Mark Connolly - your Wiltshire Councillor for Tidworth
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ASTER AND SWATTON FLATS TO HAVE PLASTIC AND CARDBOARD RECYCLING
Following comments from residents in flats who have no access to plastic and cardboard recycling, I have been successful in getting Wiltshire to agree with Aster and Swattons, who between them own the majority of flats in the town, to provide such recycling facilities. These will be introduced in the near future.
Discussions will also be held with representatives of Sidbury Heights (the General Flats) to see what can be done to provide plastic and cardboard recycling to these properties too. I hope that similar arrangements can be provided for some of the privately owned flats too.
This is really good news for residents who regularly have too much household waste for their bin due to the lack of plastic and cardboard collections for flats in the town. It will also mean Tidworth helping improve Wiltshire's recycling rates still further!
LOW COST HOMES
The most popular type of low cost home ownership is the standard shared ownership scheme used by many of our housing association partners. That scheme enables applicants to purchase a home at anything from 25% of its open market value, while paying a rent on the share that remains with the housing association. In order that applicants can apply for shared ownership properties they must be registered with the HomeBuy Agent (South West Homes) who will deal with the registration process.
South West Homes can be contacted on 0300 100 0021 or you can register on their website at South West Homes website.
There are currently a fairly large number of shared ownership homes for sale in Wiltshire, including some 2 and 3 bedroom houses currently being advertised on a new development in Durrington, which are due for completion in September 2012. There are two further phases to follow on that development which will also provide a small number of 2 bedroom homes for shared ownership in the next 12-18 months. There are currently no shared ownership homes available in Tidworth or Ludgershall. However, there are developments currently being negotiated in both Tidworth and Ludgershall which will provide a significant number of shared ownership homes over the next 2-3 years.
WAITING RESTRICTIONS
Following requests from residents during my recent survey, the Town Council has requested that waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) be implemented in Kohat Road (main road from camp) and Kennet Road (from its junction with the Perham road and the first junction with Connaught Road). It is now up to Wiltshire Council to assess the requests to see if they should be implemented. I will keep you informed.
PICK PIT HILL
I attended the Examination in Public into Wiltshire's waste site allocations policy document in Trowbridge on 25 April with the Mayor of Tidworth and representatives of the No2Waste campaign. The independent inspector listened for over an hour to our case to remove Pick Pit Hill (top of Ludgershall Road) as a potential site for various waste uses from Wiltshire's Waste Site Allocations document.
Unfortunately she was not minded to remove the site but we did manage to get additional areas of mitigation required before the site could be used, which we believe will make the site unviable. I was disappointed that other local representatives did not make representations and support Tidworth like I and Tidworth did in fighting the proposals for Castledown Business Park.
PEOPLE POWER!
Having passed the results of my survey that many of you completed, Tidworth completed to the Town Council, I am pleased to announce that progress is to be made on a number of issues!
For the Olympic Torch community event on 11 July that the Town Council is leading on, the Council will get a bouncy castle, run a fancy dress competition and have a face painting stall.
The Council is also going to look into a time capsule for the new community centre, a may pole event next year and a farmers market.
The Council is also going to investigate the cost of additional litter picking within the town (it currently pays for weekend picks in Station Road as Wiltshire Council only does the main roads and Station Road during the week).
So a big thank you for those who completed my questionnaire and it just goes to prove, things can get done if you ask!
SURVEY RESULTS
Thank you to everyone who filled in my recent survey. Over 100 people completed the forms either on line or left them in the Spar shops.
68% of people said that ambulance response times were a high priority and 42% said speeding was a high priority. 57% were against a waste transfer station at Pick Pit Hill. Other issues raised by residents included litter, housing and play areas.
I have forwarded all ideas suggested for Jubilee and Olympic Torch day celebrations to the Tidworth Community Area Partnership and Tidworth Town Council for consideration. I am also visiting some residents who completed the forms to discuss issues raised. Again, thanks for your views!
ZOUCH MANOR HOUSING APPLICATION
An application for up to 100 properties to be built at Zouch Manor (behind the Golden Fishbar) has been submitted to Wiltshire Council. You can view the plans and make comments on the application at the following link:
Comments must be received by 30 April.
PERHAM DOWN SPEED LIMITS TO BE REVIEWED
The Community Area Transport Group that I chair has prioritised the Perham Down to Tidworth road for a review of speed limits, which may see the exisiting 30 mph and 40 mph speed limits from Tidworth and Perham extended, or the limit in Perham Down reduced.
Tidworth Town Council has also earmarked funds to provide "gateways" entering Perham Down and Tidworth, which with any speed limit changes may help reduce accident rates on this road.
FUEL STORAGE
Given the potential for a tanker driver strike you may wish to be aware that there are limits on how much you can store at private residences. You should not store any in your homes for obvious reasons! However, you can have up to two metal containers that can hold up to ten litres each or two plastic containers that can hold up to five litres each. They can be left in a car that is on the driveway or in a garage or in a suitable location not in your homes that has good ventilation. The containers must have screw caps or enclosure to prevent leakage or vapours escaping.
More pictures in the gallery >>