Previously mentioned Dec 2017 the Parish Council is planning to replace the roundabout with an improved version, also suitable for use by those with disabilities, The basketball hoop is planned to be removed and replaced with a new rope climbing frame/clamber net.
Wiltshire Council is reviewing the Wiltshire Core Strategy (adopted January 2015), which sets
out planning policies for the development and use of land in the county over the period to
2026 and is used in the determination of planning applications. Referred to as the Wiltshire Local Plan Review.
Wiltshire Council are seeking your views on the scope of the review and the issues the Council should
consider in planning for the period to 2036. The review will involve the preparation of a
Joint Spatial Framework with Swindon Borough Council. At this stage, no decisions have
been made on the future locations for growth and development.
How to comment
The consultation runs from 9:00am on Tuesday 7 November 2017 until 5:00pm on
Tuesday 19 December 2017.
All the consultation documents and supporting evidence are available on this link:
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-policy-local-plan-review
Copies of the consultation documents can also be viewed during normal opening hours at
the Council’s main offices at Monkton Park (Chippenham), Bourne Hill (Salisbury), County
Hall (Trowbridge) and at all Wiltshire Council libraries.
Comments can be returned via the following means:
Online via the Council’s dedicated consultation portal:
http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal/spatial_planning
By email using the representation form available on the web site and returned to
ku.vog.erihstliw@ycilopgninnalplaitaps; or
By post in writing to: Spatial Planning, Economic Development & Planning, Wiltshire
Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN.
Total Attachments: 1
Download: Notification Letter (200 KB)
Despite the forecast of poor weather for the Inauguration of the Firsdown Circular Walk, there was a good turnout of residents and the weather stayed fine for most of the walk.
Nigel Walsh spoke briefly about the circular walk describing how two other parishes, Pitton and Alderbury, have established circular walks in place with another two due for completion at The Grimsteads and Downton. It is intended to expand and establish more signed and waymarked circular walks at other parishes of Southern Wiltshire with the help of local volunteers.
County Councillor Chris Devine declared the walk open and Mary Read, Firsdown’s oldest resident of the original hamlet, cut the ribbon.
Mary described moving into Firsdown when it was part of the Winterslow Parish and building their own bungalow in 1953, the year of the Queen’s Coronation. This was coincidentally the same year that Sir Edmund Hillary conquered the world’s highest peak, Mt Everest. So Mary and John Read appropriately named their home Everest.
The walking party completed the circuit in good time an four of us continued up to Figsbury and back along Monarchs Way.
“Firsdown Paths Group” will be organizing further regular walks around the circuit with the option to go on to Figsbury or Winterbourne Earls in the future. This will be a great way to combine enjoyable exercise through our beautiful parish with meeting up with neighbours.
“Firsdown Paths Group” and the Parish Council would like to thank all who turned out despite the ‘inclement weather’ and for Chris Devine and Mary Read giving us their time to open the walk.
Founder Members of Firsdown path Group
Nigel Walsh, Geoff Heard & Sam Esser
Firsdown Circular Walk Official Opening
Firsdown Paths Group are proud to announce the official opening of the circular walk ranging from 2.5 to 5 miles,
The official opening takes places on Sunday 1st October at 2 pm and starts from outside the Play Area at the South end of Firsdown
All are welcome so please do try and support by meeting everyone on the 1st October
Dogs are welcome but must be kept under control 
Residents are being warned to keep sheds and garages securely locked following a number of incidents in the local district.
Wiltshire Council has frozen the clearing, repairing and maintaining budget, of the county’s 3600 miles of Rights of Way with the exception where there is a danger to life and limb.
FIRSDOWN now have a small group of volunteers to clear and maintain our paths.
Firsdown Parish Council
Would like to say a Big Thank you to Rory Dible and Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in donating a lovely new Park bench for the community
Local Parishioners including Nigel Walsh and Parish Council Members Helen & Brian Edgeley helped to install the bench
Since the last Firsdown Council Meeting in April the following has been completed
PLANNED WORK
Clear all Parish Rights of Way from play area north to A30, perhaps beyond if we can get volunteers. Play area east to Dunstable needs to be agreed. We hope to discourage wheeled traffic from exercising their rights by keeping the path at pedestrian width.
Firsdown is only a couple of miles from the famous Clarendon Way walk, a 24 mile walk joining the two Wessex cities of Winchester and Salisbury crossing the Test Valley between Kings Somborne and Houghton. It starts beside the waters of the Itchen in the heart of Winchester and ends near the Avon at Salisbury Cathedral. It provides a splendid variety of scenery along the way, ranging from the water meadows of the valleys with their charming villages through woodland – ancient as well as modern – to downlands with far-ranging views.
The Clarendon Way is named from Clarendon Park on the eastern edge of Salisbury. The Park contains the site of Clarendon Palace, a royal hunting lodge for Norman Kings, but later expanded by the Plantagenets into a great county house. Almost nothing remains now, only a few feet of flint wall lying a few yards from the Clarendon Way.
At Winchester one sees smaller remains which are even older, a few stones beside the River Itchen which are all that survive from the Roman wall built around the City in the 3rd Century. A mile down the valley lies the hospice of St Cross where even 400 years ago the choir boys carved their names on the stalls in the chapel.
Total Attachments: 1
Download: clarendon-way (2 MB)
The “Monarch’s Way” Association is very pleased to thank everyone involved in this superb result. Especially and in no particular order Nick Cowan (Wiltshire Rights of Way). Also the Firsdown Footpath Group who have not only been working very very hard to ensure the route is clear in this area but have pushed for these improvements to take place.
The “Monarch’s Way” Association promotes the 625 mile Historical Monarch’s Way, which is the escape route of King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The route starts in Worcester and continues to its end at Shoreham near Brighton where King Charles II escaped in a little ship to France
Promotion is much easier when we are confident that the route is safe for all our members
I walked that section before the changes had been made and it was dangerous, the photographs show how much safer it is now.
Huge congratulations and our very sincere thanks to everyone involved
Very Best Wishes
John Tennant
General Manager The Monarch’s Way Association