Clubs and Societies – Page 11

Warminster Scout Group Annual General Meeting, 2015

Minutes of Warminster Scout Group Annual General Meeting
Held on Tuesday 16th June 2015 at the Greenland Hut, Warminster.

Welcome
Chairman Pete Owen opened the meeting, thanking and welcoming all in attendance.

Apologies
Iain Blair, District Chairman John Cox, Graham Dopheide, Mr & Mrs Saunt.

Minutes of last AGM
Pete informed all in attendance of the savings made by switching gas and electric suppliers as well as getting a new insurance provider; the group now receives more cover for less money. In total the group has saved around £2,000 over two years.

William Owen proposes the minutes are approved, with Michelle Meadow seconding. All present agreed.

Financial Report
In Graham’s absence, Pete explained the report and offered attendees to view the more detailed reports if they wished. The group will retain savings at the cost of running the group for 1 year. Further ring fenced savings are going to be slowly built up to cover a predicted £50,000+ cost of either renovating or rebuilding the hut in the next few years. One third of the subscription funds go towards the scout levy which is about £31.50 per child per year and goes towards the running of the scouting organisation.

The accounts have been scrutinised and passed by a qualified person before being passed onto district.

The new account system is now in place and working well, the single group account rather than individual section accounts have a number of advantages including gaining better gift aid returns.

Pete asked if anyone needs a gift aid form, could they please see a leader as it will increase the revenue.

All present were reminded of the hardship fund for individuals who feel they are unable to meet the costs of an activity. If an individual feels they need to use this fund, could they please see their leader.

No questions were raised.

David Cox proposed we accept the accounts, Mark Milton seconded and all in attendance agreed to accept.

Report from sections
Pete invited the attendees to read the section reports, highlighting some of the activities that have happened over the last year. Amongst other activities included a trip to Bovington Tank Museum; Sponsored bike ride; Remembrance parade and St John’s Christmas service. The successful activities are down to the dedication and hard work of the leaders. They work beyond the hours of the club by undergoing training and paperwork. Pete highlighted the recent first response, first aid course over two Sunday’s that many of the leaders attended.

Group Scout Leader’s nomination for Chairman
In the absence of a Group Scout Leader, District Commissioner Sue Duncan nominated Pete Owen to be Chairman for another year. Pete agreed to continue in the role and thanked Sue for the nomination.

Election of Secretary; Treasurer and Committee:
Secretary – Pete suggested that Rebecca Mill-Wilson (Becky) remain secretary for the year. There were no further nominations. Denise Milton proposed with Graham Honey seconding. All present were in agreement.
Treasurer – Again, Pete suggest that Graham Dopheide remain as treasurer for the year. There were no further nominations. Mark Milton Proposed with Graham Honey seconding the nomination. All present were in agreement.
Committee – Mark Milton, Gavin Davis, Graham Dopheide, Nicola Parry, Rebecca Mill-Wilson and Alan Meadow will stay on the executive committee for the following year. There were no further requests and no objections.
Nominated – John Blair (Iain) who is our Quartermaster and Nik Viney as St John’s representative. All present agreed with the nominations.

Presentations
There was a round of applause for all the Beavers for their hard work during the last year.
Sue Duncan then presented the following awards:
Cubs – The silver award was presented to Daniel Meadow, Niamh Consalvey, Thomas Baker and Alex Chatwin.
Liam Jones was invested into Cubs.
Scouts – The gold award was presented to George Hiscock, Ryan Airey and Yaisa Louise Miller
Explorer – First response first aid certificate was presented to Alice Hiscock.
Leaders – First response first aid certificates were presented to Joan Davies, Nigel Hodges, Elizabeth Williams, Graham Hiscock, Rachael Hiscock and Russell Cane.
Graham Honey and his wife were presented a small gift in gratitude for giving up their family time to conduct the course.
Beaver scout skills instructor certificate was presented to Toni Miller.
Group Executive Member was presented to Gavin Davis.
Ruth Watt received her 10 years of Scouting certificate.

Comments
Sue Duncan thanked everyone for coming as well as the leaders and executive committee for their hard work. She then extended her thanks to the parents for supporting the group. She praised the hard work of the group and offered all present the opportunity to join in and take part. She asked for a straw poll and found that most present attended the Scouting and Guiding in their youth and found all who attended, enjoyed their time.

Pete Owen closed the meeting, thanking everyone who attended and to enjoy the BBQ.

Unconstitutional Meeting Wants Development Line For The Town To Be Extended To Include Home Farm ~ Time For EBRAG To Come Together Again

Friday 29th August 2014

Paul Macdonald writes:

Warminster Town Council at a full meeting of the members which was not open to the public but had ‘invited’ others, have decided that the development line for the town should be extended to include Home Farm and the water meadows up to the river Wylye. I will not attend meetings like this out of principle. The town clerk has now been (improperly in my view) instructed to produce a report based on the discussions at this unconstitutional meeting as the response to the consultation by Wiltshire Council for a review of the settlement line for villages and towns as requested by the Core Strategy Inspector. It is time for EBRAG (the East Boreham Residents Action Group) to come together again.

Unconstitutional Or Secret Meeting ~ Call It What You Will ~ Warminster Town Council Seeking To Extend The Development Boundary For Warminster To Include Home Farm At Boreham And The River Wylye Watermeadows ~ Councillor Paul Macdonald Says Warminster Town Council Are Acting Improperly

Friday 29th August 2014

Warminster Town Councillor Paul Macdonald has posted the following comment on the East Boreham Residents Action Group (EBRAG) Facebook page, alerting the community to a rather alarming piece of news ~ that the Town Council are seeking to extend the development boundary to include Home Farm and the lush watermeadows adjacent the River Wylye ~ this has been initiated at a meeting to which the public were not informed or invited.

The proposed extension, controversial to say the least and against the majority wishes of the community, will have huge detrimental effects on the farm land, green lanes and wildlife-rich meadows on the eastern side of Warminster, impacting in a devastating way on the residents, fauna and flora of Boreham and Bishopstrow. Councillor Macdonald accuses the Town Council of acting improperly. He has written:

“Warminster Town Council at a full meeting of the members which was not open to the public but had ‘invited’ others have decided that the development line for the town should be extended to include Home Farm and the water meadows up to the river Wylye. I will not attend meetings like this out of principle. The town clerk has been (in my view) improperly instructed to produce a report based on the discussions at this unconstitutional meeting as the response to the consultation by Wiltshire Council for a review of the settlement line for villages and towns as requested by the Core Strategy Inspector.”

A Meeting Between Warminster Information Centre Representatives And The Finance And Assets Committee Of Warminster Town Council

Monday 30th June 2014

Notes from a meeting held between representatives from Warminster Information Centre and the Finance and Assets Committee of Warminster Town Council, held on Monday 30th June 2014 at 6.30 p.m.

Present: Councillors Steve Dancey, Keith Humphries, George Jolley and Pip Ridout, Michael Mounde and David Gill (rep. Warminster Information Centre), Heather Abernethie and Veronica Mills.

Pip Ridout asked whether the £7,000 that the Town Council pays to the Warminster and Villages Development Trust for Citizens Advice Bureau and Cornerstone covered the full running costs of the building. Michael Mounde said the money was for rent and was paid on to Wiltshire Council. The Development Trust subsidises the Information Centre. Pip Ridout felt there was the possibility of cross-subsidisation as the Town Council was contributing to all three groups that used the building. Michael Mounde did not agree. The Town Council funds Cornerstone for rent only while it becomes established, and Citizens Advice Bureau is a mixture of rent and services. The Warminster And Villages Development Trust pays a subsidy to the Information Centre from the monies it gets from a variety of sources.

David Gill suggested that the Council needed to establish whether it wanted the Information Centre, and why. There should be an overall marketing plan for the town. If that plan decrees the town wants an Information Centre then it was necessary to establish how to fund it. The Town Council should work in concert with Warminster Information Centre to establish a plan and how to execute it. Warminster needs an upbeat message to reflect the true vibrancy of the town. He felt that Enterprise Warminster was not able to develop a marketing plan and that leadership should come from the Town Clerk to improve the message. There was no clear way to measure the return on the Council’s marketing spend as it stood.

Keith Humphries felt that a specification could be drawn up and put out to tender – the Information Centre or Visit Wiltshire, for example, could bid for it. George Jolley was concerned that if there was no support from the Council for Warminster Information Centre this would result in job losses. There is £19,000 from the Council going into the building but the Council is not getting the service it would want. David Gill felt this was due to poor executive management from Warminster And Villages Development Trust and lack of leadership from the Council. Pip Ridout said this was because the Council had not been encouraged by Warminster And Villages Development TrustVDT to be involved in WIC. Heather Abernethie felt there was a difference of opinion over the issues, but that the town needs something other than the current service.

David Gill said there is a need to demonstrate how investment brings return in the long term. The skill sets in Warminster Information Centre and the Town Council can be used to bring more to the town. Keith Humphries pointed out that 52% of respondents from the recent campus consultation said tourist information was a high priority, and less than 10% said it was not important. Steve Dancey said that when Andover Tourist Information Centre closed three years ago there were complaints at the time but not for long. However
he would not wish to see Citizens Advice Bureau and Cornerstone threatened with closure. David Gill pointed out that Warminster Information Centre sold £10,000-worth of Christmas cards last year on behalf of charities with no income for themselves. This was good for the town. The coverage of the Warminster Wobble in The Guardian was thanks to Warminster Information Centre. Warminster And Villages Development Trust pays £750 membership fees to Visit Wiltshire so the coverage of the Wobble was as a result of this.

Beautiful Bishopstrow And Boreham ~ Under Threat From Developers

Monday 19th May 2014

Under threat from developers.

Beautiful Bishopstrow and Boreham (photo by Alexis Marsh on the East Boreham Residents Action Group ~ EBRAG ~ Facebook page, click here.):

Danny Howell writes ~

Bishopstrow and Boreham ~ a beautiful place in the big wide world! What a tragic loss it will be if this scene is irreversibly destroyed forever by bricks and mortar? I hate to imagine what this scene from Battlesbury Hill will look like if the developers get their way. We owe the preservation of this countryside to generations to come.

Warminster Preservation Trust AGM, 2014

Monday 3rd April 2014

Warminster Preservation Trust Limited.
Company No. 2161087.
Reg. Charity No. 297725.

Minutes of the AGM held at the Civic Centre, Warminster, on Wednesday 3rd April 2014, 7 pm.

Present: E. Collyns (Chair), L. Phillips (Secretary), D. Miller, C. March.

Five members of the public attended.

Minutes of the previous meeting. Minutes of the previous AGM held on Tuesday 14th May 2013, having been previously circulated, were approved by CM, seconded by DM.

Report of the Council of Management. Report and accounts of the Council of Management prepared by R.D. Owen were read aloud by DM. Proposed for acceptance by CM, seconded by DM and signed by LP. The total secured assets were £36,993 as at 30th September 2013.

Auditor. Resolved that Michael Carr be retained as Hon. Treasurer and Accountant. Proposed by CM, seconded by LP.

Matters discussed. The Old Town Hall project was discussed at length at the following Council of Management meeting.

The meeting closed at 7.15 pm.

Information Sought About The Warminster Club And Its Annual Billiards Handicap Cup Which Has Been “Discovered” By The Police

Wednesday 8th January 2014

Warminster Club Annual Billiards Handicap Challenge Cup 1905

Warminster Town Council have contacted Danny Howell with regard a silver cup that Police Inspector Alan Webb has discovered in one of the police offices. Inspector Webb is to hand over the cup to Warminster Town Council at a Full Meeting of the Council on Monday 20th January 2014. The Mayor of Warminster Paul Batchelor will accept the cup on behalf of the Council and the cup will be kept in safe keeping at the Town Council Offices in the Civic Centre.

The cup is engraved ‘Warminster Club Annual Billiards Handicap Challenge Cup 1905’. There are several names of winners and dates inscribed on the cup too, including Percy H Bishop 1905 and 1906; O B Chambers 1907; W T Wall 1926; A H Coates 1927 and 1928; R W Long 1929; T H Hughes 1930; and A Lockyer 1931. There are other names on the cup in between, and the last name and date on the cup is A Lang (for snooker) in 1995.

The Town Council have asked Danny: “We wondered if you could give us any information that might relate to the Warminster Club and its Challenge Cup?”

Danny Howell has responded ~

“In reply to your query about the Warminster Club and its billiards cup, I can tell you the following:

The Warminster Club was at 3 Weymouth Street. The Kings Arms public house also had the same address. The building is today the John Barleycorn public house. It seems the building may have been divided for two separate purposes, one side or the ground floor being the public house and the other side or the first floor being the Warminster Club. This probably accounts for why, when you look at the John Barleycorn today, you can see it has two front doors side by side.

The Warminster Club was a men’s club. It’s advertising always noted that it was open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. The day-to-day running of the club was administered by its secretary. It comprised rooms for reading, recreation and billiards. Billiards was, of course, a popular game during the first half of the 20th century. The fact the club had its own billiards room no doubt prompted it to hold an annual billiards’ tournament for its members.

Some of the names on the cup are of well-known persons who lived in Warminster.

Percy H. Bishop was Percy Bishop who had a music shop in the Market Place, Warminster, and was the Organist at the Parish Church of St. Denys (The Minster).

O B Chambers was Octavius Bertram Chambers, the watch and clock repairer whose shop was in the Market Place and he used to maintain many of Warminster public clocks. Up until 1948 he used to wind daily the clock in the Chapel of St. Lawrence.

W T Wall was William Thomas Wall who ran the Central Garage in the Market Place, Warminster, where Coffee1 and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop now are. Mr. Wall transferred the garage business from there to East Street in the mid-1920s, his new premises becoming what are now the East Street Service Station (Esso Garage).

A H Coates was Alfred Herbert Coates. He was the Secretary of the Warminster Club in 1923. He lived at the house known as Beastlease at The Avenue, Warminster. He was the proprietor and editor of the Warminster Journal for 60 years. Mr. Coates died in 1959. His first love was cricket but he was also an excellent billiards player. His obituary noted: “He was no less well known with his ability with the billiard cue and even a few months before his retirement could hold his own with any player in the town at snooker.” As well as playing billiards at the Warminster Club he also played billiards for the Warminster Conservative Club at Church Street, playing in the Frome Billiards League before the Second World War. After the Second World War he played billiards at the Athenaeum Club, Warminster.

T H Hughes lived at Braeside, Longleat. He was the Clerk of Works for the Marquis of Bath.

A Lockyer was Arthur Lockyer, the Manager of Lloyds Bank, Market Place, Warminster.

I can as yet, find no records for the Warminster Club after the Second World War, so maybe it had ceased to be by then. The last reference I have to it is in the 1930s, when the local auctioneer David H. Waddington was the secretary and Mr. Sidney Lewis Scutt was the treasurer.

Sidney Scutt was born at Preston, Dorset, in 1882. Just before the First World War he was living at Maiden Castle Farm, near Dorchester, but he enlisted, aged 33 and served in The Buffs. Army Records list him as living at 21 North Row, Warminster, at some period between 1914 and 1920. He stayed resident in Warminster after the First World War. During the 1930s, when he was the treasurer of the Warminster Club, Mr. Scutt lived in a flat at The Laurels, Sambourne Road, Warminster. I believe he was a bachelor. I think I’m right in saying his occupation was a bank clerk, no doubt why he was suitably qualified to be a club treasurer. Mr. Scutt died at Weymouth, Dorset, on 4th September 1949.

Doug Lakey, now aged 93 and living at Weymouth Street, Warminster, tells me he has no memory of the Warminster Club whatsoever, suggesting it had ceased to be before he came of age, which maybe confirms that it no longer continued after the War. Anyone alive now, it seems, would have to be over 85 years old, I guess, to recall anything about it.

The latest winner and date on the Cup, you say, is A. Lang in 1995, and for snooker. I have no idea who A. Lang is. I can only summise that the Cup, on the demise of the Warminster Club, was passed on to be used by another club or group. If the Cup was discovered in Inspector Webb’s office, maybe it had been transferred to the Police Club? In which case A. Lang may have been a police officer or a member of the Police Club. On the other hand, the Police may have found the cup “during enquiries”. A. Lang may not have even been in Warminster. Although the Warminster Journal reported results for pool in 1995, they don’t seem to have published snooker results during that year.

I hope these details shed some light on the Warminster Club and its billiards cup. Time and further research will maybe bring more information into the public domain.”

Footnote: If any readers of www.dannyhowell.net have any further information about the Warminster Club, or what club or organisation was presenting the cup in more recent years, or who A. Lang was/is, please contact us by emailing dannyhowellnet@gmail.com

Nick Dombkowski Has Launched A Petition To Reinstate The Name Boreham, As The Hamlet It Was, With Its Own Separate Identity And Road Signs

Sunday 5th January 2014

Nick Dombkowski has launched an online petition to get the ‘Boreham’ signs reinstated.

He writes ~ “I feel that the identity of the hamlet of Boreham and its placename have been stealthly taken away by the removal of the road signs that once stood at either end of the hamlet in recent times. I feel that their removal was a step towards absorbing Bishopstrow into Warminster East (formerly Boreham). It is only by the beady eyes of some local wise folk, who have lived here for decades, that this has been drawn to my attention. They have asked me ‘What can be done?’ They say they have challenged the local parish authority to no avail. The response was ‘They wouldn’t do such a thing as that!’

So, I am asking local people, past and present and even new to the Boreham area to sign a petition which we will present to Wiltshire Council, asking to reinstate the Boreham signs.

Boreham can boast an agricultural history, being predominantly a farming community. It once had its own post office and a couple of shops. One of the shops was Webb’s Convenience Store, now the empty Rip-Off building. Click here to go to the Boreham Page on Vision For Britain.

The old Boreham Farm now lies buried under St. George’s Playing Field. My late father worked as a farm labourer in turn at Boreham Farm (for Tom Bazley) and also Home Farm, Boreham (for Bert Legg). I would like to reinstate the name Boreham with its own signs, in memory of my father and to all the people who have served the Boreham community all of their lives.

Incidentally, the word ‘Boreham’ appears on the BBC Weather app on one’s Smart phone or Ipad, so I think it is important that we protect the name of a place I’m immensely proud to be part of. Hope you feel the same way too. Thank you for reading this. Please support this cause.”

To sign the petition online, click here.

Danny Howell replies ~

Thank you Nick for letting us know about your initiative. I applaud your action and I will certainly sign your petition. I will encourage others to do likewise. By the way, I raised the matter of the removal of the Boreham signs, on this website, back on Sunday 21st October 2012, after Jean Whelan had raised her concerns about the matter at the first public meeting the East Boreham Residents Action Group (EBRAG) held at St. John’s Church that autumn.

Wiltshire Core Strategy Examination

Wednesday 10th July 2013

Nick Parker, Chairman of EBRAG (the East Boreham Residents Action Group) writes:-

Just to remind you that the Wiltshire Council Core Strategy for sustainable residential development in Warminster until 2026 is due to be examined tomorrow by the Planning Inspector in Trowbridge Civic centre. The examination is due to start at 0930 hrs. I have attached an outline of the agenda below to give all a taste of the proceedings during the day.

EBRAG have represented concern to the Planning Inspector, in writing, about the soundness of the Sustainability Assessment, conducted by Wiltshire Council, for development of Home Farm land. EBRAG views will be taken into consideration during any review. EBRAG will not therefore be representing these views again verbally tomorrow, but committee members will be present to monitor the arguments put forward against the Wiltshire Core Strategy. It is expect that the main objectors to the plan are agents, acting on behalf of the developers and land owners, who will argue that West Warminster Urban Extension cannot be completed early enough and therefore other land should be developed to compensate. The numbers of houses proposed for Warminster and town boundary developement limits could also be contested.

The results of the examination with the findings and judgement of the Inspector should be known in the Autumn – exact date to be confirmed.

EBRAG committee will continue to keep you updated.

Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions (09.30)

2. Factual updates and clarifications (as necessary)

3. Focus for Discussion

Matter 9: Community Areas – Warminster, Westbury and Wilton

Does the CS take a robust approach to the identified community areas of Wiltshire and key settlements? Is the approach consistent with national policy and will the objectives of the plan be capable of effective delivery?

R) Warminster Community Area

With due regard to the consideration of alternatives, does the CS take a justified approach towards the Warminster Community Area? Will it be effective in terms of delivery?

1. What is the justification for the strategy embodied in CP 31?

2. Does the CS reflect adequately the community strategy for the area?

3. Is the approach of the CS supported by adequate evidence pertaining to the Habitats Directive, particularly in relation to the River Avon SAC and the Salisbury Plain SPA? Does the urban extension take into account its potential effect upon the AONB?

4. Is the distribution and amount of employment land clear, justified and deliverable? Are needs to be met? How have alternatives been considered?

5. Is the level and distribution of housing justified adequately with due regard to alternatives and the demands upon infrastructure?
a. Is the strategic allocation for the area justified by the evidence base and of an appropriately defined size and location? How have alternatives been considered?
b. Is the CS clear as to the deliverability of the non strategic housing?
Should specific sites be allocated?

6. Is the town boundary defined appropriately with regard to 44 and 48 Bath Road?

7. Does the CS make an adequate assessment of the infrastructure, including water supply, education and the emergency services, needs of the area to support the development proposed?

8. How will the housing and employment land be phased to deliver the strategic intentions of the CS?

9. Is Chapmanslade justified as a large village?

Strategic Allocations – Development Template Appendix A

10. What evidence supports the development template for the land at West Warminster Urban Extension? How will this site be reflected adequately on the Policies Map?

11. Does the template provide adequate information in relation to likely infrastructure requirements and implications? Are these justified and deliverable with due regard to the viability of development?

12. Are the housing requirements clear and justified, including affordable housing?

13. Does the template acknowledge effects upon heritage assets adequately?

14. Do Natural England and the Environment Agency have any outstanding concerns in relation to this site?

The Latest News From EBRAG

Monday 24th June 2013

The Committee of EBRAG (the East Boreham Residents Action Group) have just issued their latest update, with regards their fight against the residential development (320 houses) of Home Farm, Boreham, Warminster ~

EBRAG’s successful public meeting held in St. John’s Church, Boreham, in April 2013, was another excellent show of continued community opposition towards the speculative proposal to develop Home Farm. Very positive feedback was received by email and telephone following the meeting.

The Hallam Land Management proposal was explained by Nick Parker at the meeting, with EBRAG actions highlighted, before two councillors Andrew Davis and Fleur de Rhe-Philipe (and also one standing for election – Paul Macdonald – later elected) took to the floor to answer questions, explaining that their response must be restrained due to the impending elections. Their input generated much discussion, which was welcome. EBRAG, on behalf of the community, has thanked them for their attendance and for contributing to the evening.

The Planning Inspector continues with his examination of the Wiltshire Council Core Strategy for development of residential housing to 2026. Members of EBRAG have attended recent examination hearings, where Wiltshire Council Planning Department are robustly defending their plan. Developers are arguing that the Wiltshire Council plan to build 39,000 houses (11,500 affordable), supported by infrastructure and employment opportunities will not meet the needs of Wiltshire by 2026, therefore the plan is not sound and the Inspector needs to increase housing numbers to at least 45,000+. Wiltshire Council maintain the plan is consistent with national policy, the forecast requirement for housing is reducing from that previously calculated and any increase above the figure proposed by Wiltshire Council will not be sustainable. In addition, an increase will have significant impact on supporting infrastructure, the surrounding environment and is not required. EBRAG represented formally against Wiltshire Council’s criteria to assess the suitability of Home Farm land for development.

Of interest the Warminster plan will be examined by the Inspector in Trowbridge on Thursday 11th July 2013 starting at 0930hrs. Anyone requiring further information can visit the Wiltshire Council website or phone the mobile number below. The Inspectors findings and observations on the Wiltshire Council plan are likely to be published in September 2013, however it is anticipated that there may be some delay.

As part of their defence against increased housing numbers, Wiltshire Council have stated that they are very keen on the local community taking control of development through Neighbourhood Plans.

Warminster Town Council are considering developing a Neighbourhood Plan and EBRAG believe that this should be be a priority. A Neighbourhood Plan would allow the community of Warminster to decide the type and location of future housing. More importantly the people of Warminster will have an input in the monitoring of the local services improvements that the Wiltshire Core Strategy has stated are required to support the 900 houses on the Warminster West Urban extension. Without a Neighbourhood Plan, it will be left to Wiltshire Council and Persimmon/Hannick to decide on the provision of local shops, play areas, doctors’ surgeries, the Kingdown School extension and the host of other changes that Warminster requires to support this large increase in the population of Warminster.

A community led application to seek Village Green status for the Home Farm land immediately behind the Dene has been submitted to Wiltshire Council. The deadline for comment has now passed and the review on the application has commenced. A recent letter in the Warminster Journal, with name and address withheld, accused EBRAG of “stealing” the land and therefore the loss of the authors sympathy towards “loss of views for those surrounding Home Farm”. Unfortunately the author failed to comment on how the proposal to build 320 houses at maximum density on prime agricultural land, for the profit of the land owners and development company only, would benefit the infrastructure and local community! This application, although fully supported by EBRAG, has actually been instigated by the community, mainly residents of the Dene, based on their communal use of the land over many years. If successful, the application will preserve the use of the land by local residents for recreational pursuits.

The EBRAG committee still requires input from any persons with expertise or interest in archaeology and if any one has some time to help, it will be gratefully received.

The EBRAG website and social pages continued to attract attention, with the website now exceeding 1,000 hits since the counter was installed in the spring.

The Planning Consultant, hired to advise on the Core Strategy, has submitted an excellent document for consideration by the Inspector and EBRAG now has access to further professionals when required.

The EBRAG committee continue to meet regularly and welcome input, comments, help and advice. There will be a further EBRAG update after the examination of the Warminster plan by the Inspector on Thursday 11th July 2013.

EBRAG Committee ~ telephone 07801-815463