Council Update

On the agenda after the May elections was to stop a £15.4 million council office project, in the centre of Salisbury, which many predicted was on course to cost upwards of £20 million.

A massive public consultation was launched involving mailings to the District’s 40,000 + households. The community was asked whether it wanted to:

Continue with the Office Project;Modify the plans; orCancel the Project.

The feedback was massive. When the final responses had been received local residents, by a significant majority, told the new administration that they wanted to modify the project to reduce costs, protect the environment (and a Grade 2 listed building), and save a 200 year old “Secret Garden” this is now under way.

 The re-cycling scheme has been reviewed after a public consultation and significant improvements have been made they are

Black box recycling facilities to all residents in villages, market towns and rural areas by November.The introduction of smaller wheelie bins and alternative collection receptacles for areas unsuitable for them.Cut price composting bins to encourage home composting.Regular weekly collection of smelly, putrescent waste to reduce concerns about smells, flies and vermin, to continue the “standard of service enjoyed by residents.”

Any resident that has concerns with any part of the scheme can ring 01722 434319 / 320 to discuss and try to seek an answer to their particular problem.

Government’s decision to abolish the District Council in 2 years time replacing it with Wiltshire-wide unitary authority based in Trowbridge. The agenda is the result of a successful bid by the Wiltshire County Council’s ruling administration to abolish local District Councils and concentrate power into the hands of a small cabinet, based on the other side of Salisbury Plain. Salisbury, along with West Wiltshire, and Kennet District Councils have re-affirmed their commitment to challenging the decision in the Courts.

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