South West Wiltshire’s MP has launched a parliamentary group that aims for greater scrutiny of The National Trust. The All Party Parliamentary Group met for the first time today but The National Trust itself is unhappy that Dr Andrew Murrison didn’t inform it of the group’s creation. On social media today, the MP said he was delighted to launch the group of parliamentarians with an interest in the organisation. He added it had been a big turnout with everyone passionate about public access.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for The National Trust said: “We don’t yet know what the new APPG will be used for, but like any charity, we’re always happy to engage in good faith with politicians who have an interest in our work.”

Dr Murrison has previously criticised the charity for departing from its purposes and has called for the Government to launch an independent review.

After two years, Warminster Civic Centre is restarting its monthly matinee film shows. On the third Wednesday of the month, doors will open at 1.30pm with the film starting at 2.00pm. The first film will be “Spencer” on Wednesday 16th February, starring Kristen Stewart at Princess Diana. The film follows her decision to end her marriage to Prince Charles and leave the royal family. Tickets are £4.00 and can be purchased from the Civic Centre.

Julia’s House Children’s Hospice has benefited from £2,000 in funds raised through Warminster Lions Club’s Santa Workshop. The workshop toured the BA12 area during the month of December, giving local children, elderly and other residents the chance to meet Father Christmas. Donations collected on the routes have now been donated to the hospice which is based in Devizes. A spokesman for Warminster Lions Club said: “We decided to support Julia’s House in recognition of the valuable support given to Warminster families whenever it is needed – at home, in the hospice or in the community.”

A manufacturer has been blamed for faulty radios that have been issued to Shopwatch members in Warminster. Councillor Sue Fraser told Warminster Community Radio that the wrong products were issued at a photoshoot outside Warminster Civic Centre last week. On the first day of operations, businesses were unable to hear the Shopwatch system in operation. The purpose of the scheme is to link local business staff with the CCTV control room and Wiltshire Police officers. A new delivery of radios is awaited by Warminster Town Council.

Wiltshire Police believe no crime was committed after a detailed investigation into an alleged sexual assault on Saturday. Officers were called to Warminster town centre on Saturday morning after a member of the public found a woman in distress. The force then issued a statement appealing for witnesses to what was believed to be a serious offence. A spokesperson for Warminster’s policing team said: “Following detailed enquiries, including viewing extensive CCTV footage and further conversations with the woman, we now do not believe a crime was committed.”

Detective Inspector Tom Straker, from Wiltshire Police, said: “We know that the report of this incident understandably caused a huge amount of concern amongst the local community and I hope this update will provide some reassurance. I would like to thank all the members of the public who read our witness appeal and came forward with information, all of which has been very useful to our investigation. We take reports of this nature very seriously and I want the public to feel confident that this incident has been fully investigated by our detectives.”

A former town councillor has criticised Wiltshire Council and Warminster Town Council for the lack of ventilation at a recent meeting. Tony Nicklin attended the Warminster Area Board meeting last week as a representative of The Athenaeum Trust, which was applying for a grant. The Trust wishes to install a new ventilation system at the local theatre and arts centre to ensure it is compliant with public health recommendations drawn up to stop the spread of Covid-19. He said that members of the public wanted to attend venues that were well ventilated and added that “it is a shame we aren’t in one tonight.” The Area Board meeting was held on Thursday in The Cley Room at Warminster’s Civic Centre and Tony Nicklin drew the board’s attention to the closed fire exit that prevented fresh air from circulating. Mr Nicklin previously served as a Conservative town councillor for Warminster West between 2007 and 2013, and then for Warminster Broadway between 2017 and 2021.

Sutton Veny is one step closer to getting a new community space after Warminster Area Board approved a grant of £5,000. The Parochial Church Council applied for the funding to turn part of the church into a space that can be used by villagers during the working week. The village already has a hall, however this is used by Sutton Veny Primary School during weekday daytimes for lessons, assemblies and lunches.

Part of the application is for toilet facilities. At present the only toilet other than within the village hall is at the local public house.

Warminster Town Council will announce later this month how the town can celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Councillor Stephen Jeffries said today that a Council working group was formulating plans and would put these to the full group of councillors in mid February. The Mayor of Warminster made the comments in his monthly interview with Warminster Community Radio’s Andrew Robinson.

A woman is believed to have been the victim of a serious sexual assault in Warminster town centre.

Police were called to the Market Place in the town at around 8.15am this morning after a member of the public located a woman who was in distress. Emergency services were present throughout the morning and part of the pavement in the Market Place was cordoned off well into the afternoon.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren Hannant, from Wiltshire Police, said: “We currently have officers in attendance in the Market Place and an investigation is underway.

“At this stage we are unsure when the incident took place but it was at some time during the night; the police were called shortly after 8am this morning.

“We want to hear from anyone who was in the town last night or during the early hours of this morning and may have noticed anything suspicious.

“If you have any information which could assist our enquiries, then please get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call Salisbury CID on 101, quoting log 80 of today (05/02).

Warminster Area Board has provided funding to two parish councils to enable them to purchase Speed Indicator Devices. The devices, also known as SIDs, are used by Community Speedwatch volunteers to encourage motorists to obey the speed limits on designated roads. Longbridge Deverill Parish Council already own one SID but will now be able to purchase a second. One will be permanently allocated to volunteers monitoring the A350 through the village, while a second will focus on other roads often used a rat runs from the A303 and A36. Meanwhile, Corsley Parish Council are also purchasing a device. Parish Councillors in Corsley are concerned about safety along the A362 which runs directly through the centre of the village.