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Minutes of Town Council meeting held on Monday, 7th July 2025

Minutes of a meeting of Mere Town Council to be held on Monday, 7th July 2025 at 7.00 pm at the Andy Young Pavilion, Duchy Manor, Springfield Road, Mere, Wiltshire.  BA12 6EW. 

 

Present:  Present:  Councillors Sandra Catley (Chair), Rachael Hansford (Vice-Chair), Debbie Beale, Nick Beale, Rodney Coward, Sam Dean (until 8.30 pm), Rachael Hansford, Clive Hazzard, George Jeans, John Jordan & Alan Mead  

Report from local police representatives – Sergeant Lyndsey Smith from Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team will be attending the meeting.

Sgt. Lyndsey Smith said that she had come along because she had heard that there was concern about rising crime in Mere and she wanted to give some reassurance and put minds at rest.  She said that over May and June there were 9 crimes and 26 incidents reported, ranging from public order offences, anti-social behaviour and suspicious circumstances, road traffic collisions and one report of criminal damage to wildlife and theft.  There was a lot of police presence in Mere yesterday (Sunday, 6.7.25) attending to a break-in at the Industrial Estate where they apprehended and arrested individuals that are responsible for other high-powered burglaries in the area and so this was a positive result for the police.  On the less positive side, Sgt. Smith confirmed that there were only two PC’s covering this very large area at the moment but hoping that, as part of the neighbourhood uplift, there will be more funding to get more police officers.

John Jordan asked about Crimestoppers and it was confirmed that reporting via Crimestoppers is anonymous.  Reports and intelligence from Crimestoppers is then fed to the police.

Speeding issues – If you have a speeding concern you have to go to the Town Council who then, if they approve, will take it to the LHFIG who will ask for a Traffic Survey.  The results of the Traffic Survey go to our road safety department and recommendations for a SID, Speedwatch or different speed limits might be considered.  The police road safety department have an input.

Drug related issues had occurred in Zeals but not so much in Mere.  Any issues would need to be reported in order for the police to apply for a drug warrant.

George Jeans raised the issue of response times in Mere now that Emergency Response had moved to Trowbridge.  He also said that he used to have regular meetings with the local PCSO to feed ‘intel’ into the police.  Sgt. Smith said that she was aware that discussions had been held about the length of time for emergency responses for Tisbury & Mere areas and she also said that she was keen to reinstate the meetings with the local PCSO to gather ‘intel’ but resources were making this difficult at the present time.

Presentation from Redcliffe Homes on their proposals for development on land at Beaumont’s Business Park, Woodlands Road, Mere.   

Mr. Andrew Godden gave a presentation on the design proposals for the development of the old Beaumont’s Business Park.

  • Keen to be sustainable with wildlife habitats.
  • A range of 1, 2, 3 & 4 bed properties with open market, shared ownership and rented for a diverse community.
  • Outline consent is for 70 dwellings but we are looking at 58 which is a reduction of 17% and the reason we have done that is because we want to create more space between the houses and create front gardens and we have attenuation ponds.
  • The buildings will be a mixture of stone, render and some boarding.
  • We use air source heat pumps and the buildings are timber frame and fully insulated to reduce energy.
  • We will have EV charging points, bike storage, larger garages.
  • There are smart systems for reducing energy and water demand, ponds, bird boxes, hedgehog highways, bug hotels and wildflower planting areas.
  • 106 & CIL payments will be close to £1m.
  • One in 3 of the houses will be affordable housing.
  • Biodiversity Net Gain is at 27% which is a big uplift on government guidelines of 10%.
  1. Asbestos removal during demolition process. A – We are employing specialist contractors to deal with the decontamination who have to provide method statements and there is a process they have to follow in order to meet regulations.
  2. Any plans to strengthen Woodlands Road? A – No, we will be providing some crossing points but no other infrastructure work was conditioned at the O/L stages.
  3. Solar panels would surely be an obvious thing to add? A – We could put solar panels on and not do the insulation but you can’t retrofit insulation afterwards. Full insulation reduces the demand on electricity and if people find that they need solar panels afterwards, they can add them.
  4. Timetable for starting demolition? A – We will hopefully get consent this month and won’t start until October, partly because of nesting birds and also because it is better for dust conditions to do demolition in winter.
  5. With heat pumps and EV car chargers, who has done the assessment for the electrical load because it is not clear that there is enough capacity in that part of Mere to support the dwellings? A – We are proposing a new sub-station and we are in discussions with the electric authorities.

Andrew confirmed that longevity of timber frame houses is approximately 70 years which is less than brick and block.

There was a discussion about the Construction Traffic Management Plan and Cllr. Jeans outlined the difficulties faced with the construction of the Fry’s development on the old Hill Brush Company site next door.  The groundworks companies all complied with the plan but sadly the construction vehicles and delivery vehicles were not always so compliant.  Cllr. Jeans expressed the need for a contact number for emergencies and queries during the development process.

It was confirmed that part of the site would be developed using pile drivers.  Councillors expressed their dismay that solar panels were not included within the development but were pleased that the housing numbers had been reduced from 70 to 58 as the previous layout was very dense.

Cllr. Jeans raised a number of other issues i.e. existing trees on the site, electrical capacity, cavities within garages, painting the render, width of roads within the development, on street parking and allocated parking.

 

Public Participation Session

Three members of the public spoke in objection to the planning application for land at Linden Barn – PL/2025/05199.  Clive Hazzard said he was strongly opposed to the application due to its size, elevated position and overlooking issues.  He pointed out that a first-floor room which has a glazed frontage is a bathroom which will be visible from the road/pavement and other houses and vice versa.  Stephen Fletcher said that he was appointing an architect to advise him on the planning application before he submitted comments to the planning authority but his immediate concerns related to the height of the building, the rendered wall at the rear and it doesn’t appear to be in keeping with the conservation area. Lee Tibbit raised concerns about overlooking, invasion of privacy, highway safety, removal of trees that would have an environmental impact and character of the area.

David Hytch as Vice-Chair of the Carnival Committee, made a plea to encourage people to come along to the Carnival Committee meeting tomorrow evening at the Walnut Tree at 7.30 pm to determine whether or not it will be feasible to continue with the carnival this year.   He pointed out that more committee members were needed in order to proceed with the carnival procession for 2025.

Graham Sheppard asked when the lights in Eric Mitchell way would be switched on and also said that the new path surface was cracking and that the ground works and drainage work carried out beforehand were not done correctly and it was a very poor job.  He also pointed out that a street light opposite the entrance to the old Beaumont’s building was obstructed by greenery.

Another member of the public raised the issue of lights not working in Eric Mitchell Way and also raised an issue about Wiltshire Council’s Street lighting team which Cllr. Jeans said he would take up.

The Clerk informed members that Wiltshire Council would be holding an engagement meeting on 22nd July at Hillbrush on the pre-planning for Fives Court – time TBA.

  1. Apologies for absence received from Cllrs. Philip Coward, Raymond Hill, Glen Ings and Steven Pester and from Sam Dean for her early departure from the meeting.

 

  1. To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests from Councillors on matters to be considered at the meeting.
  • Hazzard declared a pecuniary interest in planning application PL/2025/05199
  • Jeans declared a pecuniary interest in Minute No. 54a) Payments (recipient).

 

  1. Minutes – RESOLVED that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday, 2nd June 2025 and Minutes of meeting with Redcliffe Homes held on 3rd June 2025 be approved as a correct record. (attached).

 

  1. Matters Arising from Public Session
  • None

 

  1. Matters Arising from previous Meetings (not covered by other agenda items)
  2. a) Minute Reference 40 h) *h) Wiltshire Towns Programme – Action Plan for 24/25 and 25/26 – to consider briefing for proposals for funding for a Halloween Event (briefing attached) [Cllr. Colman has been unable to prepare a briefing for proposals for an Arts & Crafts Event & would like this to be considered for the next round of funding for 26/27 if offered] – Cllr. Jordan felt it was an excellent way to spend the money and he was quite happy to help out and the money should allow us to have a good event but stressed that people should get together now to get things underway for Halloween. RESOLVED to proceed with this event.
  3. b) Minute Reference 40 i) SSEN funding (see Clerk’s Report) & PCC Community Action Fund 2025 (see Clerks Report) – Report on SSEN funding application and consideration of application for PCC Community Action Fund 2025 (application deadline 18.7.25 – see last month’s Clerk’s Report) – Cllr. Rachael Hansford reported that David Hytch had helped her to apply for funding for an EV charger in the Salisbury Street Car Park and we should find out in September whether or not this has been successful. The Council recorded their thanks to David Hytch for his help with this.

With regards to the PCC Community Action Fund 2025, it was RESOLVED to apply for funding to help with community education.

  1. c) Minute Reference 42a) VJ Day – 15.8.2025 – (see Chair & Clerks Report). It was agreed that the organisation of VJ Day commemoration should be in accordance with the arrangements proposed by Stewart Walker with his links to the British Legion, as detailed in the C&C Report.
  2. d) Minute Reference 43a) Safer Together: Strengthening Community Safety Through Partnership & Anonymity (virtual briefing hosted by Crimestoppers) – (see Chair & Clerks Report). The Chair said that she didn’t attend the meeting but had received a recording which gave a good understanding of how Crimestoppers works. She said she would be happy to send this out to councillors/public on request.

 

  1. Reports & Consultations
  2. a) Wiltshire Councillors Report – Cllr. Jeans reported that he had been elected as Chairman of the Southern Planning Committee. He also mentioned that a technical consultation on the reform of planning committees was underway in which delegation of planning functions was being considered including the removal of the ability for individual councillors to ‘call in’ applications to be considered by committee. In September Wiltshire Council will be introducing ‘Wiltshire Connect’ an on-demand bus service for south-west Wiltshire.
  3. b) Project Co-Ordinator’s Report
  4. i) Update on public toilet refurbishment (report attached) – members noted.
  5. ii) Lease for Duchy Manor – Schedule of Condition, plan and key points relating to lease

(information attached) – Cllr. Jordan raised concerns about the Schedule of Condition and the fact that it didn’t give advice on whether or not to take on the lease even though this wasn’t within the remit to the Quantity Surveyor but the Clerk pointed out that the lease was a full repairing lease and although the rent would be low, the Town Council would be expected to carry out repairs and possibly improvements to the building.  Furthermore, the Town Council would have to pay rates on the space that it would be renting.  The Clerk also pointed out that the Council’s previous concern on the condition relating to the number of school pupils was never really resolved but Cllr. Rachael Hansford said that the population of primary school children was falling and she felt this was less of a concern.  Unanimously RESOLVED to proceed with signing the lease.

 

  1. Planning
  2. a) Applications for consultation response:

 

Application No: PL/2025/05199
Application Type: Full planning permission
Proposal: Construction of new self-build/custom-build house.
Site Address: Land at Linden Barn, Castle Hill Lane, Mere, Warminster, Wilts, BA12 6JB
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000EqUTN

Cllr. Hazzard, having declared a pecuniary interest in this planning application, left the room whilst the matter was debated and took no part in discussion or voting. [In order not to compromise his position as Wiltshire Councillor, Cllr. Jeans abstained from voting on this matter.]

Members felt it was a large house for a retirement home and that a smaller retirement bungalow would be more appropriate in this location.  Members also felt that it was not in keeping with the character of the Conservation area and the size and scale would be imposing and dominate the streetscene and landscape.  Creating a new access onto Castle Street where a lot of cars now park will create yet another dangerous junction in an area that already has 4 junctions coming out onto a busy road that is the main entrance/exit into the town.

RESOLVED to object to the above planning application for the following reasons:

In the design and access statement it states that the design for this house has been strongly influenced by the existing barn conversions that surround the plot.  However, none of these existing barn conversions can be seen from the road which is the main entrance/exit road on the western fringe of the town.  Although the barn for Linden House can be seen from the road, especially when travelling in a westerly direction, it is offset at an angle from the road, has a hipped gable roof and minimal glazing, is largely obscured by trees and shrubs and appears to be more of a utilitarian rather than a residential building. Therefore, the design of the proposed house will be out of keeping with the character of the Conservation Area on the approach/exit from the town and will neither preserve or enhance the existing character of the conservation area.  Furthermore, the size and scale of the house, being situated in an elevated position on a bank will be imposing in the street scene.

The stone wall that bounds the site, made from Mere stone which is no longer quarried, forms part of the streetscape and is a significant welcoming aspect as you drive into Mere.  Sadly, another planning application has recently been granted approval that will punch a hole into this wall further along Castle Street.  The proposed vehicular access onto Castle Street for this proposed development will create another opening into the wall that will completely change the character of this area as you drive into or out of Castle Street and create a detrimental impact.

The tall gable end and first floor window on the south elevation of the proposed property will cause overlooking issues to the existing properties on the other side of the road namely 6 Townsend Close and Hinton, especially given that the proposed property will sit in an elevated position and this would therefore result in a detrimental effect on residential amenity.  Extraordinarily, the room on the first floor of this tall gable end which has a large glass fenestration will be a bathroom – this presents privacy challenges, exposing the space to public view.  The Design and Access statement says that the new house will have “vehicle access off Castle Street where it will enjoy extremely good visibility splays due to the width of the pavement”.  It should be noted that this side of the road is often lined with parked cars, especially during the evenings and at weekends.  Drivers will, no doubt, continue to park along the road and right up to the proposed junction, which they habitually do all over Mere, despite advice to the contrary in the Highway Code, and this will therefore obstruct visibility for any proposed new access causing the proposed residents and delivery drivers to have to come out into the middle of the road before they can see what is coming from a westerly or easterly direction.  Furthermore, the creation of a new access along Castle Street in close proximity to four other access roads (Bramley Hill, Towns End, Townsend Close and Castle Hill Lane) is likely to cause a safety hazard for drivers and pedestrians.

RESOLVED to ask the Wiltshire Councillor (Cllr. George Jeans) to ‘call in’ this planning application to committee should the planning officer be inclined to recommend this application for approved.

 

 

Application No: PL/2025/02106   – Amended Plans/Additional Information
Application Type: Full planning permission
Proposal: Erection of two storey dwelling to replace existing bungalow
Site Address: The Lodge, Gillingham Road, Mere, Warminster, BA12 6LH
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000D9jo1

 

 

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above amended plans.

 

Application No: PL/2025/04752
Application Type: Removal/variation of conditions
Proposal: Variation of Conditions 2 and 6 of PL/2024/05361 – To allow for alterations to the construction of the approved dwelling
Site Address: The Drying Fields, Castle Hill Lane, Mere, BA12 6JH
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000ES369

The Clerk confirmed that the approved application had a basement construction via Contiguous Piling but following further investigation this had now been reviewed and this application was proposing to construct the basement using “Cast in Situ” methodology.  It was pointed out that the Town Council had objected to the original application

 

The Town Council feels that there is nothing in this new planning application that would alleviate or cause a revocation of its previous objections to PL/2022/01547 or PL/2024/05361 and it was RESOLVED to reiterate previous objections.

 

Application No: PL/2025/05657
Application Type: Consent under Tree Preservation Orders
Proposal: T1 London Plane – Crown raise to 16 feet.
Site Address: THE VICARAGE, ANGEL LANE, MERE, WARMINSTER, BA12 6DH
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000FCyJ7

 

It was pointed out that the application stated “to crown raise a mature London Plane tree to 16ft to avoid collision damage to tractors passing under the canopy”.  It was pointed out that 16ft seemed quite an excessive height for tractor clearance as most tractors were much lower than that and members were concerned, given the fact that there was so much local fondness for this tree, that the future health of this tree should not be put at risk.  It was therefore RESOLVED to bow to the expertise of Wiltshire Council’s Tree Officer, Shane Verrion (the officer dealing with this application), stressing the local fondness and significance of this tree and to ask him to conduct a site visit to evaluate the situation firsthand and consider whether the proposed tree works are appropriate.

Application No: PL/2022/09365    AMENDED PLANS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Application Type: Full planning permission
Proposal: New employment building (Use Class B2) with associated offices, access, car parking, service space, landscaping and associated development infrastructure.
Site Address: Land adjacent to Quarryfield Industrial Estate, Castle Street, Mere, BA12 6LA
Planning Register Link: https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0i3z000019AweX

RESOLVED to recommend approval of the above amended plans.

  1. b) Does the Town Council want to ask Wiltshire Councillor to call in OL/2025/04320 – application for Three Oaks Farm, Gillingham Road, Mere (considered last month)? RESOLVED to request that this be called in if necessary and for further enforcement to be investigated.

 

  1. Highways, Rivers, Footpaths, Traffic & Transport
  2. To identify jobs for the Parish Steward and MyWiltshire reports.
  • Jordan- clean signs.
  • Mead – cutting brambles back along Eric Mitchell Way (if not recently done)
  1. Report on LHFIG meeting held on 25th June 2025– (see Chair & Clerks Report). Noted.
  2. Manor Road – pending works. (see Chair & Clerks Report). Noted.
  3. Request for Traffic Survey in order to set up a Community Speedwatch Committee for Shaftesbury Road (attached) – the Clerk pointed out that this Traffic Survey would be free and that the Town Council would not be expected to do anything other than to submit this to the LHFIG for approval. If the residents of the area wanted to form a Speedwatch Group then, as far as the Clerk was aware, they didn’t need the approval of the Town Council to do that.  The Town Council RESOLVED to submit the Request for Traffic Survey to the LHFIG.

 

  1. Buildings, Open Spaces, Play Areas, Sports Grounds, Car Parks, Allotments & Cemeteries

 

  1. Finance, Policy & Resources

*a) Payments – To review and authorise schedule of payments (attached) – Cllr. Jeans, having declared a pecuniary interest in this item, left the room and took no part in the discussion or voting for this item. The Clerk confirmed that she had enrolled the grounds staff on the Signing, Lighting and Guarding training course for working on the highway so that they could safely carry out road closures and putting out road signs in the case of events or emergencies and that this expense would be coming out of the SSEN funding that was awarded a couple of years ago for community support work.  RESOLVED to authorise payments made in schedule of payments.

*b) To note the reconciliations for May 2025 – the Chair confirmed that she had verified that the bank statements accord with the reconciliation for May 2025 and had signed the reconciliation accordingly.

 

  1. General Items
  2. a) Clarification on the situation relating to the provision of fibre-broadband to premises in Mere – Jeans confirmed that the future of Wessex Internet getting fibre broadband into Mere essentially relies on being able to secure funding through BDUK. RESOLVED to send a letter in support of Wessex Internet

 

Briefing Notes

  • Briefing Note No. 25-04 – Wiltshire’s Housing Land Supply Statement (attached) – Noted
  • Briefing Note No. 25-05 – Wiltshire Community Air Network (attached) – Noted

 

  1. Future meetings and events

South West Wiltshire Area Board Meeting – Wednesday, 16th July 2025 at 6.30 pm at East Knoyle Village Hall, Hindon Road, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AE

 

  1. Future agenda items
  • None

 

Note:  Members are reminded that the Town Council has a general duty to consider the following matters in the exercise of any of its functions: Equal Opportunities (race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status and any disability), Crime and Disorder, Health and Safety and Human Rights.

 

*Further information on these items enclosed/attached                                    Meeting closed at 9.33 pm

 

Approved at Mere Town Council meeting held on 1st September 2025

 

 

Signed:                                                                                                                                                                 Chair of meeting.

 

Signed by the Chair of the meeting