Melksham area board holds special meeting for seniors

A special Melksham area board for older residents was held recently  with those present hearing about a number of local issues that have an impact on them.

Updates were also heard on the Melksham Campus including the future of the local rugby and football clubs and the luncheon  service that’s will be moving from Melksham House.

Among the agenda items tailored at more senior residents the meeting was shown an extract from a film from the Wiltshire Voices project. The project looks at a wide cross section of communities who may not always make their views known. The video shown looked at a wide range of issues around growing old ranging from coping on a tight budget to keeping fit and well. It also looked at social isolation, issues around getting out and about and life in the local community.

An interactive session was held with good feedback from those in attendance on the subject ‘what helps or hinders you taking an active role in your community?’

There was confirmation that agreement had been reached for the luncheon  service currently held at Melksham House to continue at Melksham Assembly Hall while campus building work is carried out. The service will continue to be held at Melksham House until it is transferred to the assembly hall in early January 2014.

A motion was passed for the area board to ask Wiltshire Council to reinstate coach parking at the King Street car park between the hours of 0800- 2300hrs, subject to future review.

It was emphasised that the board do not want to see any overnight parking of coaches or any lorry parking in King Street car park.

A presentation was heard about safe cycling, the training on offer from Wiltshire Council and the legal aspects of cycling on pavements. The meeting heard about the council’s popular Bikeability scheme. More information on the scheme can be found at www.wilt shire.gov.uk/cyclingprof iciency

Jon Hubbard, chairman of Melksham area board said, “We’re really pleased to have held another meeting specifically for older residents in our community. There was lots of discussion and debate about local issues and that’s exactly what we want.

“I’m glad residents were also able to her about the progress being made on the campus project. It’s getting closer to becoming a reality and will be a fantastic community facility.”

Community Grant and funding awards included Broughton Gifford Magazine who were provided with a free re-conditioned Wiltshire Council laptop to help them with their publication. Peter Atkins from the magazine accepted the laptop from area board vice chairman Jonathon Seed.

Poulshot Village Hall were awarded £2,187 for a damp extraction system.

Broughton Gifford Friendship Club were awarded £408 for a new age kurling set and Broughton Gifford and Holt Scouts were awarded £500 for replacement fire doors for their scout hut

In a councillor initiative project Cllr Jon Hubbard was awarded £1,362 to develop a community cleanup project in Melksham. The Community Area Partnership were awarded £3,917 for core funding and £60.35 for the King’s Park consultation.

Also, in the ‘Our Community Matters’ iPad competition Tim Scrace was randomly chosen as the lucky winner.