Author: nnpcclerk

Could you be a local Councillor?

• Do you have a desire to help and become involved in your community?
• Do you believe in helping others to help themselves?
• Do you like a different challenge every day?
• Have you ever shouted at the TV and thought you could do better?
• Are you prepared to stand up and be counted?
• Are you self motivated?
• Are you prepared to take part in learning and development opportunities?
• Do you have time to spare to meet this significant commitment?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it might be time for you to stand as a local Councillor.

Prospective candidates and agents invited to election webinar

Considering putting yourself forward in the upcoming elections on 6 May?  North Newnton Parish Council are up for re-election, there are 7 Councillors and as we approach the election period we have 5 Councillors.

If so, please join our elections team on 24 February to a briefing webinar to find out all you need to know if you’re thinking about being a candidate or agent in the upcoming Wiltshire Council unitary, and town and parish council elections.

The webinar starts at 5.00 pm,  hosted on Microsoft Teams via this link https://bit.ly/3rYFykx

The election timetable will be talked through in detail, and useful information and links will be shared. Attendees will also have the opportunity to have their questions answered.

More information about becoming a cCouncillor can be also be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-becoming-a-councillor.

• Age UK are supporting clients to apply for the Wiltshire Surviving Winter Grant this year (in partnership with Wiltshire Community Foundation and Wiltshire Warm & Safe) which, if applying through Age UK Wiltshire, is a one-off grant of £150 (up to £250 for some clients). They  can support clients who meet all the following criteria:
• over pension age (client and/or partner)
• have household income (excluding disability benefits) less than £16,190 pa OR in receipt of a means-tested benefit
• considered to be in fuel poverty by AUKW– e.g. high heating costs, struggling to afford to heat their home adequately, hard-to-heat homes, significantly under using heating.
• able to provide evidence of their means-tested benefit and a suitable bank account to pay the money into

• Age UK continue to take applications for our free telephone befriending service and are branching out into other things like telephone book groups, although they now have a short waiting list. They can also refer into free Age UK national telephone befriending.
• They are still supporting clients with Attendance Allowance/DLA application forms which is now done through free telephone appointments and turnaround time for us contacting and completing the appointment is around 2 weeks or less (with it being backdated to the date of referral to them )
• They continue to offer telephone and email advice and support in the usual areas of advice like welfare benefits for older people, housing options and issues and care and support options.

The Department for Transport is funding a study into the potential for a new rail station to serve the Devizes Community Area and this development has potential to improve services for customers in the Pewsey, Bedwyn and Hungerford areas. It is proposed that the new station, known as Devizes Gateway will be 3.4 miles from Devizes Market Place and plans for a connecting bus are being developed.

Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group and Pewsey Vale Rail User Group have campaigned for a number of years for improved connections to the West (for Bath, Bristol, Salisbury and the South West etc.) and consideration is now being given to extending the services which currently stop at Bedwyn, through to Westbury, which would enable passengers to travel to Devizes, and also to connect at Westbury for destinations further West.

Please e take part in this important survey.  This is the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfzUtlPkTxpwNwY4gDz3lpZw9Fbdgx7J2hz6lEsuij3cbmlw/viewform?usp=sf_link

It has been reported that an attempt was made to steal a dog being walked by its owner in a neighbouring village. Please be alert!

Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
Urgent Closure of: C38 (Part), Honey Street, Alton

WILTSHIRE COUNCIL HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that on 29 January 2021, the following length of road shall be closed to all traffic in the interests of public safety to enable Wessex Water to carry out repairs to mains leak and associated works.
C38 (Part), Honeystreet, Alton; from outside the property known as The Hermitage for a distance of approximately 90 metres northwards.

Alternative route: via C38 (unaffected length) – C8 – Alton Road – Wilcot Green – C52 – A345 – C38 – Broad Street –
The Sands – C38 (unaffected length) and vice versa.

The closure and diversion route will be clearly indicated by traffic signs. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses where possible, although delays are likely due to the nature of the works.
These works will commence on 29 January 2021 and are anticipated to be required for 5 days. This Notice will have a maximum duration of 5 days.
For further information regarding these works

Please contact Wessex Water on 0345 6004600
Sustainable Transport Group, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge BA14  8JN
REF:20-21S2137

Sunday 21st March 2021 is the date for our National Census.

Every householder will be sent the survey – please see the attached document – Census Questions Answered for more information

CensusYour-Questions-Answered-Leaflet

Wiltshire – your questions answered Census 2021 (update)

Surviving Winter Fund

 Please could you cascade the following message regarding the details of the scheme to your teams.

Wiltshire residents can claim up to £250 (whilst funds last!) to help with their heating and fuel bills over the cold period. This time round Wiltshire Council  are paying either for top up vouchers for their prepayment meters or credit into their energy account if they pay by direct debit.  They can also help with solid fuels also such as LPG gas bottles, wood or coal.

To be eligible, the client will need be in receipt of a means tested benefit, of pension age, or of working age and receiving a disability benefit (or they/someone in the household has a health condition worsened by the cold). They also need to be struggling with their fuel bills and keeping their home warm.

The fund can also help with boiler repairs of up to £300.

To apply, you can call Wiltshire advice line number on 0800 038 5722, or you can make a referral and upload required evidence using this link. They would need either recent benefit award letters or a recent bank statement showing benefits being paid into their account. It is not essential that all of the information is provided in the referral as we will be picking these up and calling those back to gather any additional information! We can also provide freepost envelopes for those to send their evidence back to us.

Please feel free to share with your colleagues who work with vulnerable people. The Surviving Winter Fund is first come first served, and the deadline will be in May. If the grant money runs out Wiltshire Council can look at other funds you may be eligible for, so please make referrals to the fund as soon as you can.

Details of urgent road closure for Yards Lane, Hilcott 6th January for Wessex Water to deal with a water leak  TTRN Yards Lane, Hilcott

Message from our Community Police;

We hope everyone will continue to be vigilant during these dark nights of their property and animals to help prevent any incidents but be reassured there is no sudden surge in dog napping in Wiltshire at the moment. (Statement 11/12/2020).