Roundbarrow Farm conservation area – Update and BBC News article
An update on the conservation area set up on the former Roundbarrow Farm between Firsdown and Pitton is available from the BBC News website.
MoD road closure March 2025
The MOD section of Winterslow Road that crosses Porton Down Ranges will be closed to all traffic from the junction of the A30 to Blackbarn Road on the following dates – and during the prescribed hours as displayed in the table below. Diversions will be in place.
| 10 – 14 March | Closed each day 10:00 to 15:00 |
| 17 – 21 March | Closed each day 12:00 to 15:30 and evenings between 17:30 to 23:00 |
| 24 – 28 March | Closed each day 10:00 to 15:00 |
| 31 March – 04 April | Closed each day 10:00 to 15:00 |
Firsdown/Pitton Right of Way – Permissive Bridleway
Please be advised that the new Permissive Bridleway running through Roundbarrow Farm linking Pitton and Firsdown is due to be opened in May 2025.
It is not yet in use as there are grounds that need to recover from the extensive works undertaken to create the route.
Please be patient and refrain from use until further notice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Local elections 1st May 2025 – Your chance to join the Parish Council
Parish councillors serve a 4 year term before elections are held for the seats. This occurs on 1st May 2025. Firsdown has 7 councillors, some are intending to stand in the elections, whilst a number are expected to stand down. This will provide an opportunity for new additions to the Parish Council. A successful Parish Council needs local people to contribute views and ideas on issues that are important to them. Firsdown Parish Council would like to better reflect the make-up of the community it serves, for example new arrivals to Firsdown, young families and women; new members from these groups would be particularly welcome.
Full details of how to join us are here: We need you Firsdown Election notice May 2025
Alternatively join the webinar on the 5th March.
Wiltshire local transport plan
The current Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP3) ends in 2026 and the process of drafting the fourth edition, which will be known as Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4), covering the period to 2038, has started.
The draft LTP4 documents will aim to set the policy direction for transport in Wiltshire for the coming years, and set out how transport policy relates to other key areas, such as:
- decarbonisation
- health
- safety and wellbeing
- sustainability
- network resilience
- the economy
There is online consultation on LTP4 which closes on Friday 24 January 2025.
Further details are available here.
Help Pitton to reduce the risk of flooding
As many Firsdown residents know, the road to Pitton was shut for many months during winter last year due to ground water flooding. This occurs every few years.
The closure of the road impacts residents in Firsdown who make use of the facilities in Pitton.
The residents of Pitton are working with their Parish Council and Wiltshire Council to make drainage improvements to prevent flooding but they are also creating a self help community group to undertake some of the work themselves.
Details of their plans and a crowd funding appeal to support it are here.
Theft of tools from vans on the increase in Wiltshire
Wiltshire police have advised that the theft of tools and equipment from vehicles, particularly vans used by trades people has increased recently throughout Wiltshire. Thieves are drilling around lock mechanisms or are peeling back doors and body panels. Van owners are being asked to take extra precautions against theft.
Soft plastic collection suspended from 12th December
The soft plastics recycling bin at Great Croft will be removed on 12th December for approximately one month as the Parish Council are unable to resource the collection over the Christmas period.
Residents can still recycle their soft plastics at supermarkets in Salisbury such as Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco. The Parish Council will restart our scheme during the 2nd half of January.
Road closed through Porton Village
The road through Porton village is closed 2-13th December between 0900 and 1530 each day, diversions are in place.
Porton road closure
Silver Salisbury – Celebrating older people. What’s on in Salisbury
Silver Salisbury is a local charity which celebrates older people. It provides a wide range of events in and around Salisbury and aims to improve well being for the older members of communities by making them feel less isolated which can in turn can reduce the need the for health and social care services.
The program of events is available here.
A directory is also available to download.
If you know of someone in Firsdown who could benefit from taking part in one of the Silver Salisbury activities, then please pass on this information.