Page 29 - The Parish News May 2019

Your Wiltshire Councillor
In a previous article to you I mentioned how the Local Government Boundary Commission was looking at where the Ethandune villages should sit in the future from an electoral perspective and in particular believed it should be incorporated into Westbury. I personally felt that this was totally wrong and would in effect have seen a situation where the villages would have been dominated by Westbury and confused the up to now, careful balance of keeping rural places rural and urban as urban. A mix, I believe wasn’t appropriate. Since the article was published, I have been heartened by the number of residents in the villages who share my views and have written into the commission. This is much appreciated.
In terms of where things stand at Wiltshire Council, we have moved into a new financial year but again have had to save £27m. Within this, in my specific area in Adult Care, I have to find £16m of these savings, despite having an increase in demand of £18m. Therefore, these are once again difficult times and these types of savings and their scale, have carried on since 2010.
The issue of the traffic on the B3098 continues both in terms of the types of vehicles and the speed, especially in the villages themselves. However, we were starkly reminded again recently when two large goods vehicles wedged themselves together when they ‘met’ at a particularly narrow point. The effect of this was that they remained stuck together for a period of time, traffic built up behind them in both directions causing unnecessary frustration and delays for people. Now whether these vehicles would normally and legitimately be using this route is another matter. What we do know though is that very many large goods vehicles still use this as a shortcut and this has to be remedied. I have however repeatedly said to some of the Parish Councils, along this route, that we will not solve this overnight and patience will be required!
Meanwhile, the plans to introduce the 20mph limit in Coulston continue with the recent consultation with the public not coming forward with any major issues.
thenewseec@gmail.com EDINGTON, ERLESTOKE & COULSTON 27
WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR
JErrY WIcKhAM 01380 870 476 / 07980 701 617 jerry.wickham@wiltshire.gov.uk