calnetalk.com

Peter Dolman

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 · Calnetalk Oracle Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2608 Status:

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 · Bentlian Oldboy Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 887 Status:

Local lass · Calnetalk Oracle Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2608 Status:

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 · Bentlian Oldboy Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 887 Status:

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 · Calnetalk Oracle Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2608 Status:

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 · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

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!
_________________
http://robertbaggs.blogspot.com/

Peter Dolman · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: 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 · Calnetalk Oracle Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2608 Status:

Local lass · Calnetalk Oracle Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2608 Status:

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. Evil Mind