News

Solar Together scheme

Introduction

After a successful two years with iChoosr, Wiltshire Council has partnered up with them once more to do the Solar Together scheme. Solar Together is a project that has been created to give households and businesses an affordable installation on solar panels and battery storage system instalments through a group-buying deal. The scheme offers reassurance to residents by appointing a pre-vetted installer and providing a fully supported customer journey.

Since the Solar Together scheme started, over 1,100 installations and 10,000 solar panels have been installed in Wiltshire, leading to a CO₂ reduction of over 22,000 tonnes in Wiltshire.

The scheme allows participants to have the following systems installed:

· Solar PV

· Battery Storage

· EV Charge Points

If a resident has already had solar PV installed, they can retrofit their systems with battery storage instead.

How you can register

To be a part of the scheme, residents can register online before 9^th August at https://solartogether.co.uk/Wiltshire/landing or https://solartogether.co.uk/swindon/landing. They will be asked to fill out a quick questionnaire with personal details to determine whether they are eligible for rooftop solar panels, battery installation, or both.

The questionnaire will ask for information such as address, roof type, and energy usage. The solar installer can then use this information to assess whether the resident's rooftop is appropriate for solar panels and batteries and whether they are a suitable candidate for solar energy.

What happens after signing up?

An auction will be held for pre-vetted installers submit bids for the work. Once the winner is selected, individuals who have registered will receive a personalised recommendation based on the information provided during registration. They can then accept the offer online and pay a deposit.

The chosen installer will contact the individual to survey their roof and schedule the installation.

How is a personal recommendation created?

The recommendation considers the residents estimated yearly electricity consumption, roof size, and battery capacity preference. The comprehensive recommendation includes:

• Recommended number of panels or battery capacity
• Benefits of the panels or battery
• Total package price
• Documents: installer info, product specs, terms and conditions, and next steps explained

If the registrant is interested in getting an electric vehicle charging point, it won't be included in your initial Solar Together personal recommendation.

Wessex Water is upgrading Milbourne Water Treatment Centre to improve reliability of the water supply to customers. This work will involve installing a new booster pump station to ensure supply to all customers in the event of an unplanned issue at the treatment centre.

Work will start on Tuesday 28 May 2024 for approximately four months and the upgrade will take place without interruption to local water supplies.

All the work will take place within the existing site which is near Monks Park. Some work may be visible during construction and there will be additional traffic using the access track to the site.

There may be some noise disruption while this work is carried out, but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.

Water supply services can be used as normal unless advised otherwise.

Wessex Water will shortly be writing to local customers to advise them about this work and a copy of the letter can be accessed on the link below.

Please scan the link to complete an online survey being run by Wiltshire Council.  The aim is to gather information about what local people feel are the important themes and priorities for their area. The short survey asks people to choose their key themes and then, for their top three, tell us further detail about those issues. It shouldn’t take any longer than 10mins to complete.

The responses will help to inform Wiltshire Council’s planning for the coming years and also help to shape Malmesbury Area Board’s priorities for the coming year. They really want to hear about the issues that are important to local people so they can channel resources into making changes where they’re wanted.

Please click on the link below to read the most recent Force update from the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.

L-R: Jilly Rice, Emma Rice, Roger Budgen, Chair St. Paul Malmesbury Without PC, Martin Rice, David Hide, Chairman MLOF, Ray Sanderson.

Milbourne, in St. Paul Malmesbury Without, is the latest local parish council to receive a life-saving defibrillator from the Malmesbury League of Friends (MLOF).

The defibrillator is installed in an old telephone box in Milbourne Lane and has been dedicated to former local resident Phil Rice, who sadly passed away last year. He had been a MLOF trustee and was very active in the local community.

21 local parish councils have already received funding from MLOF to install defibrillators in their villages and others are still considering the offer from MLOF for funding towards their installation.

Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) have been described as the single most important development in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. Designed for use by untrained lay persons, they have improved the outcomes of literally thousands of people who have suffered from cardiac arrests.

MLOF chairman David Hide said: “We are delighted to have worked with another local parish council to enable it to have access to this potentially life-saving equipment.”

St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council Chairman Roger Budgen said: “We are very grateful to MLOF and to be able to dedicate the defibrillator to Phil Rice, a wonderful local resident who did so much for Malmesbury and District”.

You may already have seen some of the following press releases  Road safety campaign launched following the death of 13 people on Wiltshire's roads so far this year | Wiltshire Police and Road safety campaign 2023 | Wiltshire Police due to the increased number of people killed or seriously injured on Wiltshire’s roads.

The cost of living crisis means that many of us are finding it difficult to manage rising energy, food and other costs.  Malmesbury Town Council, Wiltshire Council and other local organisations have partnered together to provide a network of support and information to help people cope with the crisis.  You can download the advice on the link below. 

St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council

WESTPORT WARD

The Parish Council has a vacancy remaining from the May 2021 election for a Councillor, which will be filled through the process of co-option.

Co-opted Councillors have the same rights and responsibilities as those who obtain office through election. They are expected to attend the regular meetings of the Council and also to serve on a number of committees. All meetings are normally held on the 4^th Wednesday of the month. The role is varied and enables local people to use their skills and experience to enhance the work undertaken by the Council for the benefit of the community.

· Do you want to serve your Community?

· Do you have time or expertise which could benefit your Community?

· Do you want to make a difference to those around you?

· Are you concerned about your local area?

· Do you want to represent the views of local people?

If you would like to make a difference, and be involved in shaping the future of your local Community, why not step forward and apply to fulfil this role? All members of the community are welcome to apply.

If you are interested, please click on the attached expression of interest form.

If you would like more information, please contact the Clerk at clerkspmw@outlook.com or 07859 937917

To be able to stand for co-option to a local council, an individual must meet certain qualifications (by law), these are:

· Over 18 and a UK, Commonwealth, ROI, or EU Citizen and

· An elector for the parish, or

· For the last 12 months, have occupied land or premises in the parish, or

· Work in the parish (principal or only place of work), or

· Reside within 3 miles of the parish boundary

Please see attached leaflet for further information and an application form.