A planning application for 54 new homes in Warminster will go before councillors this evening. Warminster Town Council’s Planning Advisory Committee will debate the plans to build new residential dwellings on land north of Folly Farm. As well as the buildings, the planning application also includes the provision of public open space, vehicular and pedestrian access, landscaping, drainage, related infrastructure and engineering works. The committee meets at 7pm in the Civic Centre.

A man from the Warminster area has sustained life changing injuries after a tree fell on him. South Western Ambulance Service and Wiltshire Police were called to the man who was trapped under the tree. The incident happened on 12th January.

First West of England has warned that it may need to make further cuts. The company relies on public subsidies to operate some routes and says it may need to cut routes if funding is reduced. The warning comes as the company begins its final week operating the Warminster to Salisbury bus service. From 31st January, Beeline Coaches will take on the route. The latest warning has concerned local passengers who are worried about the future of the remaining First service that connects Warminster with Westbury, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon and Bath.

Councillor Denis Brett has said criticism of a lack of budget scrutiny is not helpful. Speaking to Andrew Robinson on Warminster Community Radio, Cllr Brett defended his Finance and Audit Committee by saying that the budget had been worked on with officers for several months.

At the budget meeting on Monday, former town councillors Pip Ridout and Chris Spender spoke from the public gallery to express their concerns about the council’s budget. Pip Ridout, who remains a Wiltshire Councillor for Warminster West, asked: “Where is the scrutiny from you thirteen as a corporate body?” Both Mrs Ridout and Mr Spender resigned from the finance committee when they were councillors over a disagreement with fellow Conservatives on budgetary matters. Neither sought reelection to the town Council at the elections last May.

A number of planning applications have been submitted in relation to land north of Grovelands Way.

The first seeks permission to raise the level of the land by half a metre so that it is in Flood Zone 1. Part of a access road would also be installed. 73 residential dwellings and associated infrastructure works form the second application, while a third relates to a further 58 homes. The final application is for a two-storey 62 bed care home, together with access and parking.

All four applications will come before Warminster Town Council’s Planning Advisory Committee this Monday evening at 7.00pm. The meeting will be held in the Civic Centre.

Members of the GMB Union at Hills Waste Solutions sites in Trowbridge, Salisbury and Calne are being balloted on potential strike action. GMB, which represents 64 members at the Wiltshire sites, is unhappy at a 2% pay increase. The union says it amounts to a real-terms pay cut. Strike action, is voted through by members, could cause disruption for more than 250,000 homes.

The Christmas trees that stood proudly above shops during the festive season will be doing their bit to help new trees grow. Warminster Town Council has revealed the trees have been removed from the High Street. Staff from the council’s Parks and Estates team have been chipping them today ready for them to be used as mulch for newly planted trees in the Lake Pleasure Grounds and at Ashley Combe.

A new operator has been selected by Wiltshire Council to take on the Warminster to Salisbury bus service. Beeline Coaches will operate the service from Monday 31st January on behalf of Wiltshire Council. The new timetable shows there will be six buses from Warminster to Salisbury each weekday and eight in the opposite direction. Six will run in each directions on Saturdays but there will be no services operating on the new ’24’ route on Sundays or Bank Holidays. The announcement follows First West of England’s decision to withdraw from the route. A statement on the timetable notes:

“Whilst every effort will be made to connect with the D1 bus service at Warminster, we regret that it is not possible for us to guarantee these connections.”

The Mayor of Warminster has congratulated the new Deputy Town Clerk. Councillor Stephen Jeffries said Judith Halls had been appointed after a thorough and successful recruitment process.

A statement from Warminster Town Council reads: “Judith has worked at the Council since May 2007, when she started as an administration assistant in Dewey House. She has been involved in many council events over the years including the Town Criers events, Clean for the Queen and Christmas Light Switch on to name a few. Over the years she has seen lots of changes, three Town Clerks and many councillors. Judith is well known for her approachable manner and has considerable experience that she will bring to the role, that will in turn help Town Councillors deliver on their plans.”

The Chairman of Warminster Town Council’s Finance and Audit Committee has said he and colleagues are conscious of residents facing difficult times as they raised the council tax precept. Speaking after the decision was made on Monday evening, Councillor Denis Brett said:

“All Town Councillors are very conscious of the fact that many of our residents are facing difficult financial times. Higher petrol, gas and electricity prices, inflation and the impact of Covid 19 have hit household budgets hard.”

“We know that people don’t want to pay higher council tax, but we are also aware that some of the services the Town Council provides benefit the least well off the most. For example, the Lake Pleasure Grounds has many free to use facilities which are a lifeline to those with children.”

“We have managed to keep to the increase in the Town Council’s share of Council Tax to just £5.65 a year. This is below inflation and yet allows us to meet our commitments. In terms of providing services and contributing to the quality of life in Warminster. The Town Council’s share of Council Tax will now be £212.82 for a band D property.”

“The Council’s finances are on a secure footing that means we are ready to meet the challenge of further services being devolved from Wiltshire Council, which we expect to happen this financial year.”

“We will continue to monitor the council’s budget and spending throughout the year to ensure we get value for money.”