Letters To The Editor

Who will pay for the Blue Pool/Assembly Hall project?

Dear Editor

So, Melksham Town Council are thinking of entering negotiations with Wiltshire Council to buy the former Blue Pool site and incorporate it with the nearby Assembly Hall.

Sounds great but who will be paying for this project? Yes Council Tax could be increased, but times are hard and hard-working families are already struggling to pay everyday bills.

Increasing Council Tax can’t and must not be an option.

Terry Chivers

Enough is Enough!

Dear Editor

For years, councillors from all political parties have promised to put Melksham first. They’ve claimed they would go against their own parties when necessary. But what we have seen recently tells a different story.

The Melksham News recently exposed Wiltshire Council’s shameful policy of placing ads about critical local issues—like Traffic Regulation Orders—in the Wiltshire Times, while ignoring our local Melksham News. This is bad enough on its own. But even worse? Some local councillors privately supported my campaign to change this but then voted against it when it mattered most. This is exactly why people distrust politicians.

Let’s be clear: a year ago, I publicly challenged the Leader of the Council on this policy. I asked why we couldn’t review it and save tens of thousands of pounds. I even brought a motion to the Melksham Area Board. Except for Cllr Mike Sankey, every other councillor voted to delay it so Cllr Jonathon Seed could bring his own motion at the next meeting.

When that next meeting came, there was no mention of the issue on the agenda. I raised the matter during the meeting and was told that Cllr Nick Holder was discussing it with the Leader of the Council, and that we could expect news soon. Spoiler alert: nothing happened.

So, I submitted the motion to Wiltshire Council. They rejected it. Now, Melksham News has been told the council won’t discuss it until there’s new guidance from central government.

But don’t worry, Wiltshire Council is still keeping busy! At the next meeting on October 15th, they were debating an urgent motion from the Conservative group—about backing Britain’s motorists, regardless of Westminster rules.

If only they showed the same enthusiasm for supporting local Wiltshire businesses, like the Melksham News.

This is exactly why I’m proud to sit as an Independent councillor. I’m free to represent my constituents, not to follow orders from political masters. When I stand up, I do it for Melksham—not for a party line.

Cllr Jon Hubbard

Wiltshire Council acting on poor legal advice

Dear Editor

I was interested to read in your recent article concerning the poor legal advice received by Wiltshire Council during the early part of this century.   

In 2000 Melksham Town Council, through Wiltshire Council, licensed the Town Hall for civil weddings. The law stated that civil weddings could only take place in settings that were predominantly secular. Legal advice given to Wiltshire Council at the time advised that there could be NO religious connections to the licenced room.   

From 1985 until 2000 a church group, now called GoodNews Church, met on Sundays in Melksham Town Hall. The County Council instructed Melksham Town Council to stop renting the room to GoodNews because rental, even for a few hours a week, was not legally compliant.  GoodNews had to find a new meeting place.

Sometime later the Country Council applied these rules to a church meeting in a hall in Warminster.

That church successfully challenged the legality of the ruling, and it was found that Wiltshire Council was misinterpreting the law, which only applied to buildings predominantly used for religious purposes.

Eighteen months after being evicted from Melksham Town Hall, GoodNews was warmly invited to return.   

I wonder how many instances of poor legal advice given to the County Council have resulted in incorrect application of the rules and regulations, when this was recognised by the council and if any of their current policies are based on a legacy of poor legal advice? Just wondering.

John Firth

Lions Club’s 50th Celebrations

Dear Editor

On behalf of the Lions Club of Melksham, I would like to thank everybody for supporting our September Picnic in the Park and last Saturday’s 50th Charter Night in the Assembly Hall.  There are so many companies, groups, charity stall holders and shop owners that helped us, we are so grateful for their wonderful support and services. The lovely food for both events was provided by Evie’s Cafe in the park and was enjoyed by all. Thank you so much Craig.

The weather on 14th September was very kind to us. We set ourselves a target of £5,000 to raise for five charities The Air Ambulance, The Freewheelers, The Bobby Van, Wiltshire Mind and Julia’s House and I am very happy to say that we did achieve our goal, so thank you to all the families who came to celebrate the Picnic in the Park.

We have always, over the last 50 years, been well supported by the townsfolk of Melksham so please continue with your support and we will of course continue in providing help and support to the Melksham community.

Melksham has such a wonderful community spirit and we always pull together throughout the year; the community has such a good name in the area for this.

Thank you all again

Simon White, President, Melksham Lions

The bane of self-serve tills

Dear Editor

Whilst queuing at a ‘served’ till today in one of our many supermarkets, the ones the company bosses want to remove to save staffing wages (but need to have staff available in case of help needed!)  I became engrossed in a very chatty conversation with a delightful lady, who had only a couple of items, in that I let her go in front of my laden trolley.

But the point of this missive is to understand our need to talk, to exchange views and local topics. This does not and will not happen on a self-serve ‘computer led till.’  They are the bane of our society now, amongst other things! Just to save money.

Our conversation actually came round to understand that people’s mental health is so helped by talking, not sitting alone in your room or even just doing the supermarket’s job of ringing up the produce from your trolley or basket!

I am lucky at 78 that I’m reasonably fit and well, so I can get out and about local shops and few activities that our town engages in. Mentally I have no problems to hamper my life, yes, I’m lucky, many are not. I know a single mum with children who lives hand to mouth, giving them financial headaches beyond belief.

My conversation was very enlightening to say the least and we parted with a happy cheerio and smiles. This would not be achieved by standing at a self-serve till!

Mike Gorringe

Melksham

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