It’s been an incredibly busy start to the year for staff working at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, in our community hospitals and in people’s homes across Wiltshire. Along with the rest of the NHS, we have experienced unprecedented demand
I would like to thank the shops and businesses in the town for their generosity in giving goods and money for the Salvation Army autumn sale. Also thanks to the New Baptist Church for the use of their schoolroom on December 13. We are also
Last week saw an announcement by the Conservative Party of a new manifesto pledge limiting the rights of public sector workers to strike, where any ballot for action has had less than 50 per cent turnout. I have two major issues with this ill-thought-through
I refer to the front page article in the Devizes edition of January 15, ‘High prices fuel anger’, and to current correspondence. The only way to deal with all kinds of rip-off merchants including Rontec (and Total before them) – and who in this instance
Cars that are parked irresponsibly on pavements can cause a potentially dangerous obstruction for pedestrians as it can force them onto the road and into the path of vehicles. Newly released research by YouGov has shown that three quarters (74
Corsham Town Council is searching for unsung members of the community. It will present three Community Awards to individuals or groups who make the town a better place to live work and visit. Ruth Hopkinson, chairman of Corsham Town Council
Though aware of the need to find alternative sources of energy, I would question both the economics and the likely climate benefits of the solar scheme being undertaken at Castle Combe Circuit. When consent was given for this scheme we, the public
I have had discussions with NHS staff in Wiltshire over the challenges that it faces. I agree with their view that there is need for a cross-party approach to NHS funding and reforms. Such a consensus should reflect the statement made last year
Having read with interest about The Range over recent weeks and having visited the exhibition in the Neeld Hall in Chippenham, I think that The Range development will be a good thing to happen. This could result in other businesses coming to the
If The Range development breaches the A350, the Chippenham western boundary, then it’s the Wild West for all future planning because there will be no protections. So if you have a property west of the A350 you should be worried about future developments
The recent two-day public consultation over The Range’s proposed development was a rather subdued affair. But the need to take seriously where Chippenham is going in the future, bids fair to bring localism into any future consultation. In order to
Following on from your recent report about the open consultation at the Town Hall, ‘No second chance if Range’s bid thrown out, says director’, I would like to raise my concern as to what I perceive to be a lack of transparency and impartial reporting
Recently I tried to donate a bag of items to the Oxfam shop in Corsham. I was met with despairing looks and cries of: “we’re not taking any more donations, we’re overrun with stuff”. I was flabbergasted. Here’s an idea local charity shops might
I would like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers and members of the Baptist Church, Sheep Street, Devizes, who did such a wonderful job of cooking the Christmas dinner for people who would have been on their own on Christmas Day. Also thanks
Coun Jonathon Seed has accused me of grandstanding over the Devizes Campus development and exhorts me to put a proposal to cabinet (Gazette letters, January 15). He should check his facts! My submission on behalf of Devizes was sent, with the encouragement
CHIPPENHAM’S new community youth officer is urging anyone who fears anti-social behaviour to do something positive. Richard Williams has 25 years’ experience working with young people, the last nine in Wiltshire, and was team leader of the disbanded
Hardenhuish School in Chippenham has gained Unicef’s Rights Respecting School Award level one. Last week Hardenhuish was named among the top state schools in the country by Tatler and the school followed that up with an award for putting the UN
North Newnton has its first community defibrillator after a year of fundraising. The parish, near Pewsey, started fundraising in December 2013 and reached its £2,000 target almost a year later with the help of a £500 grant by Pewsey Area Board.
Carer Support Wiltshire has announced the appointment of Catharine Hurford as chief executive. Carer Support Wiltshire offers support, information, advice and break opportunities to unpaid carers looking after family members and friends across
Ballet dancers in Devizes have made the grade this week with an excellent set of results. Youngsters from Centre Stage Academy of Dance took their Royal Academy of Dance Ballet examinations in Stonar School, Atworth, on December 13 and 14.
The Sangster family have confirmed that they will continue to live in Marlborough despite the sale of part of the Manton Estate. Brothers Ben and Guy Sangster have retained Manton House and some surrounding land which was owned by their late father
Meeting Diversity dance star Ashley Banjo was one of the highlights for three pupils from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Corsham who cooked their way to victory in a national competition. Joe Rudland, 11, Lilli Gibbings, 10 and Aisling
Sainsbury's let little budding bakers into their breadmaking secrets in a school outing to the Chippenham supermarket. Four to five-year-olds from Queen’s Crescent Primary were given a behind the scenes tour of the in store bakery on Monday and
Cubs used their motto – Be Prepared – to good effect on Saturday when they met a challenge to turn household waste into models of animals. Youngsters from packs across mid-Wiltshire competed at the headquarters of 1st Devizes Scout Group on Saturday
The weather, once again, cannot be accused of being boring this winter. A wide range of temperatures and pressures brought with it high winds, rain, sleet, frost, sunshine, a dusting of snow, even thunder and lightning at Chuggaton Farm in North
Potato time is rapidly approaching and there will be a bewildering array of seed potatoes to choose from. Seed potatoes are certified as disease and virus free, thus they are not the same as the spuds you buy in the supermarket. They are divided
YOUNG people in Chippen-ham are being asked to say what type of activities they would like in their area. The Local Youth Network (LYN) has sent out hundreds of questionnaires to analyse the needs of young people in the town after youth development
As shocking and horrendous as the attacks in France were, it doesn’t take long to trace the underlying and deep-rooted contributory factors that allow us a fuller and more worrying understanding of what leads people to react in such extreme ways and
