Edward Gordon Charles Evans of Warminster or surrounding area has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List for services to the community of Wiltshire.
His name sits alongside that of Chapmanslade athlete Kate French who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the Modern Pentathlon. She has been made an MBE for services to her sport.
Salisbury District Hospital has announced today that its doors will be closed to visitors from midnight. The news follows a similar announcement from the Royal United Hospital in Bath during the last 24 hours. The hospital Chief Executives are concerned about the growing Covid-19 infection rates within their communities. In a mirroring many hospitals across the country, patients will be permitted access to patients in exceptional circumstances at both Bath and Salisbury. These include visiting patients receiving end of life care, mothers on maternity wards and those visiting children. A ‘Message to a Loved One’ service is also being set up.
https://www.salisbury.nhs.uk/news-media/salisbury-district-hospital-to-close-to-visitors/
The Royal United Hospital in Bath has suspended visiting for all but exceptional circumstances. The decision, which the hospital says it made with reluctance, comes in the light of rising Covid-19 cases within the hospital and in the surrounding community. One visitor per patient will still be permitted for children in hospital, patients nearing end of life and a parent or carer accompanying a vulnerable adult. For labour and birth, a new mother can have up to two birth supporters. Patients attending Accident and Emergency are being asked to enter on their own unless they cannot due to a physical or mental disability. The full details are available on the RUH website.
Plans to build 95 sustainable homes on the edge of Warminster have been described as ‘new and innovative’ by PBC Today, a planning, building and construction sector news website. Legal and General has submitted an application for a modular neighbourhood at Bore Hill Farm in addition to plans for similar communities in Bristol, Broadstairs, Horsham, Littlestone and Selby. Rosie Toogood from Legal and General said: “Our innovative approach is bringing high-quality modular homes that are comfortable, sustainable and affordable to the market.”
The recruitment process to appoint a Deputy Town Clerk at Warminster Town Council is underway. Last month, Tom Dommett was promoted to the post of Town Clerk after four candidates were interviewed for the position. The 13 town councillors are now looking for a Deputy to Mr Dommett who can take on prime responsibility for preparing agendas and minutes of council business. The closing date for applications is 5th January 2022.
A television presenter has used social media to describe Warminster as a town ‘failing fast’. Tim Dunn, host of UKTV’s The Architecture the Railways Built and Secrets of the London Underground told followers on Twitter about his visit to Warminster over the festive period. He said: “This town once set itself up as the service centre for the agri/cloth towns around: its wealth afforded it much of architectural interest. Briefly. Today, albeit on a Dec bank hol, it felt it too was fading. Fast.”
Using images of town centre buildings including The Old Town Hall, Mr Dunn continued: “Reminders of grandeur and wealth still shine through in Warminster, even if it feels like the town might be dying.”
Looking to the future, he wrote: “Like much of Britain [Warminster is] gently crumbling – perhaps in need of vision, and unsure of its future purpose.”
He concluded with a criticism of the planning process. “It’s stuffed full of great buildings and detail. Places that some people clearly cherish, but the town isn’t making the most of. The economy that the buildings were created for has moved on. How can places in Britain like this succeed again without a collective vision to work towards?”
The BA12 Agenda 