If you are reading this before 4pm on the 2^nd April then you still have time to get your nomination in for the election of either the Wiltshire County Councillor for Mere or for Town Councillor for Mere.  Both of these are important roles  – unpaid, apart from expenses for the County Councillor and the Chair of the Town Council.  I do hope that you have thought of how you could help build the future of Mere and found a proposer and seconder to put your name forward.

If not, then I hope that you look at the candidates with interest. What do you know about what they have done for Mere or what ideas they have for Mere in the future?  I sincerely hope that you then go into the election booth and make your voice count.

When I go into the pub there are often jokes about here comes the Mayor of Mere and I enjoy the craic but there are often the purposeful conversations that follow.  Recently we have been talking about events like the commemoration of Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan.  The 80^th for both VE and VJ day is this year.  The town council has agreed with our local representatives of the British Legion to put our efforts into a proper commemoration of VJ day to act for both of these dates.  I remember well how moving the commemoration of D-Day was here in Mere and I anticipate that this year’s double commemoration will be important to all of us and as moving.  Do join us on the 15^th of August in the Square – more details will follow.

It is not just in the pub that I have the opportunity to discuss Mere, more often at the roadside, at my allotment or more formally in emails and at Council Meetings.  I have enjoyed my time as Chairman but look forward to seeing someone else take on that role.  I am asked, ‘Don’t you get fed up of people complaining’ – no, it is good to hear what residents feel should be (or should not be) happening!  Much more important, to me, is hearing about people doing something.  I will be out with the other litter pickers on Sunday 6^th April from 11am in Castle Street Car Park.  This is our part of the Great British Spring Clean.  If you are going to join us then do let Sonya, in the Council office, know by Thursday 3^rd so she can arrange for enough equipment.

At our last council meeting we heard, in the public session:

• Disappointingly, that insurance costs would mean that the art installation ‘Solstice Beacon’ on the top of Castle Hill would not go ahead.
• Pleasingly, that Carnival Committee had a new Chair and Vice Chair who were looking forward to another splendid Carnival in Mere.
• And a representation from a family who had a planning application for us to consider.

We discussed:

• That changes to the company providing EV chargers, that the installation in Salisbury Street Car Park will be delayed. It is hoped that another company can be found to manage the provision of EV charging at this site.
• Planning applications.
• Various matters to do with the finances of the Town Council.
• A well-developed suggestion from a resident on how infrastructure improvements might help with congestion in Clements Lane, and Edgebridge.
• What we should, as a Town Council do with regard to VE and VJ day.

I was able to report back to the council on meetings that I had attended:

• The area board: where representatives of the National Landscape, which borders on Mere, talked about what is being done to improve the area for visitors to the area and how ‘Dark Sky’ improvements are being made. Walkers, like me, will have seen the new gates being installed on the track above Great Bottom and new signs with information about local fauna and flora.
• The area board and the Local Highways Improvement meeting where little progress has been made with the issues we have presented solutions for: namely, Edgebridge and Hazzard’s Hill. This is truly disappointing as we have agreed what needs to be done and promised to pay our share of the costs but still, after a year, action by Wiltshire Council has not been taken.

On Thursday 1st May, elections will take place for 98 unitary Wiltshire Councillors and across the Parish and Town Councils in Wiltshire.

Information for candidates is published on Wiltshire Council’s website Local elections – Wiltshire Council

The Town Clerk is happy to give further information to Town Council candidates on request. Please email lindseywood@merewilts.org or phone 01747 860701

South Parish Notice Of Election

South Unitary Notice Of Election

Statement of Persons Nominated for Parish Councils

Wiltshire Council has published the draft Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document which sets out the vision and framework to allocate land for Gypsy and Traveller communities in Wiltshire.  Comments are invited during the consultation period which runs to 5pm on Friday 4^th October.

The Gypsies and Travellers DPD and supporting evidence documents are available to view and download at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-gypsy-travellers  and people can also download a representation form and a simplified guidance note from this page.

Here is a link to the recent NPPF webinar from Wiltshire Council: National Planning Policy Framework webinar, 14 August 2024 – YouTube

Mere Town Council has requested, through Wiltshire Council’s Local Highways & Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) process, that the 30mph speed limit currently in place on the C59 Shaftesbury Road, Mere be extended to cover the section of road currently subject to a 40mph speed limit to ensure that there is a consistent speed limit in place along the road.

An independent speed limit assessment arranged through the South West Wiltshire LHFIG considered the introduction a 30mph speed limit to be appropriate for the length of road in question when assessed against the criteria for introducing a 30mph speed limit detailed on DfT Circular 1/13 Setting Local Speed Limits.

The Traffic Regulation Order currently being consulted upon proposes the extension of the 30mph speed limit to cover the length of the C59 Shaftesbury Road currently subject to a 40mph speed limit.

Deposit copies of the Order, plans and Statement of the Council’s Reasons for proposing to make the Order may be inspected at the offices of Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge during normal office hours. Details of the proposed scheme may be seen at Mere Library, Barton Lane BA12 6JA during the hours of 10am to 7pm Monday, 9.30am to 5pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 2pm Wednesday and 9.30am to 1pm Saturday until 23rd September 2024.   Details of the proposed scheme may be seen at Mere Town Council offices, Duchy Manor, Springfield Road, Mere BA12 6EW during the hours of 10 am to 3 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.  Documents can also be viewed online at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/troconsultations

Comments on the proposal together with the reasons for which they are made should be sent in writing to reach the Sustainable Transport Group, by email to TrafficOrderConsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk or via the website by 23rd September 2024 quoting reference LJB/TRO/MERE30.

During August this year Mere Town Council will be organising an event that promotes activity and fun.

The Activities in Mere (AIM) event will take place between 9^th and 11^th August and will encourage, this year, the over 50’s in Mere to try or retry sports and leisure activities, some of which will be adapted to promote participation.  We hope that the event will not only encourage people to try something new, but that they may boost the membership of clubs and societies in Mere, as well as promoting health and wellbeing. We are providing this event using funds we have obtained from the Wiltshire Towns Fund.

More details will be provided in the coming weeks, in the meantime we would be grateful for any offers of assistance to help organise or provide a sport or activity. For further information please contact Roger Pipe, Project Co-ordinator at Mere Town Council Tel 860701.

Each month, the Town Council looks at planning applications and we decide on our support or objection with reasons.  I must make it clear that the decision is made by the Wiltshire Planning team based on planning regulations but they do take into account comments made by us and by interested parties.  Your voice can be heard on planning applications so do take the opportunity to go to the Wiltshire website and add your comment.

Feedback from residents has prompted us to consider a new approach to the format of the Annual Town Meeting. This will take place on the Wednesday, 24^thApril from 6 to 8 pm in the foyer at Duchy Manor where we will be providing information boards with details of the various groups in Mere such as the Carnival and the Link Scheme.  There will be information boards, and councillors to talk to, on the work of the Town Council and how this relates to the work of Wiltshire Council.  There will be boards with ideas and future plans with space for your comments and, importantly, a suggestions board where you can add your suggestions.  We are hoping that this format will give residents more of an opportunity to ask questions, comment and generally participate, rather than at a formal meeting.  We are required to have some formalities and so at 6:15, I shall give the Chairman’s report and minutes from last year.  Comments posted on the boards will be gathered together to form minutes and will be considered at our next council meeting.

In our last meeting we considered the implications of Martyn’s Law (which relates to the protection of premises in acts of Terrorism) for Mere and commented on the public consultation website.  We also took note of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s Community Safety plan. One interesting fact is that they are attending fewer emergency callouts and spending more time going out to residents and companies to discuss safe measure in the home and business.

As a result of a recent announcement made by Gillingham Town Council that their cemetery is now closed for new burials as they have run out of space, Mere Town Council has taken the decision not to permit any burials for non-residents.  This means that if you do not live in Mere, you will not be able to be buried in Mere cemetery unless you have already purchased a plot.  This decision has been taken to preserve our cemetery space for Mere parishioners.  We will, however, still permit the purchase of cremation plots by non-parishioners, at double-fees as per the previous policy.

I was determined not to mention it but must say…    ….I do hope that, after this wet winter, we are spared the April showers!

John Jordan

Chairman, Mere Town Council

for information on Town Council activities, minutes, agendas, etc lindseywood@merewilts.org 860701 merewilts.org

Due to the fact that the Clock Tower is a Listed Building in the centre of the town which is in the centre of the Conservation Area, the Town Council has a policy for the erection of display banners on the Clock Tower.   The Town Council will only permit a maximum of 4 banners for community/charity events held within the town per year.  The four banners for 2024 have now all been allocated as follows:

• Mere Spring Fair & Family Fun Day – 20^th April 2024
• Proms in Mere (Tower Stories project) – 13^th July 2024
• Activities in Mere (Activity event for weekend of 9^th – 11^th August)
• Mere Annual Carnival – 14^TH September 2024

Lindsey Wood

Town Clerk

March has been described as a month pulled back by winter’s cold and forward by spring’s warmth, this year I think we would all ask for it to be either, but dry! At the last Town Council meeting we heard from a group of councillors about ways in which we might make the most of the grounds and open spaces available to us in Mere.  There are a great many activities which take place here from archery to tennis and much more, but we will be looking to extend what is available to residents.  Our plan looks to find enthusiasts in activities which do not already have a place on the Mere calendar and to hold an event later in the year for others to try these activities out, watch this space for news of what will happen.  One such newcomer, which you will have seen information about on these pages, is pétanque and we shall be improving the facility on the old swimming pool site.

I have been to the LHFIG (Highways) meeting where, with our Project Co-ordinator and our County Councillor, we were able to put forward plans to make Hazzards Hill, Edgebridge and the end of Manor Road safer places for all road users.  This is one step in a process which can take some time, but we will keep engaged until we realise our aim – of safer roads in Mere.

I had asked for suggestions for the commemoration of 80^th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June and am pleased to report that we have had representations and will be holding a quiet tribute at the War Memorial.  Though it will not be large, in the way of some recent commemorations, it will be important and will mark this day with due respect.

While it is not our business to provide banking in Mere, we are concerned about news that the Lloyds Bank mobile service is due to end in May.  My thanks to Ted Hanson for drawing our attention to this.  Here is a link to the information about this: https://www.lloydsbank.com/banking-with-us/mobile-branch/closures.html.    If this change is going to affect you then do contact Lloyds Bank. If you let us know as well, we would then make a representation from the Council about the impact on the community.

The Town Council has embarked upon a joint project with Wiltshire Council to make improvements to the footpath running from Clements Lane to Angel Lane – which is to be named ‘Eric Mitchell Way’.  Work will start on 4^th March which will mean that the footpath will be closed for the duration of the works.  The official footpath closure is for 8 weeks but we will endeavour to re-open the footpath as soon as it is safe to do so.

John Jordan

Chairman, Mere Town Council

for information on Town Council activities, minutes, agendas, etc lindseywood@merewilts.org 01747 860701 merewilts.org