Issue - meetings

To receive an update from the Community Area Manager on local issues.

The Chairman will invite comments and questions on issues not covered elsewhere in the agenda

Karen Linaker, Amesbury Community Area Manager, introduced the report enclosed at pages 25-28 of the agenda and encouraged people to continue to use the issues system.

The Chairman reported that the Bulford Bridge would reopen with temporary traffic lights from 15 November.  However, the diversion signs would remain in place at the A303 to limit the use to local traffic.  The bridge would reopen fully around two weeks later.

Councillor Graham Wright sought confirmation that the requested metrocount for Larkhill Road, Durrington would be reprogrammed to take place after the reopening of Bulford Bridge.  Karen confirmed that this would be the case.

At the Chairman’s invitation, Peter Smith of the Stonehenge Broadband Group gave a brief explanation of the group’s remit and role, with a view to providing more information in a dedicated agenda item at the December Area Board meeting.

It was considered that broadband access was now an essential service and that discrepancy between speeds in rural and urban areas was contributing to a social divide.  The Stonehenge Broadband Group sought to develop the possibility for improved Broadband access in the community area and to highlight the discrepancy between the superfast broadband cables running through the community area (under the A303), and the extremely poor broadband speeds available in most rural areas, particularly Shrewton.  The group had been unsuccessful in a bid for funding from South West England Regional Development Agency (SWERDA), although the work towards the bid had increased knowledge and developed the concept.

People were encouraged to log onto www.bt.com/racetoinfinity and vote for the area to be fast-tracked for fibreoptic broadband.  A more detailed presentation would be given to the next meeting of the Area Board, as the group sought to gauge local support for the project.

Councillor John Noeken, as Cabinet Member for Resources, commented that Wiltshire Council had established a Digital Inclusion Board which sought to develop opportunities for improved broadband access and speed in rural areas.  It was noted that this was not just an issue for private individuals, but also for small / medium businesses, schools and Parish Councils.