Agenda item

To receive updates from the Town and Parish Council Representatives, and from other partner organisations.

·         Communities Together/ Military Civilian Integration, to include:

o   Cllr Wright - Communities Together

o   DIO Army Basing

o   Lovells

·         Police

·         Fire and Rescue Service

·         Town and Parish Councils

·         NHS Wiltshire CCG

·         HealthWatch Wiltshire

The Chairman referred to the updates set out in the agenda and invited further updates from Town/Parish Councils and other Partners.

·       Communities Together/ Military Civilian Integration (MCI):

o   Cllr Wright - Communities Together

Cllr Wright stated that many of his points had already been mentioned by others. However, he could report that there was a new Garrison Commander and Deputy at Larkhill, as a result it was hoped that MCI would move forward. A community space that was available for use at Larkhill could possibly be used as an MCI hub.

o   DIO Army Basing

Neill Page, the delivery lead for DIO Army Basing referred the meeting to his written update (published as an agenda supplement) which contained the main headline points regarding Army Basing. Army Basing involved a network of people and organisations inside and outside the wire. Lovells were providing the new build properties and Aspire were the largest provider of existing homes.

All the new build sites were progressing well with many already handed over to service families, this had been a fairly seamless process. Likewise, delivery of barracks assets was going well with most assets completed. Although some interim medical facilities had opened, delivery of all facilities would take slightly longer and were due for completion next year.

The Ludgershall Crossing and Bulford Roundabouts were complete, although Road Safety Audits were still to take place. At the Tidworth junctions works had been delayed due to third party stakeholders. These were now due to start around October 2019 and run until November 2020. The Shipton Bellinger junction was in the hands of Highways England and the Larkhill Roundabout Road Safety Audit was now complete, the recommendations were subject to acceptance by Wiltshire Council.

There had been some planning issues, with objections raised by Bulford Parish Council and Durrington Town Council. Neill had been meeting with Cllr Wright to see if this could be resolved. Regarding the Road Safety Audit for the pedestrian crossing at Bulford, Wiltshire Council needed to approve the methodology for the pedestrian surveys prior to the surveys taking place.

There were no concerns regarding education provision as the predicted figures had been fairly accurate.

The Chair queried the highways works mentioned in Neill’s report at the Toby Carvery roundabout in Bulford as this had not been on his radar. It was explained that there had been an obligation as part of the original planning process to carry out works there. However, they questioned the validity of having to undertake those works. Therefore, they were applying to amend the permission to have that aspect removed. It was thought the intended works there would inevitably happen in connection with Boscombe Down.

Bulford Parish Council stated that the new roundabouts in Bulford had increased traffic flow, makes the crossing very difficult for pedestrians and asked whether there was an intention to do a post construction safety audit. It was confirmed that a Road Safety Audit would be carried out. The findings of this would determine if any action needed to be taken, at the current time the roundabouts were as designed.

Bulford Parish Council looked for reassurance that if the Road Safety Audit did find any problems with the roundabouts etc that any extra works would be funded as part of the programme and that they as a parish would be consulted. It was explained that after a Road Safety Audit, Wiltshire Council looks at the results and determines what actions need to be taken. Then the programme would undertake these actions. There would however have to be an endpoint, but the issue was really in the hands of Wiltshire Council technical officers

Bulford Parish stated they did not want these issues to end up coming to CATG as the time taken to resolve them and the cost to the parish would be great.

It was confirmed that the Bulford crossing pedestrian survey had not yet taken place as they had to wait for the children to go back to school first, it had been too early to establish patterns. It was not thought there would be one Road Safety Audit survey to cover all Bulford issues including the Beeches.

Cllr Hewitt, Chair of CATG stated that it would be far more efficient if the surveys could be undertaken together. The issue was referred to Mr Benson to see if there was anything he may be able to do.

o   Lovells

At their request, the Lovells update was moved up the agenda and was received prior to the Wiltshire Council – Military Civilian Integration update. Nicola Schnieder updated the meeting on the progress of the new builds. At the Bulford (Plumer Estate) site all 225 homes had been completed and handed over with more being occupied each week. The Ludgershall (Corunna Estate) site had also been competed with 242 homes handed over. More than 180 of these were now occupied. Work was continuing to finalise the open spaces, pathways and accesses.

At the Larkhill site (Alanbrooke Estate) work was continuing apace with around 90 handed over and 20 occupied. It was hoped that these would be completed around Spring/Summer 2020.

Cllr Wright thanked Neill Page, Lovells and Guy Benson for listening and felt that everyone was now working together as a community to try to find solutions to issues.

·       Wiltshire Police

PC Lucy Wileman of the Community Policing Team introduced herself to the meeting. She was attending on behalf of Inspector Liz Coles who was unable to attend due to work commitments. There had been some anti-social behaviour issues at Archers Gate in Amesbury. As a response patrols had been increased and all Radian tenants had been sent a letter detailing what was acceptable behaviour. As a result, complaints involving anti-social behaviour had dropped off. 

Amesbury Pubwatch was doing well, with some successful meetings involving lots of agencies. Their relationship with the military had also improved, with people feeling reassured that army basing would not create issues. Cllr Westmoreland stated that he had also been at the last Pubwatch meeting and felt that it had been the most positive Pubwatch meeting he had attended. They had some good ideas that may be suitable for area board funding and were encouraged to apply.

Some issues in Durrington had been resolved and there were no big rural issues reported.

Cllr Hewitt queried whether they could put more patrols around schools at drop off/pick up times to help prevent dangerous parking/driving etc. PC Wileman stated that schools would need to report any issues they perceived and then the police could look at the issues.

The Chairman stated that he was pleased that there were reports of issues getting better on various fronts as it was nice to hear positive reports. 

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

In a change to the agenda the update from the DWFRS was considered at the start of partner updates. Station Commander for Salisbury, Amesbury and Wilton, Matthew Maggs attended and referred the meeting to the written report in the agenda pack. 

He had been in this post since 1st January and due to his work commitments, this was the first time had had been able to attend the Amesbury Area Board meeting. The fire service were struggling to get out into the community to undertake visits. This was something they were tasked by government to do, in order to keep people safe and well (not just from fires) but also in terms of health and wellbeing. They offered safe and well checks, as well as health and wellbeing checks. If anyone knew a group or person that was vulnerable the fire service could help. They could give free smoke and CO2 alarms and help to provide heaters and blankets. However, they needed to know who to help. Currently in rural areas they were no full-time fire fighters, so they needed help connecting to the community. His contact details could be found in the pack if anyone wanted to refer people.

In response to a question from Cllr Wright, Mathew stated that he would be happy to attend a Health and Wellbeing Group meeting.

·       Town and Parish Councils

John Berry, Vice Chair of Shrewton Parish Council gave an update to the meeting.

The parish council still had great concerns regarding A303 rat runs through Shrewton. They had a successful Speedwatch team and were recruiting for Lorrywatch.

The Parish Council was installing a fitness trail around the perimeter of their grounds. The cost would be over £13,000 which was being met using section 106 funding.

A community garden was also being proposed, the Parish Council was hoping to work on this with interested organisations, schools and community groups.

Plans to refurbish the village hall were also underway, although further fundraising would be needed.

·       A303 Highways England

In an addition to the agenda Yogi Von Hippel of Highways England addressed the meeting. It was announced that there would be an A303 Community Forum meeting on 25 September, 7pm at Antrobus House which people were welcome to attend. It was also hoped that they would provide updates regarding the A303 at future area board meetings.