Jean Colgrave has been presented with this year’s Civic Award by Warminster Town Council. Jean has been a Trustee at the Warminster and District Foodbank since July 2011. The Mayor of Warminster, Councillor Stephen Jeffries, presented Jean with the Award at a special ceremony on Friday evening. At the same event, Jamie Scorgie was presented with the Junior Civic Award for his volunteering at Warminster Community Radio. George Comley was presented the Green Award for his efforts to monitor water quality and biodiversity in the Lake Pleasure Grounds.

South West Wiltshire’s MP has questioned the Education Secretary on his guidance for mask wearing in secondary schools. Speaking in the House of Commons, Dr Andrew Murrison asked Nadhim Zahawi:

“What evidence does he have of effectiveness, particularly since the evidence from the US suggests that the effectiveness of masks varies from 98% for an N95 respirator down to about 25% for a three layer cotton mask. If he is insisting that children wear masks, he presumably contemplating the sort of guidance he should issue also about the constitution of those masks and how they should be worn to ensure maximum effectiveness at preventing transmission.”

The Secretary of State for Education stressed that masks were one mitigation to transmission but vaccination was the greatest. He said that the wearing of masks was studied by his department in over 100 schools. Mr Zahawi said:

“In the face of a highly infectious variant it is something that I thought was necessary based on that observation study and of course the recommendation by HSA. It is something that I did reluctantly because the challenges around learning are evident and I want to keep them for as shorter time as possible.”

Wiltshire Council has said the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the county are being seen in the 20 to 49-year-old age range. Across all age groups, there were 4,222 confirmed positive cases in Wiltshire in the seven days prior to 28 December, and 5,627 confirmed positive cases in the seven days prior to 3 January. The rate of cases per 100,000 people in Wiltshire increased from 837.6 to 1,116.3 per 100,000 people during that time.

A man and a woman have been arrested in the Westbury area after suspicious activity at HMP Erlestoke. Police officers were called to the prison yesterday (Tuesday 4th January) afternoon after a package containing drugs and mobile phones was allegedly thrown into the site. A male suspect was identified leaving the scene on foot and then in a vehicle. When the car was later stopped, a 28-year-old man from Bridgwater and a 27-year-old woman from Exeter were arrested on suspicion of conveying a prohibited article into a prison. They have both been released under investigation.

Applications have now closed for the post of Deputy Town Clerk at Warminster Town Council. The job, advertised locally and through the Society of Local Council Clerks, became vacant when Tom Dommett was promoted to the post of Town Clerk. The role, which has a salary of £32,910-£39,880, supports the Town Clerk in carrying out their role and includes prime responsibility for preparing agendas and reports, assisting with project management and leading a team of more than 25 members of staff.

Wiltshire Police are warning that an abnormal load will cause delays on the A36 tomorrow (Wednesday 5th January 2022). The load, which will stradle both carriageways, will enter Wiltshire along the A303 from Hampshire and then travel along the A36 from Wylye towards Warminster. It will proceed around the Warminster bypass and continue on the A36 until Beckington, where it will join the A361. The final destination is Whatley Quarry near Shepton Mallet. A police spokesperson is asking motorists to be patient if they encounter the load on their journey.

Warminster’s evening patrols to protect migrating toads are set to resume this spring. Volunteers from Sustainable Warminster will monitor Smallbrook Road on mild and wet evenings in February and March so that the toads can safely cross the road. The group, which is looking for more volunteers for the patrols, says thousands of common toads are killed crossing roads as they make their way to breeding ponds. Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact the co-ordinator via warminstertoadpatrol@gmail.com.

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has launched the second phase of his consultation on the future of policing in the county. Philip Wilkinson has identified four priority areas that he believes should stand at the heart of law and order efforts in Wiltshire:

• A police service that meets the needs of its communities;
• Reduce violence and serious harm;
• Tackle crimes that matter to local communities; and
• Improve the experience of victims and deliver justice.

Focus groups will be held with stakeholders during January, as well as virtual public sessions at 6.30pm on 6th, 13th, 17th and 26th January. The draft Police and Crime Plan can be downloaded from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website.

https://www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/my-office/opcc-news/2021/december-2021/making-wiltshire-safer-pcc-launches-draft-plan-for-consultation/

Andrew Robinson gives his predictions for the BA12 area as he looks ahead to 2022 for Warminster and surrounds, considering symbols of what’s to come.

Add – The addition of new homes around the Warminster area will continue to be a hot topic in 2022. A planning application has been submitted for the Bore Hill Farm site on the edge of the town and the West Warminster Urban Extension’s impact on existing infrastructure is taxing the minds of local councillors and residents. Further applications are bound to be made, leading to opportunities for scrutiny from local residents’ groups as well as Wiltshire Council’s planning officers.

Take Away – It’s been ten years now since scaffolding was erected around 3 High Street in Warminster. After many false starts, local residents will be crossing their fingers that the latest plans bring improvement to the site. Demolition work is expected to begin imminently, followed by construction work to replace the dilapidated structure.

Multiply – The role of the most local councils in public services will only increase this year. Expect Wiltshire Council to want more services to be devolved down to Warminster Town Council and our local parishes. Watch out for the early part of the year, when councils will set their budgets. Over the last few months on WCR’s Community Chest, I’ve asked the Mayor of Warminster Stephen Jeffries and some of his fellow councillors if they can envisage Council tax ever going down. Their answer, with a wry smile at my cheeky question, is the same. Wouldn’t that be lovely but so unlikely. With the cost of living multiplying, so too do Council expenses and therefore another rise seems inevitable.

Divide – Climate change looks set to continue to divide Warminster Town Council. It is unclear where the council moves to next, after it couldn’t agree a mandate on how to implement its climate strategy. The Climate Change Working Group resigned enmasse at the end of 2021 when the full council refused to support the creation of a Climate Change Officer post.

Equals – The regeneration of Warminster and its equality with neighbouring towns will likely return to the agenda as the town considers its Covid-19 recovery. Some residents are still smarting for Warminster losing out in the Wiltshire Council campus project when the local government budget squeeze put an end to it. While Warminster didn’t get the campus site, unlike towns such as Corsham and Melksham, it was promised a regeneration project. 2022 could see news of how the regeneration project will be structured.

Exclamation Mark – Warminster should have the opportunity to celebrate this year, should Covid-19 permit. 6th February 2022 marks HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee but the country will mark it with a special Bank Holiday Weekend at the start of June. Behind the scenes planning may well have begun as to how the local area intends to celebrate The Queen’s 70 year reign.

Question Mark – Covid-19 will continue to bring uncertainty for some businesses and organisations. Town events such as Warminster Carnival will soon need to make decisions about whether to proceed this year. Local business will push the ‘shop local’ message to try to ensure Warminster’s Town centre does not lose anymore shops and attracts new ones to its empty premises.

Comma – Expect an even greater emphasis on the work of volunteers this year. More services and activities that would historically be expected to come under public services will require the goodwill of volunteers to operate. With the rise of groups such as Warminster Action Group, the number of volunteers in the BA12 area can be expected to increase.

Full Stop – Road traffic is an unending concern for many residents in Warminster and the surrounding villages. Expect the councils to receive more requests for double yellow lines this calendar year and increasing demands for roads such as Imber Road to be resurfaced.

Degrees – Inevitably rain will fall in 2022 and that means that parts of Warminster will be on edge due to the risk of flooding. Planning issues and the age of Warminster’s drainage network will raise their heads again. Expect demands for action to prevent more properties and businesses suffering.

South West Wiltshire’s MP has offered his congratulations to Colonel Chris Argent on being an OBE. Colonel Argent is the Immediate Past President of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers. Dr Andrew Murrison, who is a reserve officer himself, said the honour was “extremely well deserved recognition of decades of service.”