too harsh.
I trust that this clarifies the situation for you, please email me if you require any kind of update, I will be only too happy to help.
ANSWER: Thanks for that it is very useful. We must keep this issue in the limelight.
From:
annoyed youth
(Sat 5th Dec 2009 at 18:56)
Soo you give all this big talk about inproving life for us younger people of warminster, but i dont see many improvments yet. I like the idea of a shelter for us but im also keen on some where where i can hang out indoors and stay for a couple hours with some friends. Like a bar but without actual alchol.
I have also been talking to my mates and we all would like a starbucks and something like a go karting track or bumper cars.. These are ideas that we have came up with and we are waiting to see if you take our opinion into consideration.
So its over to you two, how can YOU help us?
PAUL REPLIES ; We have written this vision as a long term project so not much will have appeared to have changed.
Since we launched we have called for the town hall to become home an alcohol free bar as part of its return to public use. Twelve months ago there was either a complete lack of interest or even hostility from the council.
This has now changed with a veteran member now spearheading that campaign.
As more and more us talk up Warminster so new outlets appear. The next one I believe will be a dominos - not quite starbucks - but another good choice.
In our chapter on youth issues we want the town council to set up a youth version of what they do with real money to spend on projects that 'angry youths' like you put forward.
There is a role that your generation could play that may take me down memory lane to when I was a teenager!
Get active yourselves. Get together and launch your own youth community campaign group with a cool name of your choosing.
Then raise petitions, write letters, stand up and speak at meetings, make it clear that more needs to be done.
The more noise you make then not only will public officials sit up and listen but perhaps those who run businesses who might think they could run somewhere for you to hang out away from alcohol maybe racing around on a go-kart at the same time.
STEVE ADDS: Unlike most councillors both of us have teenage children and are a little bit more in touch with young people's aspirations. But even though our local councillors may seem ancient you'll find they do have a genuine interest in finding out what you really want.
The only problem is a lack of communication. Why not get a group of you together and ask to see the Mayor around at Dewey House?
Ideally I would like to see a facility like 'The Depot' in Andover made available in this town - see the link
http://www.the-depot-sports.co.uk/
Unfortunately you may have to wait until some more can-do councillors are elected as, sadly, some here lack vision or much experience of what has been achieved in other areas by other more imaginative (and often Conservative) local councils.
From:
Graham Howard
(Fri 27th Nov 2009 at 17:15)
THE END OF GREEN WASTE COLLECTIONS?Outrageous = we seem to be paying more for less primary services.
Quote - "It's only for people too lazy to use a composter." Have you tried composting branches?!
Quote by Steve Dancy "It's only for the well-heeled with big gardens." Thats's right, that's why bigger houses pay more Council Tax. What insidious Socialist rubbish - it's like saying schools are only for people with children etc. Look out for fly tipping of green waste if this comes in!
We must stop this. what next - extra charges for general waste?
Steve replies: Having grown up in a large property with a very large garden (Long Acre in Heytesbury) I'm afraid I do know a lot about green waste.
Smaller suburban gardens can easily cope with composters but larger gardens, need something called a compost heap.
I can't recall Warminster and Westbury RDC collecting green waste in the 1960s - the idea would have been laughed at as green waste is a useful product. There's no green wate collection in Devizes or Marlborough - so how do they manage?
I'm afraid if people want this service they will have to pay for it. It isn't available elsewhere in Wiltshire and is one reason why our council taxes in West Wilts were always higher than those in Kennet and Salisbury Districts.
The green bins were brought in here because some official mistakenly thought it was possible to mix green waste with cardboard - it isn't and the green bins are white elephants hardly used by most people.
Sending out a large freighter lorry into our rural areas is also incredibly environmentally unfriendly. Sorry but we'll just have to differ on this point!
Your point about education falls flat because education is an essential service while green waste collection is a frippery.
FINALLY yes I do believe that those households that produce more waste should pay more than those that are careful and recycle everything - who should get a discount. The weighing of waste will come whether you like it or not as the EU is pushing it through. As for fly-tippers - a period behind bars would soon cure that.
HOWEVER one point you make - about paying ever more for getting less and less rings true. I'm now paying almost 2,000 pounds a year on what used to be the called 'the rates'. Instead of collecting compost the council should look at collecting plastic and cardboard for recycling as this material does cause problems when fly-tipped.
From:
jim samways
(Tue 24th Nov 2009 at 11:39)
Do you have any views on the suggested
anaerobvic digester to be sited at Bore Hill Farm
Paul writes:-
It is an interesting and thought provoking proposal and the planning aspects of using a redundant farm are not new. We have already commented that we have to take an open-minded look at this. As I understand it the farm manure and slurry, and the waste that comes from local food processors, is put into a reception pit located inside a building. It is then passed through a bio filter that is located in the ventilation system that deals with the risk of odour. A mixing process then leads to its treatment by heating through several stages to a temperature that within a hour kills all viruses including foot and mouth and TB meaning that the fertiliser that is then available to farmers is safer.
After this the next stage is the 'digestion' process located on site. The digesters will take two or three weeks during which time biogas is released in the form of methane which is then run through a de-sulphurisation unit and stored for use. In this case the resulting energy source would be used in on-site workshops providing employment. There are therefore many benefits to which can be its location just off the by-pass in a dip that can be well screened. There are concerns. Presumably as a farm at night it is quiet and if this implemented there will be a major increase in traffic movements. I would ask that these two issues are carefully examined. This is not new technology and has now been established for many years in the USA and now at many sites small and large across the UK. I am sure that our councillors will ask for reports on how these other operations have worked out before taking a decision or we will hold them to account.
From:
MS
(Fri 14th Aug 2009 at 16:20)
As a small retailer in the town for several years now I've not been impressed by our Town Council. In fact it's hard not to believe they've got it in for us small local traders.
One thing that has crossed my mind on several occassions is how attractive the hanging signs of Warminster are, particularly on the older buildings in George Street, the Marketplace, East Street etc... These evoke a truly old English feel to the town and are a real asset to the architecture and historic market town character of the place.
I'd love to install a simple hanging sign for my shop too, but the cost of the planning application and the chances of being refused are extremely off putting. Particualrly with our Town Council and their rather strange ideas on how the retail area should look in the town.
Why couldn't the Council offer small grants and a helping hand towards getting planning approval for local retailers to encourage more of these signs? It would go much further to making the town more attractive looking and to bringing in more business than many of the (much more expensive) 'improvements' they've made in recent years.
ANSWER - Perhaps the signs would add character as you suggest. While the town council is often given a lot of stick it has more often been a highly paid council 'officer' based in Trowbridge who has come up with some of the strange ideas. Hopefully we can assume more powers here in Warminster so that we can improve the town in ways more acceptable to those who have to live here.
From:
nicholas dombkowski
(Sun 5th Jul 2009 at 14:30)
Many people may be aware Hillside hostel, Boreham Road is set to close later this year to make way for housing. May I put in a suggestion and you may know which strings to pull but inside the grounds of Hillside is a piece of useful basketball equipment/frame, that will probably be discarded. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea if it was offered to be placed in to Queensway park for the use of the local community. Surely it could be salvaged and put to good use. Maybe someone on Selwood or the Ciltshire Council would agree as Queensway is lacking in equipment for older children to participate in. A metal goal post that has stood the test of time. A zip wire would be nice along with a climbing frame that Fore street play Area can be proud to boost of. Also as a proper installed footpath which runs through Queensway park from Rock Lane to Boreham fields,surely there should be lighting columns erected to add to ones whereabouts and personal safety,football might then be played in the proper place for longer in the darker months and not in some lit up cul-de-sac on any part of the local streets/estates near by! Queensway park is an asset to all,so dont take it for granted.
It has wide catchment area in Bishopstrow and Boreham.so please use it or lose it or they might still sneak Queensway into the Hillside housing development for ever!
From:
nicholas dombkowski
(Sun 5th Jul 2009 at 13:36)
Policing needs to improve drastically in some parts of warminster and further more anti social behaviour needs to be taken a lot more seriously abeit nationally it is the same everywhere. There seems to be a softly softly approach by Selwood Housing society in particular and they are not coming down hard enough on their disruptive tenants who cause constant misery for their neighbours who just want a peaceful life. Gathering evidence is fine but surely police involvment thus them informing selwood should be good enough to evict these parasites once and for all and not offer them another property. It is time to act! There are too many do gooders and it would be good for the book of human rights to be torn in two for these thugs. What about the Victims human rights in all of this?. It just sends out the wrong message that it is fine to laugh in the face of authority knowing for well they can do what they damn well like and get away with everything because once the police have come around to give them a slap on the wrist and gone away, they carry on where they had left off. It is just a frustrating issue many people have just given up hope of trying even phoning the police because evidence alone these days is not enough even the most serious reported crimes in the eyes of the cps!.
What is your answer Steve or Paul?
Steve's reply: You've raised a whole range of issues. Firstly I wouldn't blame the police on the ground as they can only go as far as they can within the law. Through my work I've known a large number of police officers in several counties over the years and often they are as frustrated as you sound. There are still a few (all too rare) who give the thugs a taste of their own medicine if they are physically attacked but in the days of the camera phone that isn't really much of a option. As for the CPS they need to be really sure of securing a conviction as taking a prosecution to crown court is a lengthy and expensive exercise. I'm not too well up with Selwood Housing but my experience of other housing associations is that they are often more interested in PR exercises and in pretending that everything is lovely than they are in the bad behaviour of tenants. Tenants were badly served by the LSVT process a few years ago.
The answer? well one thing that seems to work in some areas is the community warden who has more time than police officers and PCSOs and can really get to know what is going on. They are police accredited and can help in securing prosecutions and they are usually good wintnesses (often ex-military). But will we get them in Wiltshire? - I doubt it as it is now run by a bunch of unimaginative bean counters who are likely to see a warden service as too expensive.
From:
MB
(Sat 4th Jul 2009 at 10:20)
I attended the first Area Board meeting last night at Kingdown School and was disappointed that neither of you were there. Are you planning to go to a future meeting? Also are there to be any further meetings of the Vision for Warminster group? The ABM was quite interesting although following a false report in The Journal that the meeting had taken place the day before, there were very few members of the public there. However there were some good updates from the Defence person, police, Councillors and comment from the floor. It was a great disappointment that neither of you succeeded in the Election but well done and thanks for all the hard work and time you both put in. We are left with the same tired old faces with no new ideas.
ANSWER: The meetings are to take place every two months and in an ideal world we would attend each one. However, unlike all our elected councillors we are employed and have jobs which often keep us busy until late in the evening. On this day Paul was working until 10pm while Steve had been in Winchester Crown Court most of the day and didn't arive back in Warminster until 7pm. "It was the hottest day of the year so far and I'm afraid the idea of a couple of pints at the Fox and Hounds was more attractive than the area board," said Steve. "I will certainly be attending the next one in September."
We are already planning the way forward but some of our ideas are already being taken up by the authorites.
From:
Hislop11
(Fri 26th Jun 2009 at 08:07)
I am disappointed with you reaction to the redevelopment plans for Warminster. How do you know the majority of people don\'t want this? Have you done a survey? If so lets see the results! What is your vision - to allow Warminster to continue to decline? Please speak to the developers and you will realise they want to invest in out town and will address the issues raised at the recent planning meeting. Please note this plan does not result in a lossof parking spaces - this rumour must be corrected. If the town continues to decline we will have plenty of parking spaces. Please don\'t think that a supermarket on the Dents site is an answer to all our prayers because all it will mean is people will drive their-shop there - shop at Focus (Poor Cordens) and drive home. People do not walk anywhere these days if you offer what they want within 50yrds.
STEVE'S ANSWER: As I wasn't successful at the election it is possible to comment on this application as I am not bound by Nolan rules. No survey has been done but it was quite clear during the election door-knocking that few people liked the idea of the library being demolished. Anyone with anything to do with Avenue school was up in arms about the development idea. In my opinion the problem with the town's shops is not a result of the physical layout of the shops but the lack of what economists call 'effective demand' in the resident population. We need to get well-heeled people to shop in Warminster to improve the shopping offer and to benefit everyone - Waitrose will do this. I'm also very keen to keep Dents in Warminster as they employ so many local people. By the way some people do still walk - especially better educated individuals.
hope you all enjoyed the first Wobble for warminster. To encourage the folk who set the event up, and to help ensure that it can be staged again, I would ask people to comment constructively in which ever way they can. The article in the Journal has been a great boost for us and the Wiltshire times will also give it exposure.
From:
Roland Daniels
(Fri 5th Jun 2009 at 18:03)
Gentleman
Very very poor result, same old boring faces with a lack of understanding of the word pro-active, a gloomy day for Warminster indeed.
I believe you were both robbed but I also believe that Vision For Warminster will continue to thrive.
I was very happy to vote MacDonald yesterday and wish you all the best.
I would just add that the councillor who won the seat in my ward has not visited either my home or my business, both in the same ward and I also have had no hint of promotional literature through my door over the last few weeks. If he could not be bothered to canvass, then I am of the opinion that he can not be bothered with the welfare of this town. Shame on him.
Roland Daniels
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Wed 8th Apr 2009 at 07:21)
Oh Mike Williams, how I agree. I have come to realise that there are more obese and foul-mouthed young women and obese and bullying men in Warminster than in any comparable small town in England. Sadly, I think towns are where these people live, villages are for the polite but hideously rich and there is nowhere left for the likes of us. I have some of the older boys living near me and they make my life a misery. BUT their mothers are worse.
From:
Mike Williams
(Sat 4th Apr 2009 at 09:34)
Hi
With much merriment I have read through the articles on the website. Having lived here now for 5 years and coming from a similarly deprived area in Cornwall, it strikes me that Warminster is rapidly becoming the epicentre of Broken Britain.
> This was highlighted to me recently whilst walking through one of the estates on the Western side of town. A young over weight mother came out of her front door pushing a child’s buggy, with small incumbent strapped into it. Two other young boys ran out and started jumping around and laughing, presumably because of the excitement of going to school and being in the fresh air (I also realise that mum may have overdosed them on E numbers for breakfast!). Rummaging around in her pocket, mum finds a cigarette and places it into her mouth. With her Croydon face lift hairstyle she certainly looked ‘attractive’. Through the corner of her mouth she said loudly, clearly irritated by the boy’s behaviour “Damien (name changed) if you do not ‘effin come her and hold the ‘effin buggy while I light my ciggie I will ‘effin punch you!”
> It struck me that your fantastic efforts to turn around Warminster are very in much in jeopardy whilst Damien et al have role models like their hideous mother. I have no doubt that in 12 years time Damien will be the father of at least 2 children by different mothers and drive a Citroen Saxo with huge exhaust pipes at speeds in excess of 60 mph in Fore Street, only slowing down to negotiate the ridiculous double parking night mare at the Weymouth Street end of it. Lets hope that he wraps himself around a tree so hideous Mother can tell us what a lovely son he is and insist on having a awful roadside memorial dedicated to him!
Good Luck!
ANSWER: Of course we have all come across these characters and we certainly have our fair share in this town.
The issue of the state rewarding feckless behaviour has been around since the old poor laws dating back to Elizabethan times - they were revised in 1834 to create the Union workhouses designed to make life dreadfully tough for anyone who wanted benefits. No doubt some might like them to return. Locally we have very little influence in this area of social policy - although we might be able to influence issues issues of providing the children with wholesome free food and good male role models at school. If we can get the children to think they have a stake in the future of society then we have a chance of success.
From:
Nick Dombkowski
(Sun 29th Mar 2009 at 17:21)
WE went to Frome on saturday how refreshing was that.Quite a quaint market town I say and we enjoyed it very much. I have read hot topics of the day.on another issue having read B.Martineaus comments from mon 3rd nov 2008and I have to agree with him.The Athenaeum is a great asset and I do hope the trustees can bring in more acts,even to the point of bigger names and tribute acts for the cash needed to inject into the on going restoration fund.you only have to go to Fromes memorial theatre to see whats on with the likes of Freddie starr,Jim davidson,Richard digence,Jethro,Joe pasquale etc and i know Ken dodd is a regular there and his goal,to perform at every theatre in the land,so what a coupe that would be if he was invited to perform at the Ath.IT would be a sell out ten times over and im not kidding.I tried getting tickets to see him at the city hall,Salisburyfor friday 10th April and there were only a couple left right at the back!
From:
nicholas dombkowski
(Fri 27th Mar 2009 at 20:57)
I Just wish I had dicovered your web site much earlier. Warminster could be a great place if it were to move forward with the times,it can keep it\\\'s identity as a market town but living in the past is not an option anymore by those who are in authority.It must progress and blend in with a modernisation and regeneration programme to suit all people of all ages. There has been this feeling of doom and gloom over the year\\\'s like an apathetic curse which still hangs over this town and until that is lifted,it will surely be too late to save it from dying on it\\\'s feet if it isn\\\'t already the case. The need for more housing has to be balanced between having more businesses/employer\\\'s/job\\\'s to be had in the first place along with attracting leisure facilities such as ten pin bowling,quasar,ice rink and cinema. If other towns up and down the length of the country can or have done it why can\\\'t we?.There is no excuses!. I live in despair that i have to admit to shopping in Salisbury or Trowbridge where i know what i am looking for i will get,only last Saturday in the Shire\\\'s,Trowbridge you wouldn\\\'t think there was a credit crunch,what credit crunch?. The place was heaving with people getting in each other\\\'s way, it was plain ridiculous that we just had to leave. Ok Mr Angry has rambled on a bit but i needed to get this off my chest.Thank\\\'s for reading. Regard\\\'s Nick.
ANSWER: Steve has already sent a response to Cllr Ridout's letter to the Journal, re the cinema. Hopefully it will be published on Thursday.
I hope this comment is appropriate and useful but not alarmist! On 14th January I was driving back from Sutton Veny to Warminster and hit a patch of black ice (before the bridge that crosses the by-pass) and hit a tree and am still recovering now. Since then I have discovered that other people have had bad experiences on the black ice on that patch of road, one lady even hitting the same tree and badly injured. It is particularly hazzardous during bad weather as it is a straight strecth of road with no speed limits.I have contacted the council but they say they do not grit B roads. I intend to pursue this, but what I would like to \\\'gently\\\' do is to make people aware that the stretch of road from Sutton Veny to Warminster before the by-pass bridge is potentially hazardous when there is the possibility of black ice around. There used to be a yellow grit box by the side of the road here but this has been removed. Why?
ANSWER: Very sorry to hear about your accident Kate. You may remember that I lived in Sutton Veny for a while in the 1990s and can recall a couple of cars written off at the location you mention. I would have thought that all popular routes to schools should be salted as a matter of routine (they are in many counties.
From:
GRAHAM WRIGHT
(Mon 9th Mar 2009 at 19:22)
OUR COUNCILLORS HAVE PREVENTED THE BUILDING OF SOCIAL HOUSING FOR DECADES CITING THE INADEQUACIES OF WEST AS THE OBSTACLE. SOLUTION MAKE WEST ST ONE-WAY FOR TRAVELLING OUT OF TOWN. ALL TRAFFIC COMING IN SHOULD BE ROUTED DOWN GROVELANDS WAY. THIS WOULD PERMIT HOUSING OF ALL TYPES TO BE BUILT AT THE WEST END OF THE TOWN.
YOUR IDEA FOR THE FACTORY LANE/BEACH
AVENUE INDUSTRIAL SITE IS EXCELLENT.
HOW ABOUT A MINIMOTO GO-KART SITE IN AN UNUSED ABRO HANGAR.HOW ABOUT A MCDONALDS/KFC/PIZZA HUT COMPLEX ON THE DENTS SITE WHEN IT IS REDEVELOPED.
STOP THE BRAINLESS TRAFFIC WARDENS GIVING TICKETS FOR MINOR LANE INFRINGEMENTS IN OUR CAR PARKS-THERE ARE TOO MANY FLEECING PRACTICES.
ANSWER: We have plans for a mini-moto/karting site on land west of the town which will be revealed shortly. We understand that the ABRO site (now with a new acronym name) is significantly more busy than it has been for some time and that some fitters who were paid off a couple of years ago have been taken back on. Security is also being stepped up a grade from 1 April with armed guards and dogs on patrol once again
From:
Margaret Broughton
(Sat 7th Mar 2009 at 17:00)
I would like to say that I see the new road/walkways in the town centre as a great improvement both visually, practically and socially.
Why should cars and lorries, many speeding through the main street, take precedence over people\'s pleasure in walking around the town in safety and social enjoyment?
Now we need desperately to fill the empty shops either as retail outlets or living accommodation and to fully support the plans of Waitrose.
Warminster desperately needs some quality outlets and to pursue vigorously the abolition of the abominable displays such as the Factory shop has. There couldn\'t be a worse view on entering the main street.
Why is it taking so long to achieve these reasonable improvements to our town?
ANSWER: Our gripe hasn't been about the quality of the work but the length of time it has taken. They have used good quality products and it will look good when finished but it will be a whole year behind schedule when finished. We are also worried that at its most narrow point the road is too tight to accommodate two cars and a cyclist.
We would like to see the wide pavements used to help revive the town centre by reghousing the market in the Market Place. What is certain that a Waitrose store would attract shoppers from a wide area as that business has a loyal fanbase who will travel to use its stores.
Young people in our community.
You may be aware of the WCC\'s Youth Work Curriculum Framework \'Learning for life\' October 2007, which gives some direction. Also you will be aware of the February elections to the Wiltshire Assembly of Youth and the UK Youth Parliament, when Warminster\'s Emma Batchelor was elected for West Wiltshire. The Warminster Locality Young People\'s Issue Groups are designed to provide a local focus on youth issues. It is one of two groups in the Warminster & Westbury groups, of 8 in Wiltshire. They have a website www.sparksiteco.uk The Warminster Group has met once at the end of January this year, and their next meeting is on 26 March. The local Youth Development Officers, Ian Withers and Samantha Shore, are the co-ordinators of this date.
ANSWER: Thanks for that Tim. We have covered the youth elections in the hot topics section and the Sparksite is impressive and is one of our website links. Thanks for informing us about the meeting on 26 March - much appreciated.
From:
DARRELL PARMLEY
(Tue 3rd Mar 2009 at 09:08)
Having opened a new shop in warminster i am glad that the premises our not in the town centre. as the town centre is dying rapidly
From:
Colin French
(Sun 22nd Feb 2009 at 22:41)
Talking trees, the tree at the junction of Prestbury Drive and Boreham Road, opposite the Conservative club and on the right as you approach town is a specimen I have been unable to identify. It is evergreen, nearly always about to be or in flower and as far as I know unique in the town. simply, its a mystery, does anyone know the species?
ANSWER: We have been told that the only unusual tree in that vicinity these days is an acacia tree. This tree is a native of the tropics. The area in question was the home of Major Oskar Teichman until 1959 and he had many global contacts. In the days before the development of Prestbury Drive in the mid 1960s this area was much more heavily wooded.
From:
Ian Stanley
(Sat 21st Feb 2009 at 15:29)
I was recently moaning at the total lack of flair and investigative zeal apparent in our local newspaper and suggesting a web based alternative when the person I was speaking to put me on to VFW. If this genuinely represents an opportunity for forward thinking without party political influence, I thoroughly endorse it. When recently involved with a local residents group I was impressed by the number of members who had email and computor skills. The time has come for an on-line news and opinion forum so good luck!
ANSWER: Thanks for your positive comments. We certainly don't seek to be an alternative to the local newspapers as it is their job to report the news from all quarters, carry obits, births, marriages and deaths, pages of advertising, local sport, WI reports etc.
Newspapers are a vital part of a healthy local democracy and we certainly won't be carrying paid for advertising. We have a non-party political vision of things that could be done to improve the town and the website is a good way of getting this vision across and getting feedback. Our hot topics are usually linked in some way to the vision chapters. Hopefully we can all work to improve the fortunes of the town.
From:
Mike Skillman
(Wed 18th Feb 2009 at 11:59)
The website is impressive- informative and simple to navigate through.
I look at the empty shops as I have done for many years and continue to believe that many of them might be more usefully converted back to dwellings
From:
Steve Dettmar
(Tue 17th Feb 2009 at 12:27)
I am surprised that nobody has mentioned the amount of rubbish that is all too obvious in Warminster. The majority of this rubbish is packaging, drink cans and the like thast is bought from the many takeaways in town and discarded on the way home. The area around Ash Walk and Dorothy walk is particulary bad, but so are many other areas. The answer is to fine people who are seen dropping litter in town, our community police could do this and no doubt be aided by our CCTV.
ANSWER: Thanks for your comment. Litter is a subject we take very seriously and our views are covered in the chapter on 'Civic Pride' - I have lifted the section and pasted it below....
'Tackling the scourge of litter
We also need to address the issue of litter, which some communities in Hampshire have tackled with great success. Travel to Romsey and you’ll hardly see a scrap of litter.
The council there has taken a strong line in enforcing the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 by imposing £60 fixed penalty notices on those who dare to throw even a fag end from a car window or drop a chip paper.
After a period of education we need to adopt similar tactics.
But we will never eradicate litter entirely and need look no further than Corsley and Chapmanslade to find another part of the solution. In these villages teams of community litter pickers make regular sweeps of the roadside.
When an approach was made to Warminster Town Council’s annual meeting in 2007 about creating a network of litter wardens the councillors queued up to attack the idea with one councillor saying enough was already being done.
Clearly he doesn’t know the town very well or never walks its streets as, despite the heroic efforts of our town centre litter man, some areas are overwhelmed by litter.'
From:
Bob Stone
(Sun 15th Feb 2009 at 23:30)
What happening in our town ?
Who is going to benefit from the \"improvements\" ? When iam old and infirm and need to use a mobility scooter perhaps I will appreciate the oversized pavements to look for a shop that is still trading, whilst undoubtebly beeing forced to breath the exhaust fumes created by traffic congestion. Why did we fight so hard for a bypass,and then redesign our town to reintroduce the traffic congestion we wanted rid off, CRAZY
I struggle to see how this scheme benefits anybody!
From:
Mike Statham
(Mon 12th Jan 2009 at 21:45)
I'm really impressed with your website, you make a lot of excellent points and (as a resident and small business owner in the town) I think it's great someone is standing up for this place. Warminster does have a lot of good points, but the place seems to be rapidly becoming another Westbury and that would be a crying shame. Personally I blame the Town Council who seem to have no interest in making the place somewhere anyone would want to live.
Mike Statham
From:
Primrose Kirkman
(Thu 4th Dec 2008 at 17:31)
Most of your ideas and those of other people are worthy and interesting, although I do wonder how anyone can think the Christmas decoration tat is exciting. But is any of this going to help? Who is in charge? Who makes the decisions? Who enforces the decisions (ie to get the factory shop to get rid of all their advertising tat)? Who holds the purse strings? We do not need waffle but clear instructions as to whom to lobby to get anything done. Why did it not happen while you were councillors? Is it going to be any better now?
ANSWER:You have asked a lot of questions - so we’ll try to answer them.
The responsibility for enforcement of breaches of planning regulations in conservation areas lies with the officers of the district council. Enforcement action can however take years given the glacier like movements of our legal system. We would hope that the company could be made to see sense and get rid of the horrid windows asap.
In fact a letter will be sent to the company this weekend and we’ll post their reply on-line. You are not the first person to contact us about the Factory Shop windows.
Twenty years ago when we were campaigning for election the local employment landscape was quite different as businesses such as Clarks, Barclays Trust and 27 Command Workshop, as it was then, were still employing large numbers of people in the town helping to keep it alive.
What makes next year so important is the arrival of the unitary authority and the new way of working through the area boards.
The buck will stop with the four newly elected unitary councillors who will have the mandate to kick start projects and really get the town moving again. But these people must have vision, knowledge, expertise and experience. Anyone who would like a detailed copy of our action plan to stimulate the local economy should contact us.
As for the Christmas lights - tat? We have to disagree. There is no doubt people make special trips to see our lights and they attract business. In 1990, if you recall, there were only a couple of strings of lights and it took the shine off Christmas for many.
Why not attend the next meeting of the shadow area board in January?
From:
Andrew Connolly
(Fri 21st Nov 2008 at 08:43)
This is a very innovative way of engaging with interested people.
I wish you well with your endeavours for progress and change - it is a long difficult process, but if you win hearts and minds you'll be half way there.
Good luck!
Andrew Connolly
From:
Brian Martineau
(Mon 3rd Nov 2008 at 09:32)
The Atheaneum should be helped in its mission to become a cultural centre for the town. The trustees are working well to bring more acts in, but the place should be buzzing every night of the week. If the Ath had more going on, then the trustees would quickly get more money for the essential restoration that they are working on. The town MUST support this important and historic venue.
ANSWER: We totally agree that the Ath must succeed.
But the building should not be limited mainly to events that appeal mostly to the more patrician elements in the community – to be successful entertainment must be for all residents.
A similar sized 250 seat venue, which opened in Hampshire in 2006, included Jaqui Dankworth, Ralph McTell, Ed Byrne, Vagina Monologues, Whole Lotta Lead, Sue Perkins, Chas and Dave, Acoustic Fairport Convention, Punt and Dennis, Gordon Giltrap, Richard Digance and Sing-a-Long a Sound of music in its first winter of popular entertainment. This winter they have Bobby Davro, 4 Poofs and a Piano and pub landlord Al Murray.
The last nationally known band to appear in Warminster was Blackfoot Sue on 18 May 1974 at the Assembly Hall.
Frome’s Cheese and Grain venue goes from strength to strength and has shown what can be done.
From:
M Pryce
(Sat 1st Nov 2008 at 18:20)
Congratulations on an excellent website.
Warminster has declined economically, visually and socially over the last 10 years, all these aspects are interdependant.Any project which can make a positive change for the future should be supported .
From:
Steve Royce-Rogers
(Thu 23rd Oct 2008 at 17:45)
Congratulations on a well put together web site. I agree with everything that you have said and will look forward to reading comments of our counsellors if they decide to read everything that is mentioned.
Traders in Warminster are in dire straits. The road works are a nightmare. At the council meetings at Dewey House prior to the start of the work, most of the local traders were opposed to the work being done and voiced our opinions - but it fell on deaf ears. The attitude of certain councellors was "Speak to the hand, the ears are not listening" Well our comments are coming true.
Shoppers are not coming to Warminster as often, due to the road works and say that they'll return when it is completed - Whenever that will be. I certainly hope they will return.
Your town needs you!!
Thanks again.
From:
Simon Hill
(Tue 21st Oct 2008 at 13:18)
This is a very constructive appraisal of the town with some interesting suggestions for ways to move forward.
Warminster needs a boost, and the local community could very well be the ones to push.
Maybe the town should put together a series of public meetings over the course of the year inviting Planning Officers, Councillors, Local Developers, Local Business people etc. to put their views and suggestions across for the town, and also to take suggestions too.
The new Town Plan should be constructed by the people who are going to use it. Thats us, and we need to act now.
Well done with the site.
Simon Hill
www.simon-hill.co.uk
ANSWER: We're glad you like the site. The matter of community involvement in decision making will be looked at in later chapters of the vision. In some parts of Wiltshire there are already residents' forums facilitated every quarter by the local development trust. These are quite popular.
From:
Jayne Bell
(Tue 21st Oct 2008 at 12:35)
Why did you sit on the sidelines and watch it decay, why did you not get involved before now?
ANSWER: This is a valid question and leaving aside family issues the main reason has been that there's hasn't been too much point being a local councillor for past 10 years. Councils have been stripped of powers and the way councils are now run means that elected members have almost no say unless they are members of the party political 'cabinet'.
Things are about to change and new area boards coming as a result of the new unitary council will devolve executive functions down giving local elected members much more say, influence and responsibility. With the co-operation of the town council these boards have the potential to make a real difference.
For more information read our comments story about the missing £8 million.
Mind you things have got to such a state in Warminster that there would have been a temptation to come back even if the old system had been retained.
From:
Penny Browning
(Mon 20th Oct 2008 at 17:19)
I welcome this interesting site and hope that you can begin to make a difference. I agree that we should not demonise our younsters, however there is alot of petty vandalism which causes a good deal of grief to the general populace and I for one am not inclined to intervene at 2.30am on a weekend night when the local noise brigade is jumping on cars and banging on front doors.We need more policing to help with this. Also the comments about our town hall are absolutely right, we should be able to take pride in a building like that. Is there a way anyone can think of to have a public "revamp campaign" Or am I off limits here?!!! Keep up the good work !
Good on you and the best of luck. I can\\\'t find anyhing to disagree with on your site . I particularly agree that people have lost respect for the police. It is a national problem caused by a toxic mixture of political correctness and a need to meet insane targets. It is made worse here by the lack of local policing.
From:
C. Clark
(Wed 1st Oct 2008 at 22:48)
Businesses won't come to a town with a backward looking council.
The Town Hall is a disgrace, when it should be an asset and focal point of the town.
Refusing planning permission to businesses who DO want to open in the town because they want to alter the shop front of an ugly building is madness! See the YMCA shop for details.
The Three Horseshoes Mall is a mecca for anti-social behaviour now, which will only get worse.
The 'improvements' are a fiasco. Where they have been completed already, all that's happening is people are now parking on the lovely wide pavements or in disabled spots to go and collect their dry cleaning or household items. Weymouth Street will be a danger to cross at the top as buses and HGV's (which still use the town regardless of limits) mount the pavement to get around the corner.
The police do the best they can with VERY limited resources - but having to take people they've arrested to Melksham to then do the 3 hours of paperwork per person means they are out of the town for half their shift.
We need people who aren't scared to speak out or get on the frontline occasionally - do an observer shift with the police or ambulance service to see how the town changes once all the policy makers are tucked up in their beds.
From:
Keith Rattray
(Wed 1st Oct 2008 at 14:27)
I agree with you , the town badly needs a professionally designed , funded , used !! , front end website representing Warminster Local Gov , Buisiness , Civic , etc .
I for my part run a local internet forum www.warminster-forum.co.uk which in no way covers the above needs .
It seems everyone is pulling in different directions so best of luck in getting more cohesion .
Very pleased to see a website which gives one an opportunity to make positive comment on local affairs and I look forward to reading more in the future. I have to agree with much of what has so far appeared.
To pick up on one point Grant Chamberlain makes, current housing policy for this region offers limited scope for housing development in Warminster in the short to mid-term future, many residents may not be aware of this. Although our councillors do seem to have recognised this issue, there is probably little hope that we will see more than a modest number of new homes being built in the town over the coming 10 years. I lay this problem at the door of previous administrations who often rejected attempts to build here.
Trowbridge on the other hand has adopted a very enlightened and pro-active approach to attracting housing and commercial investment - hence the array of proposed new leisure facilities.
As a town we must make our voice heard and we must positively encourage inward investment.
Whilst we are unlikely to see an M & S in Warminster we can attract more housing. More housing is highly likely to attract more businesses. However this is not something that can happen overnight so we need to crack on and do something soon.
Similarly on the commercial front we appear to have limited availability of land to create room for more businesses so unless we actively encourage the release of more land on the outskirts of the town we stand to lose out. As Government policy is more and more geared towards discouraging commuting we need to ensure we have a ready supply of homes for people to live in, and workplaces for them to work within the town so that builders will want to build here and companies will want to bring their business here too.
Sounds simple but it will take time and a lot of effort, but if we want Warminster to flourish and prosper we all have a responsibility to support this approach.
I welcome reading other people\\\'s comments.
From:
D.J
(Sun 28th Sep 2008 at 22:28)
Warminster needs a cinema to be built somewhere in town, i hope that the folk here will be able to perhaps help to make it happen someday.
From:
Grant Chamberlain
(Sat 20th Sep 2008 at 08:01)
You mention about the lack of employment within the town and I quote \"the rural buffer zone that now protects us from too much housing\".
Surely if we as a town are to survive we must encourage the building of affordable housing not more retirement homes, young people need homes and if they can not get them here they will move away.
The town council in my humble opinion, does not do much to encourage this, an example of this was Victoria Road, the old garage and lastly I believe as a town we do not make it easy for a business to trade, other towns give local incentives, why don\'t we?
Why don\'t we have a town centre manager like Frome, they found the funding why can\'t we?
