Assembly Hall hosts first main meeting of Melksham Area Board

THE first main meeting of the Melksham Area Board of the new council took place on 5th June with a good turnout at the Assembly Hall hearing about a number of local issues.

The board’s priorities were agreed and include efforts to create employment and work experience opportunities; to improve local transport links and to provide more recreational activities for young people.

Two competitions were also launched.  Representatives of Hall & Woodhouse Ltd launched a competition to give ‘over 18s’ a chance to name a new pub near Bowerhill due to open next summer. Another competition was launched to give someone a chance to win an iPad by getting involved and posting items on the local Melksham Our Community Matters website – www.melksham.ourcom munitymatters.org.uk

There was a presentation by a representative of the clinical commissioning group to raise awareness of the important role they play in the local community. This includes commissioning services such as nursing care and ambulance services, and they also highlighted some of their successes.

A member of Wiltshire Council’s passenger transport team spoke about the council’s current review of less well used bus services in Wiltshire which include the Melksham Zig Zag service. The aim of this review is to establish where subsidies could be reduced on some routes.

Through a consultation, the council is looking to hear from local people and groups including bus users, town and parish councils, transport operators and community organisations. The consultation runs until 2nd August and people can request a questionnaire from Ian White, Passenger Transport Unit, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge BA14 8JN or at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/con sultations.

Members of the community area partnership presented (CAP) their 2013/14 work plan. The area board recognised the good work of the group and agreed the intention to explore how the partnership between the board and CAP can develop further.

To achieve this the board committed to funding the partnership for the next three months and to use that time to work closely together and shape how they and the partnership will work. The area board suggested funding for the rest of the financial year could be agreed at the end of the three month period.

Chairman of Melksham Area Board, Jon Hubbard said, “It was a great turnout for our first main meeting of the new council where we discussed a number of important local issues. We’re here to listen to our community so it was good to see them get involved and asking lots of questions throughout.

“We have lots of priorities for the next year and I look forward to us achieving further success.”

The following community area grants were also awarded:

• £500 was awarded to Melksham AFC for disabled football PA facilities

• £875 was awarded to Great Hinton Memorial Hall for kitchen improvements

• £250 was awarded to Melksham Extended Services for gazebos for community outreach activities

• £500, as part of a joint bid to Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge, awarded to Jubilee Wood Scout camp site and community youth activity centre

• A councillor initiative from Jonathon Seed to see the road resurfaced leading to Keevil Village Hall was awarded £900

The next Melksham Area Board will take place on 31st July at Neston Farm Shop, Atworth.