Trevor Carbin

Wiltshire Councillor for Atworth, Holt and Staverton. Learn more

Overhanging hedges

by trevorcarbin on 26 January, 2024

Wiltshire Council is responsible for keeping footways, verges and carriageways free of obstruction from overhanging vegetation such as hedges, trees, and bushes. Where the vegetation is growing from within the limits of the highway, the council is responsible for cutting and removing it. However, where vegetation is growing out from within a property on to a […]

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In 2023 Wiltshire Council published a list of roads to be treated with micro-asphalt dressing and associated works. Bradley Close and Beales Barton were included. It didn’t happen in ’23 but was rescheduled for March ’24. However as this website pointed out at the time the endemic inefficiency of WC Highways created elements of uncertainty. […]

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Council crochety over Dyson donation

by trevorcarbin on 22 January, 2024

Wiltshire Council has put out a grumpy press release in response to the Department for Education’s announcement that it has approved James Dyson’s donation to Malmesbury Church of England School. Dyson wants to give £6m to the school to build a centre for science, technology, engineering, mathematics (Stem) and arts, seven classrooms and a school […]

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Your Council Tax

by trevorcarbin on 18 January, 2024

Wiltshire Council has published the budget for 2024/5. There’s an increase in spending from £469m to £486m. The Band D household charge is £1806, an increase of £86. In percentage terms that’s 4.99%, of which 2% is Social Care Levy. Nowadays the level of Council Tax is effectively fixed by Central Government. There are £5m […]

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Monkton Farleigh Planning Applications

by trevorcarbin on 17 January, 2024

Recent planning applications and decisions in Monkton Farleigh.  To look at an application on the WC website, copy the reference number, go to WC planning website,  then paste the reference number into the ‘Keyword Search’ box. ……………………………………….. PL/2023/11103 – Inwoods, 3 Farleigh Wick:  Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) on 19/05498/FUL to allow for design changes:   permitted. PL/2023/09698: […]

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Worrying rise in worrying

by trevorcarbin on 14 January, 2024

If you’re a sheep being attacked by a dog then ‘worrying’ is probably the wrong word for your feelings. Anyway Wiltshire Police are sufficiently worried to put out a press release, and here it is: On average Wiltshire Police receives two reports each month of dogs chasing, injuring or killing sheep and other livestock. We […]

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Tribute to John Syme

by trevorcarbin on 8 January, 2024

Warminster Town Council has reported the death of John Syme. John was a town councillor for many years, as well as serving on the old District Council until 2007, and on Wiltshire County Council until 2009. Originally a Liberal Democrat, John stood as an Independent from 2001. He played a key role when the Lib […]

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Phoney Cop Consultation

by trevorcarbin on 6 January, 2024

Every year the Police and Crime Commissioner increases the policing element of the council tax by the maximum percentage permitted. Every year there is a consultation, which asks the entirely unbiased question, “Do you want to pay more for Wiltshire Police, or would you prefer to have the criminals running riot.” Every year we say […]

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Application for 180 houses at Maxcroft

by trevorcarbin on 27 December, 2023

Although just over the border in Hilperton, this application would have a significant impact on Staverton. It’s now open to consultation and comments can be made on the WC planning portal here

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Government intervenes to curb WC spending

by trevorcarbin on 22 December, 2023

The council has been consistently overspending on special needs education. ‘Safety Valve’ is a Department for Education (DfE) programme for councils with very high overspends in their High Needs Block budget, which goes to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEND). Previous attempts to bring down the deficit have failed. Over the coming months, WC […]

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