Topics about organisations and activities in Warminster.
Friday 31st March 2023
Bath CAMRA @BathCAMRA have tweeted:
We are pleased to announce that the City and Overall Branch Pub of the Year for 2023 is The Raven in Bath. The Rural Pub of the Year is Fox & Hounds in Warminster and the Cider Pub of the Year is The Royal Oak on Lower Bristol Rd, Bath Congratulations to all.
Tuesday 28th March 2023
At their full council meeting on Monday 27 th March, Warminster Town Councillors voted to co-opt Mr Jack Jones to be town councillor to fill the vacancy for Warminster East Ward.
Three candidates put themselves forward for the vacancy complete an application form and all three gave a presentation to Councillors at the meeting.
The successful candidate, is 33 years old and has lived in Warminster for the vast majority of his life, attending Avenue Primary School and then on to Kingdown. Jack studied Business Management in Plymouth and is currently employed with Parsley Box. Jack covers all Business Development worldwide with projects mainly in the UK and Europe. He is hugely passionate about anything sport or environmental related.
Jack is an active volunteer for many local community groups in and around the Warminster area such as Warminster Action Group and can regularly be seen at the Warminster Atheneum where he has helped raise over £7000 for the Trust since August 2022 which goes on to support the maintenance and improve of the venue.
Councillor Jones said, “By becoming a town councillor I hope to be able to have a larger impact on the local community and help improve our beautiful town for everyone who lives or visits the area. The way the council have improved the lake pleasure grounds over the past few years has been an inspiration. Taking it from being a lovely but basic town park to a highly visited venue that is capable of hosting many different events and activities which I have had the pleasure of attending I believe in a community first approach and hope to represent the people of Warminster to the best of my ability.”
Mayor, Councillor Chris Robbins, thanked all the candidates for their time an presentations, adding that with town council elections due in May 2025 there was the opportunity for them and other local residents to put themselves forward in the future.
Monday 27th March 2023
Warminster Town Council’s Annual Report is now available for the public to read. The report can be downloaded from the town council’s website: https://warminster-tc.gov.uk/ or paper copies can be obtained at the Civic Centre. The Annual Report looks back over the last 12 months of activity by the town council. The Annual Report includes: a check list of the town councils’ responsibilities, reports from the various committees, information about the Civic Centre and events, a financial report, volunteering opportunities an contact details for town councillors.
The Mayor of Warminster, Councillor Chris Robbins has written an introduction to the report, this is set out below.
“Another busy year has come to an end, not only have the town council continued to provide good service to the town, but a number of major projects have been completed and initiated. Among these are the completion and opening of the Space Themed Splash Pad. This facility has proved to be extremely popular and along with our Skatepark, is the envy of many towns. We have recently been successful in organising a joint project with the Lawn Tennis Association to upgrade our tennis courts, indeed work has already started as from mid-March 2023. Hopefully all will be in place before Wimbledon and our Spring In the Park event.”
“I am pleased to report the Lake Pleasure Grounds have again been awarded Green Flag Status, indeed the park is a wonderful asset for the Warminster community. A decision was made to renew the CCTV. We now have new modern high definition cameras which have replaced the original equipment.”
“Another major project taking much time and resources is the renewal and upgrading of the Neighbourhood Plan. This is well under way now and the final document will help pave the way for the development of Warminster in many ways, whether planning issues, heritage, commerce, green spaces and more. It’s at the consultation stage now.”
“On September 8 th 2022, very sad news was received that HM Queen Elizabeth II had passed away. The Warminster community joined the rest of the country in mourning and many a church service was attended to offer our prayers and thanks for the monarch’s life of service to us all. As Mayor I was very proud to read the Kings’ Proclamation from the steps of the Council Offices, aided by the WCR broadcasting facilities so all could hear. Other events include Remembrance Day, Christmas Lights Switch On, the wonderful Carnival procession, Shop Window Competition, the Civic Awards and representing Warminster and our council many times.”
“The finances of the town council are in good shape which allowed the council to not increase our portion of the Council Tax, all councillors were pleased to support this approach. The council is committed to find the most sustainable methods of providing services and by reducing our carbon footprint as we go along, but this does take time and resources. We recognise there is still much work to be done but I must praise and thank my fellow councillors, the very welcome volunteers, our managers and staff for what we have achieved thus far.”
Monday 27th March 2023
Press release from Warminster Town Council:
Have Your Say – Warminster Neighbourhood Plan
The Warminster Neighbourhood Plan gives you, the community who know Warminster best, a strong voice and an opportunity to proactively shape a vision for Warminster. The neighbourhood plan also helps to guide the future development of the town to meet local needs and aspirations.
Neighbourhood plans contain policies and proposals that will be used when making decisions on planning applications.
Over the last year, local volunteers have been working on collecting information and evidence to update the current Warminster Neighbourhood Plan which dates back to 2016. To make sure the plan really reflects local views, we are asking for your comments on a range of topics.
Provide your thoughts and feedback – this stage of the public consultation will be open from Monday 27th March to Sunday 23rd April 2023.
Please take the opportunities detailed below to comment on the draft neighbourhood plan and the evidence gathered to date.
Online Surveys: these can be found at www.warminsterplan.com. They include an overview survey and options to complete more detailed questions relating to specific topics. You don’t need to comment on everything just the things that are important to you.
Face-to-Face Feedback: throughout the consultation period there will also be a number of opportunities to talk directly to neighbourhood plan volunteers and complete the surveys.
Look out for the pop-up stand at key town centre locations or drop-in to the Warminster Civic Centre where the surveys will also be available to complete Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm.
This additional information you provide will feed into the review of the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan and form part of the wider consultation process. The surveys cover:
• Community Facilities • Local Green Spaces
• Transport & Getting Around • Town Centre & Shopping
• Employment • Housing
• Environment & Design
There will be further opportunities during 2023 for you to provide additional feedback as the plan evolves, with a full first draft of the whole plan being shared with the community later in the year. This is a community led neighbourhood plan that will have a genuine impact so please make sure you have your say.
You can find out more about the neighbourhood plan review on the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan website, which includes contact details for the Warminster Town Council should you have any further comments or questions.
Friday 17th March 2023
Warminster Town Council have issued the following press release:
Renovation begins on the tennis courts in the Lake Pleasure Grounds, Warminster. Warminster Town Council and the LTA have agreed a partnership to invest in and refurbish the tennis courts at the Lake Pleasure Grounds. The 5 tennis Courts and the MUGA (Multi use games area) will be renovated, with investment of £241,000 helping ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community.
The project will see £241,000 of investment to resurface the courts and the MUGA and to replace the old and worn fencing with a sturdy long-term replacement. The bulk of the money, £127,000, come from the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, the largest grant the LTA have awarded in this round of funding.
The LTA funding is part of a nationwide investment by the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation, to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open up the sport to many more people. Existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country through renovation works, and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.
£114,000 will also be invested by Warminster Town Council, funded from Section 106 developer contributions and earmarked capital reserves. This will largely fund the MUGA refurbishment (the Football and Basketball area) and the new fencing.
Once the 5 Courts at the Lake Pleasure Grounds have being renovated an online booking and access control system will be introduced. The online booking will be found via the LTA website www.lta.org.uk/play and via Warminster Town Council dedicated booking platform or on an app. This will make it far easier to find and book a court at the Lake Pleasure Grounds.
The introduction of charging will allow the courts to be maintained to a high standard and refurbished in the future. As well as pay to play, money saving season tickets and special schemes will be available. Tennis coaching is being organised. The MUGA will remain free to use.
The renovation of the Tennis Courts has been an objective of the town council since they took on ownership of the Lake Pleasure Grounds in 2016. Together the investment in the skatepark, the splashpad and the pavilion café, it is another step in revitalizing the Park fit for the 2020’s.
Work on the site started Tuesday 15 th March and is expected to be completed atthe start of May when the courts will be reopened.
Saturday 11th March 2023
Chapel Of St. Lawrence, High Street, Warminster ~ Information from the Warminster Blue Plaque Trail:
CHAPEL OF ST LAWRENCE Founded early C13th, seized by the Crown in 1549 and purchased by the townspeople in 1575. Administered by 12 Feoffees and maintained as an inter-denominational chapel known as a peculiar.
Saturday 11th March 2023
The Local Walks page on the Warminster Town Council website includes:
Heaven’s Gate, Longleat
Heavens Gate Circular is a 1.7 mile loop trail located near Warminster, that features a great forest setting and is good for all skill levels.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. Heaven’s Gate is a popular, free, place to visit, provided by Longleat, which it overlooks, and has usually ample free car parking opposite the entrance.
Quick Facts
Flat walk and forest.
Free parking.
Wheelchair friendly.
Saturday 11th March 2023
The Local Walks page on the Warminster Town Council website includes:
Copheap
Copheap, the hill closest to Warminster, just north of the town, was purchased by the Warminster Urban District Council and soon afterwards it was agreed at a public meeting in 1947 that it should become a war memorial for the town. The purchase price was met by public subscription.
Members of the R.A. and Old Comrades associations constructed the Path of Remembrance from Copheap Lane to the base of the hill, with regimental badges being incorporated into the walls at the lower end of the path.
A lych gate at the entrance to Copheap is inscribed:
“As an everlasting tribute of pride and gratitude to the sons of Warminster who gave their lives in the great World Wars this archway was constructed and Copheap preserved for the perpetual use and enjoyment of all.”
Quick Facts:
Steep walk leads to a barrow on the top.
The uphill walk, leading though a Memorial Lych Gate.
The wood is surrounded by chalk grassland owned by the MOD.
Saturday 11th March 2023
The Local Walks page on the Warminster Town Council website includes:
Arn Hill
Arn Hill rises to over 650 feet above sea level and its woodland was donated to the town by the Marquess of Bath in 1920.
The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have established a nature trail around Arn Hill which passes a former lime-kiln (now in ruins) and rises above the old-fashioned sheep walks of Kidnapper’s Hole. The chalkland flora, which includes orchids, attracts many insects and butterflies, while the woods are a haven for several species of birds.
Quick Facts:
Two-mile footpath circles the golf course with distant views to Salisbury Plain.
Its woodland was donated to the town by the Marquess of Bath in 1920.
The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have established a nature trail.
Saturday 11th March 2023
Feargal Sharkey @Feargal_Sharkey has tweeted:
Do you know that @wessexwater leak about 60,000,000 litres of water every single day from their badly maintained, underinvested, leaky network of pipes?
