Please see notice below.
Residents can view the Agendas and Appendices for the meetings on the Council Meetings calendar found on the home page.
News
Commonwealth Day – Monday 14th March 2022
The Commonwealth flag is flying on the flagpole today in honour of Commonwealth Day.
Please see Commonwealth Day message below on ‘Delivering a Common Future” from The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General
After the change and challenge of the past two years it is fitting that, in such a momentous year for the Commonwealth, we can meet once again as a family to celebrate our special day.
In this year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we value the opportunity to pay tribute to her unparalleled service.
Throughout her reign, Her Majesty has been the epitome of duty, stability and wisdom supported by HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, who is sorely missed, inspiring profound global admiration and affection.
The scale and pace of technological, economic, social and cultural transformation which have marked the decades since her accession underline the Commonwealth’s own journey.
Convened after the upheaval and turmoil of the Second World War to “bring a touch of healing” to our relationships, the modern Commonwealth of 54 nations – still rooted in those kinships – stretches across six continents and five oceans.
Today, we renew the values that bind us, enshrined in our charter, of democracy; peace; human rights; equality; tolerance, respect and understanding; stewardship; promotion of youth and protection of the vulnerable.
We celebrate the diversity that enriches us, and the similarities that enable us to work to together.
And we recognise our shared interests.
Our points of unity make the Commonwealth unique in our world. Drawing from the deep wells of our unique history, they enable us to face the challenges of the 21st Century with clarity, unity and purpose
COVID-19 has claimed nearly one million lives in the Commonwealth. We stand together in both grief for those we have lost, and resolve to build something better from the crisis as we work together to enable all our nations
to access the vaccines and support they need to move beyond the crisis.
We stand together in the face of climate change, which is an existential threat, particularly to our small states, and work together to build more sustainable relationships with each other, and with this beautiful planet which we all share.
We stand together in the face of rising protectionism and unilateralism and work together to maximise the benefits of the Commonwealth’s formidable trade and investment advantage for everybody, in every one of our nations.
We stand together in the face of rising populism, and work together to protect and strengthen the process, culture and institutions of democracy.
We stand together against violence and insecurity, for peace and justice. And in an uncertain world, with multilateralism under strain, the Commonwealth shines as a beacon of hope and promise, inspiring confidence in the benefits of international co-operation and collective action.
As we look towards the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, I reiterate my own commitment to, and love for, the Commonwealth.
To continue to serve the Commonwealth as Secretary-General is my greatest honour, privilege and duty. I will continue to be driven by my unwavering belief in the Commonwealth’s capacity to deliver for the public good, serving every one of our nations and their citizens. We must rise to the challenges of our times and, through our indelible shared values, shape the world to come.
Support for Ukraine
Please see information below from Wiltshire Council:
We thank everyone for doing what they can to support the people of Ukraine during this awful and heartbreaking time for them.
We’ve set up a webpage which details some of the local and national ways you can provide support if you want to.
Flying the Ukrainian Flag
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council unanimously agreed to fly the Ukrainian Flag from the flagpole in the High Street.
Royal Wootton Bassett like much of the rest of the world is solidly behind the brave people of Ukraine who are resisting a devastating invasion by its much larger neighbour Russia. The devastation and loss of life in the country is heart-breaking and hope this will soon stop, and Ukrainians can return to a peaceful life that they lived in a democratic country before this totally unwarranted attack took place. This makes us realise how lucky we are in this country to live a safe secure life and we send president Zelensky and the people of Ukraine our best wishes. Their bravery and determination are an example to us all.
Councillor Steve Walls
Mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett
Recycling Collection Suspended
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL INFORMATION – suspension extended
Unfortunately, an agreement between the two parties has yet to be reached and so it has been confirmed by the GMB Union that it will continue to strike until 2 April 2022. Therefore Wiltshire Council alongside Hills Municipal Collections have made the difficult decision to suspend recycling collection for a further two weeks. This means that recycling collection services won’t resume until the week of 4 April 2022.
Residents are asked not to put their blue lidded bins and black boxes out until their next collection day from 4 April 2022 onwards. There will be no recycling collections until 4 April 2022.
When recycling services do resume from 4 April 2022, waste crews will accept additional materials that don’t fit in blue lidded bins or black boxes, so residents can leave then in the bags, bin bags and crates and they will be picked up if they are left next to their containers. In the meantime residents are welcome if they are unable to store additional materials to take them to their nearest household recycling centres (HRC), as they are operating as normal.
Wiltshire Council are focusing their resources on emptying household waste bins and garden waste collection will continue as normal.
Wiltshire Council are trying to limit the impact of the industrial action as much as possible, thanks so much for your patience and for bearing with them during this challenging time. They will keep residents updated of any more significant disruption and when normal services can resume – https://orlo.uk/wfYzR
Town Council Meetings
Please see notice below.
Residents can view the Agendas and Appendices for the meetings on the Council Meetings calendar found on the home page.
Amenities Meeting – Thursday 10th February 2022
Please see notice below.
Residents can view the Agendas and Appendices for the meetings on the Council Meetings calendar found on the home page.
Please note COVID-19 measures will be in place: Lateral flow tests to be taken 24 hours before the meeting; facemasks to be worn and hand santise upon entering. Social distancing will also be in place.
Purchase of Electric Forklift
Underlining its commitment to the environment, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council has purchased an electric forklift truck.
Members of the Amenities Committee approved the decision at the meeting held on Thursday 6th January 2022. This will be the first electric equipment the Town Council has purchased and is in line with its Climate and Environmental goals of moving towards environmentally friendly electric powered vehicles and equipment, reducing the use of fuel and energy. The Town Council aims to switch all Town Council owned vehicles and equipment as such electric vehicles and equipment become viable.
The electric forklift will be used by members of the Grounds Team in the workshop with a charge point also being installed.
Rewilding
The recent Wildflower Survey created by the Environmental Group and completed by residents have confirmed that they would like to support nature and bio-diversity by means of rewilding in Royal Wootton Bassett.
Following engagement with a variety of residents, environmental groups and the Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, a design has been created that will support rewilding at the Jacqui Woolford Memorial Park, whilst offering suitable space for dog walkers and others to enjoy the space.
At a meeting of the Amenities Committee held on Thursday 6th January 2022 the design was given overwhelming support to take this positive action to help our environment.
Whilst it may take some time before the area is attractively filled with wildflowers, as the soil quality needs to deteriorate to support this, we hope that residents will appreciate that this is necessary to best support nature and biodiversity.
It is hoped that this will be the first scheme of many others in the town and learnings will be used to inform the Town Council to aid wider roll out to other Town Council owned open spaces.
The Town Council would like to offer its sincere thanks to Alex Hutchings and Cate Watson for their support and expertise in this area. We look forward to working with them.
Changes to Waste Collection
The household waste collection days for nearly all Wiltshire properties will change from Monday 28 February, as Wiltshire Council seeks to make the rounds more efficient.
This change will only affect the general household waste collections – there is no change to recycling or garden waste collections, which will still take place on their usual day for all residents.
For more information visit the following link: – https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/waste-collection-days-to-change-from-28-february-for-most-wiltshire-residents