News

Please see notice below:

Residents can view Agendas and Supporting Documents for the meetings to be found here.

Are you interested in a challenging and rewarding voluntary role in our town?

If you are passionate about your local community, we need you. Councillors make a huge difference to the quality of life of local people and how local issues are dealt with. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves forward.

We have a vacancy on Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, and Electoral Services at Wiltshire Council have confirmed that this vacancy can now be filled by co-option. We are now inviting applications from local people to join the town council, and represent our South & West Ward.

Are you interested in becoming a Councillor?

In terms of eligibility, you must be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or European Union citizen with retained rights, over 18 years old and are registered to vote in the area; or have lived, worked, or owned property here for at least 12 months.

Responsibilities of the Town Council

The Town Council is responsible for our play parks, allotments, CCTV, Jubilee Lake, Vale View Gardens, Merchants House, benches, bus stops, noticeboards, the market, Remembrance Parade, town events including Christmas Lights, and so much more. It also determines how much money to raise through the council precept to deliver these services to the residents of the town.

What kind of person do we need?

You should have an active interest in local issues and things that affect local people and a willingness to represent the views of the community.

You will need to commit the time and effort to the role and to prepare for and attend Council meetings. You will be required to join one or two of the Committees or working groups and attend the meetings.

In addition, you will become a representative of the council on one of many community organisations or linked to a school in the town. Your attendance and help will also be required at the many events and civic occasions we have throughout the year.

How to apply

To apply, please send a letter of application to the Chief Officer, Mark Hopkins, via email enquiries@royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk or post it to 117 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AU, by 5pm on Friday 2nd August 2024.

In your letter you may wish to include your connection to the town, why you want to be a town councillor and what skills / experience you can bring to the Council.

Applications will be looked at by Councillors and voted on at a meeting of the Full Council on Thursday 10th October 2024 at 7pm, in the Conference Room at Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club. You will be invited to attend and say a few words about your application to the Councillors.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Mark

Mark Hopkins

Chief Officer

Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)

Tree Survey

As a responsible landowner, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council must take a reasonable approach to the management of all our trees. As part of our 2024-2025 budget planning process, funds were included for a specialist company to undertake an extensive survey of all our trees across Town Council owned land and subsequent work identified.

In total 354 trees were surveyed which enables us to identify a small proportion of trees that require maintenance, are diseased, dead or dangerous and need to be removed. This also helps to stop the spread of ash dieback.

The results of the tree survey were discussed at the Amenities Committee meeting on Thursday 13th June 2024; a copy of the report and minutes can be found here.

Jubilee Lake Works

Jubilee Lake, being the largest site and consisting of the highest volume of trees, will be carried out by a specialist contractor. In the Jubilee Lake area, the survey identified a few trees that were dead or dying and for safety reasons must be removed. The survey also indicated several trees that; to ensure they continue to thrive, have maintenance carried out on them. The maintenance has been scheduled at the same time as the felling works to avoid future disruptions. Any waste that cannot be chipped and left on site will be removed by the contractors and Grounds Team and logs will be made available for community use.

Works to the trees at Jubilee Lake will commence on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 for approximately 3 weeks up to Friday 19th July 2024; weather permitting. An ecologist has been consulted and a survey carried out. The ecologist was provided with details of each tree due to be worked on and they have advised of special instructions as necessary. The works will be carried out in stages to allow parts of the area to be kept open to the public, wherever possible. We kindly request that dogs continue to be kept on leads.

The map shows the locations of each stage:

Stage 1
5 to 7 working days

This will take place from Tuesday 2nd July 2024 for approximately 5 to 7 working days. During this time the path through the wooded area will be completely closed. There will be no access to the lake itself via the wood. The path next to the play park and cafe will remain open during this time.

Stage 2
3 to 4 working days

This will start immediately after stage 1 is complete; potentially during the week of 8th July 2024 and lasting approximately 3 to 4 working days. To avoid the complete closure of the lake, a ‘rolling’ closure will be put in place. This will involve closing the area around the tree being worked on. During this stage the public will not be able to walk around the lake in its entirety.

Stage 3
2 to 3 working days

Again, this stage will start immediately after stage 2 is complete. Works will begin during the week of 15th July 2024  and will take approximately 2 to 3 working days. During this stage the path to the play park will be closed, however the path through the wood will be kept open.

The works have been broken down into three stages so disruption to Jubilee Lake users is kept to a minimum. The works must be carried out to ensure the area is kept safe and open and are essential to ensure the nature reserve continues to thrive and provide a sustainable habitat for wildlife. To ensure these necessary works are undertaken in an efficient and safe manner, please do not approach the contractors whilst they are onsite.

We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding whilst these vital works are carried out. Please refer to our Q&A sheet for general queries concerning the works. For further concerns, then please do not hesitate to contact us via our webform or call 01793 850222.

Wiltshire Council have allocated funding to local councils in Wiltshire to facilitate the economic recovery of the High Streets in Wiltshire.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council has successfully been granted £20,000 of funding, with a set criteria to list a few, which includes events marketing promotions, street scene.

The deliverables being put forward are; jute bags to promote our Wednesday market, update our Town Map, funding towards town events, hire of a sound system and security radios of our High Street events, wooden planters for our town hall area to prevent unauthorised parking, additional defibrillators, updated Town Guide and a benchmarking survey of our Town Centre.

The Town Council were successful with a £10,000 grant back in 2022-2023. This funded the hire of High Street Audio systems for Towns events, purchase of Jute bags to promote the market, Coronation flag for the flagpole, and a Benchmarking survey.

With the further funding to £20,000 the Town Council are looking forward to assisting with our thriving High Street.

Please see notice below:

Residents can view Agendas and Supporting Documents for the meetings to be found here.

Please see notice below:

Residents can view Agendas and Supporting Documents for the meetings to be found here.

We would like to thank everyone who joined us on Thursday 6th June 2024 at Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club at our D-Day 80 commemorative community event in lighting the beacon marking the ‘light of peace’.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council would like to thank all of those involved in putting together this event including David Hathaway Transport LTD and members of the RBL. Special thanks to RWBRFC for the use of their venue, their help and support.

Below are some photos taken on the night, kindly provided by Nigel Walkley from RWB Camera Club.

Back in 2021, the Town Council received several requests from residents that we should fly the Ukraine flag in support of the innocent people of that country, following the attacks from Russia. And the flag has been flown since, alongside our town flag, only being removed for events such as the King’s birthday, ArmedForces Day, the month of Pride, and recently the D-Day 80 Commemorative Flag.

At the Full Council meeting on Thursday 23rd May 2024, a motion was proposed by Cllr Steve Bucknell and unanimously supported by the Town Council to amend the existing flag schedule, and fly the nationalflag of England, the St George’s Cross, as our default flag in the High Street. Other flags may be flown at certain times of the year.

This is no way diminishes our support for the Ukraine, as we all know these attacks continue, and the thoughts and prayers for those innocent people in the Ukraine have continued from the people of Royal Wootton Bassett ever since. The council also agreed to make a meaningful statement by flying the Ukraine flag on the anniversary of the current conflict, 24th February.

We hope that residents and visitors of Royal Wootton Bassett will be proud to see our national flag flying inour High Street from the start of July, a flag to include all of society, and to represent what England represents for many people: tolerance and diversity.

Please see notice below:

Residents can view Agendas and Supporting Documents for the meetings to be found here.