News

The Public Transport team at Wiltshire Council will be extending the popular Wiltshire Connect on-demand bus service to this parish from Wednesday 23^rd April.

The service can be used for journeys to Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury and to any location in the operating area (see link to map below) which includes the Great Western Hospital, Orbital Retail Park and Kemble Railway Station. Anyone can use Wiltshire Connect and our wheelchair accessible vehicles operate between 6am-8pm Mon-Fri and 8am-7.30pm on Saturdays. Rides can be booked by using the Wiltshire Connect app or by phone on 01225 712900 (Please note: The app can be used to book rides from Tuesday 22nd April).

For more information and to download the booking app, please go to their website:

Royal Wootton Bassett & Malmesbury - Connecting Wiltshire

Or you can call their friendly team on 01225 712900.

Please note: For communities currently served by the Connect2 Taxi-bus service – this scheme will continue to operate until the 30^th May and will then be replaced with the Wiltshire Connect service. If residents require a home pick-up with Wiltshire Connect, you are encouraged to contact the team before the end of May.

Please view the It’s Time for Wiltshire map here and the It’s Time for Wiltshire Visitor Guide can be seen here. All digital publications, including the Wiltshire towns and villages map can be found on their website

Wiltshire’s residents can now download a refreshed strategic policing blueprint for the county as the Police and Crime Commissioner unveils his latest police and crime plan.

Making Wiltshire Safer: Police and Crime Plan 2022-25 runs until April next year. PCC Philip Wilkinson is ensuring the next plan is readily available to the public to show how Wiltshire Police will continue to deliver policing across the county from 2025-29.

The new plan - which reflects detailed consultation and engagement with residents, operational advice from policing, local stakeholders and commissioned services - aims to tackle key safety challenges while ensuring an effective, efficient, frontline policing service which is highly visible, protects the vulnerable and encourages greater trust and engagement with communities.

The four strategic priorities of the Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029 include:

1. A Police Service that meets community needs – emphasising responsive and visible policing with a focus on public trust.
2. Reducing violence and serious harm – proactively tackling domestic abuse, sexual violence, and serious organised crime and violence.
3. Tackle crimes that matter to local communities – including anti-social behaviour, rural crime, and road safety.
4. Improve the experience of victims and deliver justice – ensuring victims feel supported throughout the justice process.

The plan sets out how Wiltshire Police and the OPCC’s commissioned services for victims will continue to contribute to Making Wiltshire Safer, such as investment, where necessary, to improve 999 and 101 response times, increased visibility in all communities, especially rural ones, and a comprehensive package to tackle serious violence and reducing knife crime, alongside enhancing satisfaction among victims of crime.

It also includes measures to engage young people and underrepresented groups, with initiatives like more effective community policing after new operating models were introduced and the continuation of youth mentoring programmes - all while balancing demand and communities' needs with an ever-challenging financial landscape.

PCC Philip Wilkinson said: "This plan is a blueprint for Making Wiltshire Safer and continues to build upon the successes of my first police and crime plan.

“Wiltshire Police has been making serious strides in progression since it was placed into Engage early in my tenure and the hard work paid off when it was finally lifted from this earlier this year.

“While there is always more work to be done to improve how effective and efficient Wiltshire Police can be, communities are telling me they are seeing improvements in frontline policing, in better visibility in communities and in better outcomes for victims, and revamped leadership and learning and development for all officers, staff and volunteers.

“But the Plan cannot succeed without the involvement of everyone—police, community groups, and residents alike. Together, we can build stronger, safer neighbourhoods where people feel confident, safe and protected.

“Wiltshire Police is dedicated to the principles of this plan, and the Chief Constable has committed to working with me, my office and our communities to address the concerns that matter most to them."

You can download a copy of the new Police and Crime Plan from this week on the PCC’s website: www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk (update bitly link!).

Next month, PCC Philip Wilkinson will be launching Use Your Voice: Police Precept survey and the police budget will be discussed in detail at Wiltshire and Swindon's Police and Crime Panel.

Wiltshire Police is urging anyone who has concerns about the safety of public places in their area to report it via a dedicated service.

StreetSafe allows people to report any issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where they feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing them.

This is completely anonymous and takes no more than a couple of minutes.

By completing the report police can target the main areas of concern and work with partners to make the county a safer place to live.

Click on this link for further information StreetSafe Wiltshire | Wiltshire Police

Click on the link to report:  StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk).

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.