Rescheduled meeting from the 5th July
Due to unplanned non availability of Councillors, the Parish Council meeting that was due to be held on the 5th July was cancelled. It has been rescheduled for the 20th July.
Fly tipping of garden waste
The Parish Council reminds residents that dumping of garden waste on public land is considered as illegal fly tipping. Wiltshire Council have brought a successful prosecution against a individual from Market Lavington who dumped grass cuttings on a public byway. A £400 fine was imposed.
https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/5678/Green-waste-fly-tipper-hit-with-fixed-penalty-notice
Emergency Assistance
The Parish Council has provided guidance on what to do in the event of an emergency here:
We encourage those who are classed as vulnerable, to register with the electricity and water utilities. You will be prioritised for emergency assistance if these utilities fail. Details are in the link above.
Trained healthcare professionals and those qualified in First Aid who are Firsdown residents, may be able to provide additional assistance before the 999 emergency services arrive. The Parish Council appreciates that this would be on a voluntary basis and that this help may not always be available. If you think you would be able to provide assistance, please get in touch via the Contact Us details on the Home page.
Victoria County History of Wiltshire
The Victoria County History (VCH) was founded in 1899 as a national project to write the history of every county in England. At its inception, the project was dedicated to Queen Victoria, which is how it derives its name.
The VCH aims to complete authoritative, encyclopaedic histories of each county, from the earliest archaeological records to the present day, as well as topics such as topography, landscape and the built environment. Some VCH volumes were published over a century ago, while others are now in progress or planned for the future.
The VCH is now working in SE Wiltshire covering Firsdown and the surrounding areas. Their researchers are keen to hear from anyone who can contribute knowledge of the local history of our area. More details and how you can get in contact, are available here:
Thinking of getting solar panels?
Wiltshire Council have announced the 2nd phase of their Solar Together Scheme.
Solar Together operates on a group-buying approach, with the core principle that coming together as a group provides enhanced buying power and allows the approved providers to offer a better price than individual homeowners might get from entering the market alone.
Further details are in the attachment.
If any residents want to find out more about any aspect of solar panels and battery storage then please contact the Parish Council. 3 Councillors have had such systems installed and we can share our knowledge and experience.
Attachments
Total Attachments: 1
Download: 23-17_ Launch_of_second_Solar_Together_scheme_Wiltshire_and_Swindon (626 KB)
Roundbarrow Farm conservation area – what are you views?
Roundbarrow Farm (the land to the west of the Pitton Road) was previously managed as a dairy farm and was returned to Wiltshire Council in September 2021. Wiltshire Council intend to manage the land to enhance the natural capital and for conservation purposes, rather than as an intensive dairy farm, and create nitrogen ‘credits’ that can be traded to counterbalance the nitrogen burdens from new development.
A public consultation meeting has already been held by Wiltshire Council, and they have committed to provide a new footpath linking Firsdown and Pitton. The Parish Council intends to formally submit ideas for conservation use of the land. We discussed this at our public meeting on 8th June.
Ideas already suggested include:
- Circular foothpath – in addition to the new Firsdown/Pitton footpath
- Allotments
- Community orchard – with less common fruit tress such as pears, plums and cherries
- Wildlife pond/wetland area
- Areas specifically set aside for wildflowers
If you have ideas that you would like us to submit then please get in touch – our contact details are on the Home page.
Internal audit and financial documents
Statute requires all town and parish councils to arrange for an independent internal audit examination of their accounting records and system of internal control and for the conclusions to be reported each year in the Annual Governance & Accountability Return.
This report sets out the work undertaken in relation to the 2022-23 financial year, which took place on Friday 12th May 2023.
The documents are available for download here (scroll down page):
Pitton Community Shop and hub
The current shop in Pitton is due to close within the next 2 years due to retirement of the proprietor. After much research, the Community Shop Steering Group has identified that Pitton Village Hall is the most appropriate site for the proposed new community shop and hub, with the building of an extension to house the facility.
The Community Shop and hub will provide post office and newsagents services as well the usual offerings, sell local produce, and contain a café, all of which will be of interest to Firsdown residents.
The Parish Council are seeking the views of Firsdown residents as to whether we should make a contribution to legal, architects and planning application fees.
Please use the contact us details to let us know your views.
Changes to waste and recycling by Wiltshire Council
Read on for important updates about:
- New recycling collections for small rechargeable electricals – MP3 players, mobile phones, digital cameras, electric toothbrushes – and a whole host of similar items.
- Stopping the collection of textiles and shredded paper.
- How to recycle AAA/AA/C/D batteries and button cells.
- Arrangements for paint disposal.
- Recycling centres:
- New “sort it before you bring it” advice
All of the following can be recycled via your blue top bin.
| Empty aerosol cans – please fully empty them first before adding to the bin. Plastic pots, tubs, and trays – please always remove the plastic films on the top (pots go in the blue-lidded recycling bins, plastic film in the general waste bin). Metal jar lids – put them back on the jar and put this in your black box. Clean aluminium foil – after use, please give it a quick rinse, scrunch it, and pop it in your blue-lidded bin. Ideally, keep adding foil until it is at least the size of a tennis ball. Plastic bottles Drinks cartons Food and drinks cans Tin foil trays Paper Cardboard |
More details are available here:
https://mailchi.mp/0c8ba43c300f/clinical-waste-sharps-test-560737?e=5fef9e13b3
Videos: Annual Electors Meeting, Annual Parish Meeting
Videos of the Annual Electors Meeting – which provides a summary of the work of the Parish Council over the last year, and the Annual Parish Meeting, both held on the 3rd May 2023, are available to watch on YouTube.
The links are here: https://www.firsdown-pc.gov.uk/parish-council-meeting-videos