If anyone in Staverton has anything they wish to discuss I hope to be at the mobile library from 3.25 to 3.40 pm at The Slipway. 

In the morning I’m doing a licensing hearing in Devizes:  Tilshead garage wants to open later, but residents have objected on the grounds that noise from the garage would be disturbing, so we have to decide whether or not to allow the application.

A number of local criminals are making a good living out of thieving from unlocked cars.  The police estimate that 99% of crime in Staverton would disappear if people locked their vehicles.  Items stolen include satnavs, laptops and handbags.  The Waterside area is being targetted because of the large number of parked vehicles on the streets.

Residents are asked to lock cars at all times but especially overnight, and to look out for anyone testing car doors to see which ones are open.

Residents of Staverton are being invited to a Street Party on June 4th at Foxglove Drive in Hilperton.  The event is being organised by the ‘One Love Community Group’ , which covers the Hilperton and Staverton sides of the canal.

One Love have received funding for the party from both Hilperton Parish Council and the Bradford Area Board.

The ‘post and rail’ fence along the raised part of Thestfield Drive is continually getting damaged and having to be repaired.  Staverton Parish Council have asked if it could be replaced by planting, which would be less easily damaged and would discourage people from taking short cuts down the slopes on either side of the road.

Wiltshire Council have suggested planting a beech hedge.  The parish would have to pay for the removal of the wooden fence and planting of the hedge at a quoted cost of £1,400.  Wiltshire Council would then maintain the hedge.

If you live in Holt and have any problems or concerns you’d like to discuss please come to my surgery on the first Thursday of the month from 6 to 7pm in the village hall surgery room. Next one July 5th.  (No surgery in June).

In Staverton you can catch me at the mobile library visit to The Slipway – that’s 3.25 to 3.40 on alternate Fridays – next one May 25th. 

Cottles Barton has some nice new bus stops and bus shelters, but currently has no buses.  The service that will go round there is the existing service 68 town minibus which runs from Staverton to Trowbridge approximately once per hour. 

Introduction of the new bus service has been delayed because one of the operators of service 68 has pulled out.  WC is currently in the process of securing a replacement operator to continue the service from 2^nd July. The replacement service will commence on 2^nd July operating via Cottles Barton along with the other trips currently operated on bus 68 by Libra Travel.

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Southern Electricity will be digging up Melksham Road in Holt from May 23rd to June 7th.  There will be two-way traffic lights.  They’ll also be in Staverton from 22nd to 24th May, this time using stop/go boards to control the traffic.

Following the speed limit review on A and B roads in the County Wiltshire Council is now going ahead with a £500,000 programme of implementing the changes, most of which involve reductions in legal limits. 

In our area the advertisements and legal processes begin with publication of the notices in the Wiltshire Times next week (Friday 18th).  The consultation closes on June 11th.  If all goes well, implementation will be in September.

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