CHUCK

Local lass · CHUCK

in another section you wrote

Like the Social Club at Bremhill View what were you thinking? This would be an ideal building and position to deliver a top notch North Calne Community Centre if you or I get in we need to explore that, not as I was told you had thought, knock it down, the public there are quite cheesed off and the players and footbal club built it themselves, so are emotionally attached. Sorry I do not mean to sound patronising but please remember the golden rule representational politics is just that, it is not, or rather should not be, self indulgent or, dare I say it, particularly now, Political.

CAN I ASK WHAT YOUR VIEW IS REGARDING THE COMMUNITY CENTER THEY WANT TO BUILD IN NORTH CALNE?

Chuck

My view is not important but if you want it I wnet there for a drink Saturday watched Man U pick up the title and I have to say it is a great club. I'd fight to keep it and I believe that is what the residents want, in fact I'd recommend a fight to extend it to include more for different ages in N Calne. Like all representatives I stand to be corrected by the public but that is how I feel today Sunday!

It's a great place, nice poeple, built by the community for the community it already has a place in my heart but, as I say, if the public don't think that then I have mis heard them so far. We have plenty of houses but not enough for their occupants to do moving or closing such close community facilities would be a wrong step, improving them a right step in my personal view but I'll fight for the majority view that is my job it's just easoer when the are both the same!

Chuck

Chuck

Sorry didn't answer your question I do not believe a community centre in the Sports Complex is right for now as it is to far outside the community (though I can see, though may not want,development one day on that side of the road as happens often).

The Bremhill View option would be a great one so more money more facilities there, or as Peter has said hiring or buying another option for example if the estate agent pull out of the Cafe - no to say it will but just an example of what I have thought. The Masons may be another option but it is almost too far. It will be up to us to talk debate and propose, once the communities ducks a re in a row we can really have a good go at getting it done the Council quakes at the tthought of petitions marches and public opinion if it is delivered strongly and that may be what we must do, but we will need to be in unison a divided public allows weakness to slide into the ranks and lowers the likelihood of victory so agree first then action.

My personal opnion is to improve what we have and perhaps look at a couple of additions but drop the sports centre option.

Chuck

Chuck

That means Town Council, Unitary Council representatives and the public (most importantly) must work together I think that sometimes that has not happened I am not sure where unison has been lost or why but I get that feeling there has been a gap which has stopped the right and popular thing from getting done.

Chuck

Local lass

so do you agree or not about building a new community center on the playing field next to the north star>

Chepfer

Tee Hee local,

Politicians at most levels are unable to understand the concept of the words Yes or no ......... not that i blame them !!!!!

Personally i would rather see the money spent on something the "Town needs or wants".

Perhaps this money would be better spent on a new childrens activity centre (like the one that shut) or help provide facilities for the new boxing academy or be spent on making all the childrens parks better or improving castle park (even more - with a proper facility for the scateboarders, bikers etc) ...

I dont know ..... but i do know that this looks all very .... hmnnn whats the words .... Ill managed at present.

Chuck

I have spoken with North Star they are not keen personally I would favour it there or near the Bremhill Club. But to be frank and honest I'd prefer to ask those who run the clubs and live there first before I apply my size tens also we need to decide what we want it too include so boring though it may appear a bit of consultation will be required before we make a decision. I have not copped out though I have told you what my thoughts are and there is far better than across the bypass in the Sports Comple - sorry to tak my time I was out today til now.

Chuck

Local lass

on this occassion i do agree with peter there is no need for a community center to be built especialy there.there are plenty of facilitys on hand to use.

Chuck

I see your point (and therefore sort of Peter's) , what is needed is to encourage the existing facilties to open up more and perhaps money for improvements would help convince them. For whatever reason there is qquite a strong level of support for a facility local to that area and I guess the feeling is North Star or Bremhill are not the vehicles for that as they stand now.

As I said before, uncourageously, the situation needs to be looked at and public opinion determined, as there was (is) Persimmon contributions set aside for provision and I do not agree (and its appears not to be popular)with the suggestion that the site should be at the Sports Complex.

Neither do I agree that Bremhill should be moved, knocked down and set up over there either, which is a view promoted previously by Peter. That Club is a really great local facility, but some parts of the community do not feel it is the right venue for them. A bit more work needs doing to determine the right route but I am pretty sure that the public are not keen on a facility addition across the road. If you are you will be the first to express that view and as perhaps you can tell by now I put myself forward as a conduit or enabler for public action and demand rather than (in general) an instigator so your views should all be part of the debate - a debate which once settled must lead to action which is where local politicians tend to fall down.

Hey ho as I have said before my opinion is of interest but it is not about me it is about the wider YOU, that is the view we need if it is a facility in that location then its exploration and the best value delivery should be explored. I prefer to paddle a canoe with the current! but also not straight at the rocks (or the waterfall!) assuming I (or anyone else) can see either of them!

Chuck

Local lass

what ever the amount of people who do support a north part community center on that playing field there would be duble who oppose it for a variety of reasons.

the field in question is the biggest open space in north calne where kids can play safely,with balls,cricket, it is also used by numerous dog walkers.

access is a huge issue there .should the access come out on to school road roundabout it would turn arealdy dodgy junction in to a danergous juntion.
if the accsess is by the north star then that cuases a huge problem because it is used as a car park eventhough that section of the road is unadopted.

it seems to me that those who mostly want a community center in north calne are those who live on new estates.which is wrong .
im not saying that they should not have have one there just not on that field a more sutible site should be found .however those that do want it should look already what the town has to offer before we get a building what will mostly stand empty and will cost to much to run.

Chuck

Give the perfect option I'd love to add it to North Star or Bremhill as extra space and with a community rather than club bias. I had thought that one of the shops in the parade might work if vacant as another option or perhaps the Masons new building.

The new estate does need some sort of focus they seem very individual and in many cases of course not with roots locally and I would hope that with time and a shared facility we could develop a community feel. There will be much to discuss there as with the green spaces, kids playing, road condition, interesting Council Tax banding and school parking they have some issues.

We need to consult locally about this with local town and council representatives to get some forward plan in place.

Will you help if either Peter Sophy or I set this up it would be great to have your input.

Best regards,

Chuck

Local lass

yes i would i live in north calne,play skittles in the north star and have a son in fynamor so that area affects me quite a deal

Chuck

Brill, Have I canvassed you yet? It is me dropping of the literature so if you've had some it was me trying to talk to as many as possible. I am learning about the area slowly. Being fresh I do not have any pre conceptions and to be frank had not paid much attention to what has gone before. The Communty Centre seems to have been a bag of frogs a bit and there does not seem to be much consultation before action which means the public are a little out of the loop.

There is about £200K which is not enough for a stand alone centre but the plan has been to put flats above that was rejected probably rightly but we could possibly explore more money for the two existing centres to encourage them to be more open.

North Star's view was they felt there was enough 'trouble' already near them without attracting more people.

If we deliver the right product I would hope that we may all lok after the whole site better. It is unique to have such a set up 2 clubs and a football pitch and green space - just perfect if run maybe together or enbloc or whatever but ONLY if we can get buy in from all te stakeholders. Sorry local govt speak it make me crawl sometimes too.

It will be a good project to get our new Councillor stuck into with all the other necessary interested parties.

Cheers,

Chuck

Chepfer

Can i ask.

This £200,000 that is available for a community center. Is it for the people of North Calne ward only or is it for Calne as a whole ?

Chuck

I believe it is Persimmon's contribution for such a facility ther is also supposed to be £60k for play equipment it is normal that such money use use in close proximity to the development so it should be North Calne. I will need to check that it is still unallocated and available but I believe that is the case.

Chuck

Peter Dolman

Chuck I don't wish to sound patronising but I don't think you have grasped the question.
There are exsisting private clubs ie Bremhill Social Club and the North Star Club. The Bremhill View Club was built by the football club not the wider community and the North Star Club was originally built by the community as a community hall.

The community hall being the subject of Local Lass's question was proposed by the Beversbrook Community Association (BCA) and land was, at least so we thought, to be provided by Persimmon. At this stage I was on board with the project.
My objection along with many of the residents came when it was proposed to build it on the playing fields by the football ground/North Star Club.

So the question is do you support the building of a new Community Hall on the Northend Playing field. Yes or No (nothing more or less)

nb the section 106 money is £315,000 and this has already been paid to the town council.

Persimmon pulled out after getting agreement for 2 floors of flats above the community centre and still claimed that they could not afford to do what we all thought they were committed to.

Both the North Star & Bremhill View club are private members clubs not community clubs. There were plans for the Bremhill View club to become a community club but with a change of committee came a change of mind (fact not a critisim).

Chuck

Is it not possible to get buy in for a joint venture with one of the 'private clubs'?

Patronising you are not my answers are pretty clear I understand what is going on and the £325K (thanks for the figure) will need to be spent ideally in North Calne if not well that is the Town Council's perrogative and my/your. Sophy's job to try to get it for North Calne (which generated it).

Chuck

Peter Dolman

The money has to be spent in Calne North and the decision to build an extension at Beversbrook has been taken. I would refer you to Charles Boase and Tony Trotman for explanation as I believe it was a unamious decision.

There is an abundance of halls for hire in North Calne, this cannot be said about other parts of the town.

Chuck

Well then there is not a lot I/we can do at this time then - Peter I guess it's unfair to ask you the question and its only important if I get elected and need to do something about it (by the way the vote on the Board is nothing like that on the street (sadly)) but what sort of consultation was entered into before the decision was made? Did it seem the most popular? Or is it, as it appears, not the most supported decision that has been made?

Thanks for your help though I hope if I get in we can continue to work together (I am not Political with a big P and that part of the job annoys me) we do need some North centric body of residents to act to pressurise both Councils for the benefit of the locals over the rest of the County or the Town.

Kind regards,

Chuck

Peter Dolman

I am not a town councillor so I again would refer you to your fellow conservative candidates Charles Boase & Tony Trotman who are. They would have had the notes relating to the issue when the vote was taken.

What I do know is that there are many people who do not want another hall built and especially not on their playing field.

The original purchase document means that a Minister of State would have to give pemission for the hall to be built and there would have been many objections.

Part of the decision did include the business plan presented by BCA (I have never seen this document) which some councillors expressed concern about. The proposed hall would not have a bar but they expect to have a least 1 wedding reception a week. I don't know about you but I cannot remember ever going to a booze free wedding reception.

The £315k would have not been enough to build a stand alone hall and the extention to Beversbrook will mean the council borrowing more to build it.

There is also a time frame to adher to, that is if the money is not spent by a certain time then it goes back to Persimmon!

Local lass

WHERE ARE THE BOUNDRYS FOR NORTH CALNE

Peter Dolman

Lansdowne crescent, School Road, Stokes Croft, Dixon Way, North Street, William Street and the bye-pass.

Thats a bit simplistic as it's not straitforward. The boundary commission has tried to fix it so that each of the towns wards are of a similar size (ie number of voters) eg North street is in but Alma Terrace and Victoria Terrace are not. Dixon Way & Stokes Croft is in but The Wynd is not.

Peter Dolman

Chuck, where are you are you ok? we have not heard from you since the election, what have you been up to?

nickcordery

Typical, once the votings over never hear any more!

Calne18

mayb he is busy puttin all his time into his new role!

Local lass

Chepfer

Tee hee,

Seems he got your votes !

Now he's back in cricklade, sunning himself i expect, lol.

Though i am sure you made the right choice .................

Calne18

i actually seen him the otherday in rochdale avenue walking along so mayb hes trying to sort things, although he did used to be online every day and not so much now Big Grin

rosco

Maybe he's been told that he cannot contribute on-line any more, or else be in breach of some council regulations?

GTB

Peter Dolman

that is highly unlikely more plausible would be a ban by his party. they do not like independant thinkers, eg Nancy Bryant!

Chepfer

He was a councillor while he was posting (for minety) ..... why the change all of a sudden ?!

Chuck · I'm here

Sorry guys not been ignoring you just keeping an eye every now and again but whilst I was eating my sandwich fromn Sam Widges I though gosh I have't been back to Peter's web site (joke).

Still posting off and on have asked the others to join and will keep it up maybe use this forum for q and a.

Chuck

Local lass

chuck you havnt answerd any of the questions we posed to you.
prehaps a good idea would be a q and a stick just for chuck

Chuck

What questions can't find any unanswered.

Chuck

Peter Dolman

it was just as much your web site during the election!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chuck

It was a joke Peter I know it was

Chuck

Peter Dolman

anyway Chuck whats happening?

its been almost 2 months since the election, is there nothing to report back on?

what about planning issues which seem to be a big issue at the moment, are you in favour of uncontrolled development?

Chuck

As far as planning goes we are meetign to discuss one issue which as had objections to it from residents on Weds as regards others these are dealt with as they come through the system. There is no uncontrolled development as the system is in place to deal with all development but expressions of concenr will come from the Town Council and Tony Trotman is Chair of the Dev Comm therefore will be able to consider the Town's view as it comes up. As I am sure you are aware planning requires certain guidelines and decisions are subject to scrutiny from elected members and the public alike there are legal implications surrounding all decisions and appeals fall outside of local decision making.

I have only been asked to call 1 development in so far which is being heard Weds I will call in any such further query in line with previous (though now no longer official) guidelines i.e. 5 objections or a recommndation from the Town Council for a call in.

Cheers,

Chuck

Chuck · Couple of things for Calne

1. Hatts coaches have won the tender for the land on the corner in Portemarsh not sure of any planning implications at this point but will be some office accom and and hard standing for coaches I expect.

2. Sandpitt Lane is to go to major consultation re the planning for housing there so please voice your opinions to me at my email address or to the Council once you have seen the proposals.

Cheers,

Chuck

Peter Dolman

Chuck there is a strong body of opinion about the sandpit developement and as such, irrespective of planning laws, you should do what you promised in the run up to the election and take heed of the residents. There is a strong body of objection also to the Whitehorse Way proposals.

I am sure, like me, we wait to hear how you vote on these impotant issues.

Chuck

If I am given the chance to vote I will vote as the strongest body of opinion finds but to date no one has expressed an opinion to me or asked me to support any objection etc... I await contact from those who feel so strongly.

Chuck

Chepfer

On the contrary chuck, perhaps a read through the threads on this site would show an opinion ..... if no one has said anything to you at all then take the opinon from here !

I think you'll find ,as before, most people are against it !

rosco

Chuck

Yes it is hard to determine opinion from this as thiose who feel very much against should register their objections with the planning department or arrange a petition - I have seen some stuff about that here. Also those who are in favour tend not to post that neither do those who do not care either way.

Chuck

Peter Dolman

Chuck I suggest that you are not trying very hard or that you don't live in the town, sorry forgot but you don't do you!
I suggest that you get out and about and speak to locals and hear what they have to say on both planning applications.

Peter Dolman

Chuck, have you had a good holiday.

What happened with these planning applications?
How did you vote?
Why did you vote in that particular way?

nickcordery

Sorry guys I am fed up with political points scoring what weall want countrywide is people who genuinely reflect our local opinions and that is the nux.

Peter Dolman

i am not trying to score "points", Chuck promised on this forum that if he was elected he would keep in touch.
that being so surely as someone who lives in his ward I have a right to ask questions of him. i don,t have any other contact details for him!

Calne18

Peter why dont you type 'Chuck Berry North Calne contact details' into google......

Peter Dolman

if you read our posts leading up to the election in june we (that is chuck and I) both stated that we would use this forum to communicate to the people of Calne.
I will continue to post and hopefully Chuck will return and give us some information.

GTB

I'm sure there is a perfectly plausible reason why Chuck hasn't been around to answer any questions or give us his view on a matter but it'd be nice to see him on here again. Perhaps, if one of our members of Calnetalk who lives in Chuck's area (North Calne) would like to raise a question about something I'm sure he'd reply fairly soon.

Peter Dolman

Chuck represents me, I live in Lickhill Road, and I have asked several questions and would be delighted if Chuck would respond.

I am getting disappointed as the standard of political debate is way below that leading up to the June elections. Sophy is also missing.
I would also like to see more activity on this forum, its been very quiet of late.

GTB

I think that the whole forum has been quiet because of the decent weather we have been having lately and people have been too busy to post anything of note. I'm sure as the weather and nights draw in the forum will be lit up again.

Local lass

will vouch for that i am a regular of about 5 forums and all are quiet at the mo.give it a couple of months and they get busier again.

Peter Dolman

chuck can you give us your thoughts on the report into todays (24th September 09) gazette where your glorious leader Jane Scott stated that there will be a £3,500,000 overspend in the current fiscal year. She went on to confirm that there will have to be cuts in services. There was a hint that the ongoing review into leisure services may recommend leisure centre closures.

This would not be a surprise to me as the melksham pool is due to close in the next 12 months and others have been losing money for years.

If you live in a town which currently has a leisure centre watch out as you may not have it for much longer.

Perhaps if I am reading the signs incorrectly Chuck can let us know.

GTB

My eldest two children use the Melksham pool for their swimming lessons and we haven't heard of its imminent closure.

We tend to use Bradford On Avon's excellent swimming pool at the weekends for normal swimming.

rosco

Peter Dolman

as I understand it there is a new school being built at Melksham and a "sports facility" will be on the same site. this will replace the christy miller centre.
the new facility will not have a pool for a couple of years (?) but the old one will close.
the big problem with the calne centre was the dual use by the JBS, schools do not pay enough in relation to their usage. the LEA hope that the general public will subsidise the schools, but they (the public) want to use leisure centres at the same time as the schools do.

I don't accept that any leisure centre should close but there is a current danger with the "review" being carried out by the new council and their need to cut costs.
There is not (but should be) a legal requirement for councils to provide leisure facilities of any kind.

Local lass

i thought the new school being build in melksham is to replace the secondary school they have there now.
isnt it compulsary that if a town does have liesure center that the kids learn to swim?
like peter has said with the schools using the pools and stuff it does restrict times for the public.

Peter Dolman

yes it is the replacement school.
the requirement is that all children should be able to swim by the time they are eleven years old.
once they can swim the school does not need to send them anymore which is why schools tend to send one year group only. when my children went to junior school they went every week and just became better swimmers.

the government guidelines, I understand, requires everyone to be able to access a swimming pool within a 20 minute journey from their home. which means you don't need a pool in melksham. by the way they used the same arguement in respect of the calne pool.
on that basis, as calne is secure within the community, you could close devizes, chippenham and wootton bassett calne can be reached with the 20 minutes.
it would mean of course schools having to bus children to swimming pools and of course the parents will have to pick up the cost!

Chuck

Hi Peter there are plenty of ways to ask me a question anyway - as regards the overspend i'll think you'll find this is down to lower enconomic activity namely - less income that happens in a recession sadly.

What cabint will do aboutit will be scrtinised.

As regards your question on how I vote re planning that will be influenced only when I am on the Dev Comm. As regards what I think I am ambivalent as to the development not for not against.

If it delivers extra money for Calne then it will have some merit if it messes up parts of Clane then it is an issue it is out for consultation though so I suggest those who have a view express it if it complies with planning law then in theory it will get passed.

Cheers,

Chuck

Peter Dolman

chuck without trying to sound rude you have answered none of my questions, you have learnt politician speak very quickly.

How can the town benefit from more and more houses, all they will do is bring more conjestion, crowded schools and doctors surgeries. How will the voters benefit, please explain?

Jane scott through the gazette told us all that there had been £8.5m in savings a claim again repeated in the Wiltshire Council supplement with todays paper. Yet last week she states that there is an overspend of £3.8m.
Surely simple maths tell us that savings of £8.5m less and overspend of £3.8m means we still have £4.7m of savings.
Loads of money!

Finally stop rambling and lets us know what you think. Don't be vague we want a strait forward yes or no answer.

Peter Dolman

sorry, forgot to welcome you back. its been some time since we have heard from you.

Chuck · Peter

It is not really my opinion that counts but my opinion is that Calne has still room to grow and a future for Calne will be through careful PLANNED development the strategic plan is the framework for this. If we can get money to improve Calne in exchange for development then maybe it is a fair trade off it depends on the development and the money.

As regards the overspend the lack of revenue is the reason given for this overspend the budget takes into account the projected savings, that is what a budget does, it did not forsee the drop in revenue and additional spend through housing subsidy that the recession delivered. (that is also what a budget should try to do so it was a failing).

Thanks for your comments on my grasping of political speak it is not that though, it is where I feel unjustified in expressing an opinion I do not.

Cheers Chuck

PS it is my job to facilitate others' opinions rather than further those I may have, a lesson perhaps you would do well to learn if you do wish to enter representational politics locally.

Peter Dolman

Chuck there is no planned development in Calne, section 106 money is just legalised blackmail.

This money is supposedly given to the benefit of the local community but they are not consulted. Money for traffic calming for Lickhill Road and Duncan Street has been available for 50 or 6 years but nothing has happened despite a demand for action.

You, as a politician, were elected to make decisions but you seem indecisive and unsure what to do. I would re-iterate a previous comment, "how can someone who lives in Cricklade understand the problems of Calne". If you are unsure what people think come knocking on your voters door and ask them.

I have already confirmed on more than one occassion I will not be standing for election again (a fact my wife is very happy about).
You represent me on the Wilts Council so please take note of my opinions.

Chuck

Wrong I was not elected to take decisions I was elected to take partr in decision making. I listen to all opinins and particularly those of the bit I represent. By the way I don't live in Cricklade.

I will scrutinse decisions that is a job I have - I think you'll find that the Cabinet makes decisions we simply check them and object to them if they seem pretty stupid.

As regards planning I will occasionally be on planning but this is as a substitue and whilst decisions are taken there they are to planning law not based on opinion (normally).

Anyway Peter let me know what you wnat me to represent you on and when and I'll do it.

Cheers,

Chuck

Peter Dolman

agreed chelworth in not quite cricklade.

I would like you to object to any developement that does not enhance the your ward, the town or the district.
the proposal in whitehorse way and abberd way are 2 examples. neither will add any benefit to the town in fact quite the opposite!

another issue you could spend some of your time on is to discover why none of the section 106 money earmarked for traffic calming in Lickhill road and Duncan street has been spent.
This money was allocated some 6 or 7 years ago, the traffic flows and speeds have grown considerable, especially in lickhiill road, during that time.

yet another subject is the state of the footpaths along lickhill road/north street there has been 2 petitions over the years yet nothing has been done. WCC had no budget for footpaths so they said.

now if you can resolve these issues your voters in lickhill ward would be singing your praises irrespective of where you live.

Local lass

do not agree with duncan street .the only reason you need stuff there is because of the school.
lickhill roadi would agree with something does need to get sorted with that road especalliy the north end,juction and the jenny wren juntion .may i suggest stopping cars parks just off those junctions so you can see the road would be a good start and would stop quite a few of the accidents what go on there.

Chuck

I am working on the 106 money and have asked Dick Tonge for a progress report on Lickhill Rd.

As regards Development objections I am happy to represent the public but Dev Control is a legal function and there need to be planning reasons to object.

If the Regional Plan has provision for such dev then one needs to tread very carefully.

Dev Control is non partisan and based in the main on legal opinion but I understnad your issue. The only person with todays rules that can call a decision in is the Division Councillor and the dev in question are not on my division so pressure shuld be put on the Councillor to call them in if they have not already.

I wish planning was a case of what the neighbours want but it simply is not like that - there is plenty in my view which says it should be.

Lickhill Road is on the agenda though!

Chuck

Chepfer

How about some of that money being spent in the south of the town ?

Silver street is a death trap waitgint happen ...... cars speed around the methodist church bend constantly ....... the people in linden close and quarrydale and wenhill lane and the guide hall literally risk there lives coming out of those junctions every time .....

Local lass

that is a nasty juction and quite a bend should a lorry be coming the other way.

Peter Dolman

the 106 money is specifically for Lickhill Road and also some for Duncan Street. this is in recognition of the extra traffic as a result of all the housing development.

I agree the with the concerns you have with Silver Street and that will only get worst if the proposed development of Whitehorse Way is approved.

Block67

lol lost track of most of this thread, such is politics!

Peter Dolman:-

Chuck

I have had some chat re Lickhill Rd and it may well be up on the Area Board tonight.

Chuck

CHUCK

I'm here

Couple of things for Calne

Peter