Lickhill bye election 31st January

Peter Dolman · Lickhill bye election 31st January

This is an interesting bye election with some high profile candidates and others new to "politics".

What are the main issues currently under discussion in the town and in particular in Lickhill ward.

I am against the demolition of number 10 Lickhill Road and the building of houses in the gardens of 8,10,12,14 & 16.

I am also against the building, on the North Star playing field, of a 3rd community hall in Lickhill.

In the town I am in favour of the Phelps Parade redevelopment.

What does every one else think?

Local lass

They need to stop building anymore houses anywhere in Calne.let alone lickhill.
i do agree with not building on the field next to the north star.
as i understand it,it for the time being phelps parade is only going to be changed where kwik save used to be and whilst its a good start what plans have they got for the other end?

GTB

Local lass

calne was considered to be one of the fastest growing towns in the south west.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calne#Modern_Calne

we do not have the facilitys to accept all these houses the schools are bursting at the seem nor do we have the shopping the center.

they are building and turning calne in to rat runs.
like you say it needs more direction on where to build and what to build but building more houses is not the answer

GTB

There will never be a perfect design for Calne because the town layout is a work in progress that has taken a millenia so far which will evolve into whatever is best suited at that present juncture. The daftest thing to happen in Calne, and in every town to be honest, is that they construct a relief road to relieve congestion on the inner routes and then build houses all around it - thus causing congestion on the new roads so they then build a new relief road and start all over again.

Local lass

i would agree with that .
they have done it here and in chippenham.
and the traffic here is so much worse than it used to be

Robert Baggs

One of the main issues I always bang on about is the law and order issue. When older people are afraid to go out of their homes at night there is something very wrong.

I know Peter D thinks this is more to do with the perception that there is more anti-social behaviour than us actually the case. This certainly gave me some cause for thought but there are some big differences now compared to twenty or thirty years ago. The availability of drugs and the associated threat from crime associated with that issue - I was told a story this week regarding an incident that happened in Rochdale Avenue recently when a car pulled up and grabbed a youth of the street and proceeded to assault him. The chap telling me the story was going to intervene only to ralise there were several people in the car. He phoned the police and they advised him to drive off and ignore it. They advised him it was drug-related and seemed more interested in his details than they were in those involved in the assault. The other difference between then and now is that there is less respect in society for ones elders, for property and for other people in general, no-one seems to care. Would I have answered back to a policeman when I was younger, I dont thnik so, today, it's commonplace.

I agree with Peter about the building and subsequent comments about the associated infrastructure. It seems that buildings are continually sprouting up in any spare piece of land and back gardens throughout the town. It's a shame and there is no need for it, it is simply that some people are just plain greedy and if they can make a quick buck on selling off their backgarden who can really blame them, but where and when will it end? Calne is pretty much a ghost town much of the time, shops lay empty and Calne folk shop out of town. Why? The population is increasing but the infrastructure isn't, in fact, in some quarters it is reducing. Harking back to my earlier point about law and order - the police station is closed - how quickly would a major incident in Calne be dealt with?

Lots of questions but few answers, only that it again, relates to money, but shouldn't community come first? At least Peter D is actively trying to put a bit of life back into town and should be commended abd supported for his efforts with the sports centre and other projects he may get involved with to enhance life in Calne - and he is not even on the council!

Another of the concerns I have is the apathy and lack of involvement of Calne folk in making decisions about the future of the town. I think more needs to be done to involve them by utilising local media and publications such as the Town Crier so at least they know what is going on and how they may contribute to change.

As a member of the public I have attended quite a few council meetings and nearly always have been the only member of the public present - why doesn't anyone care?

The turnout for the election on 31st January will be interesting and I hope it is high but if it isn't it shows the electorate don't really cares so why should anyone else? Calne will probably end up being managed not as a result of public opinion but as the powers that be see fit and this is not always in the best interests of the town. I just hope I don't hear those who couldn't be bothered to vote complaining!

Peter Dolman · bye election 31st January

Good to see some more issues being aired and hopefully we will see more contributors commenting.

With regard to building, Chippenham will have to take the brunt of the new houses in the future as outlined in the south west region spatial plan. Market towns like Calne will only be allowed minimal growth (thank goodness). Controlled planned building is what Calne needs.

Not to decry law & order as an issue but I do not think Calne has more problems than it used to have or than other towns. As Robert says I believe its more of a perceptions issue, I have walked through the town late at night without any problems!

There is also a problem with traffic in the ward. Back in the early 90's at the public enquiry to the proposed bypass objectors, me included, were promised that Lickhill Road would not become a rat run, but this is what it is.
The additional houses behind Tesco's, Tesco's itself, the houses in Lickhill Road and a planned extention to St Fynamore School are only going to add to the traffic problems.
The councils answer is to narrow the road but I can remember when the odd numbered houses in Lickhill Road "lost" some of their front gardens so the road could be widened!

Local lass

Local lass

Robert wrote-As a member of the public I have attended quite a few council meetings and nearly always have been the only member of the public present - why doesn't anyone care?

The meetings are not publisised how do you find out when they are?
Also you are right most general public do not care about calne unless it affects them directly.It is a very wrong view to have. Twisted Evil

Local lass · Re: bye election 31st January

rosco

Top Dog

As i have been challenged to go to the next one i would be intrested to know when it is. Very Happy

rosco

Local lass

i read it some where but just to make sure i checked out the web site for police opening times for calne take a look

http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/yourarea/localinfo.asp?loc=EN

rosco

iamelliot

Local lass

Peter Dolman · bye election 31st January

The council meetings are publicised on the towns web site and in the notice boards outside the old post office (face value) and out side the library. You can also go to the information centre and obtain a list of all the meetings and their dates. You can also have a list of which councillors sit on which committee and every year you can ask for a list showing how many meetings the councillors bother to attend!
At the start of each meeting there is a 15 minute session where members of the public can make a statement or ask a question. In May there is an annual meeting when the committee chairs make a report on what their committee has done, an interesting meeting to attend.
The November meeting sets the precept (tax) for the forthcoming year and is also a meeting worth attending.

It would be good to see more people take an interest in what their council does, its no good complaining after decisions have been made!

Bear

rosco · Re: bye election 31st January

Robert Baggs

Thanks to those who provided details of where Calne Town Council meeings can be found. You can also see the agendae for those meetings and the minutes of previous meetings.

I agree wholeheartedly with Bear's point regarding apathy in general, hence my stance to try to challenge those who have become too "comfortable" in their positions.

Unfortunately because of this comfort I believe, particularly at Government level, politicians become somewhat arrogant and do as they please rather than what the electorate actually want. Additionally they see to be almost untouchable in respect of, at the moment, rules on funding. When this happens it creates a vicious circle as the public then see this to be the case and then decide that any action they may take will make no difference and therefore don't vote. It's a difficult one but can be remedied by introducing compulsory voting. It works in Australia so why not here?

Peter Dolman · bye election 31st January

There is no doubt that political apathy reigns at all levels although I would disagree with Robert and others as to the cause. As a member of several committees the only times where members have turned out at agm's are when they are dissatisfied with an action the committee have taken.
It would seem to me that this means that the members are usually staisfied with the committees actions as you would normally get a man and his dog turning up to vote if you are lucky.
This is the same at elections, the by election in Lickhill will only have a turnout of between 25 to 30% at best.
I do agree with others in that we should have compulsory voting and proportional representation should be introduced (yes I am a LIberal).
I was elected in 2003 and like others thought that I could change the rules but you soon learn that you cannot. As a councillor you are bound by rules and regulations that no one tells you about.

I have since learnt that you can be more effective as an individual ie Calne Leisure Centre being a prime example hence my decision not to stand again for the town council

Chepfer

One person up for nomination in this election, seems only to be in it for personal reasons and that is to stop the Phelps parade development.

Hence i will not be voting for HER !.

People rubbish the BNP about there policies but when a councilor gets kicked out of a mainstream party for sending racial emails (and yes i got one indirectly from her) to other councillors, it makes you wander who we are asking to run our town and look after our hard earned money.

At least the BNP are up front in there beliefs and you can rely that what they say they are going to do..... they will.

Not that i would vote for them...

Sorry Robert, you are a genuine guy with a passion and heart that could really be good for Calne but some of the BNP policies go against my own beliefs. But i do respect you for what you are trying to do in many areas of your politics. Very Happy

GTB

What made her e-mails rascist? Confused

I havn't seen these e-mails but what makes it offensive?

Chepfer

GTB. They were really awfull. It was a rhyme about immigrants and where they should be.... Ie not here.

I wont pass it on, as it really is that bad.

It was forwarded to many of the other councillors as a bit of fun and someone got hold of it.

Very Happy

She was then asked to leave the party. It hit national headlines as well.

Local lass

so really it wasnt the fact that it was being handed about but because they were caught Laughing

Thats just bad luck.lets be honest we have all recieved and passed on jokes and emails.some would be classed very offencive.
whas it really worth all the bother ?or was it just pc stepping in again?

Lickhill bye election 31st January

bye election 31st January

Re: bye election 31st January

bye election 31st January

Re: bye election 31st January

bye election 31st January