An Extraordinary Calne Without Parish Council meeting took place on 13th April to agree the council’s formal response to the recommendations produced by the Community Governance Review Committee. I wont mention all of the recommendations, only those that affect Calstone. There was an hour long debate discussing the merits, or otherwise, of Derry Hill and Studley forming their own parish council, as they requested in a petition to Wiltshire Council in 2019. The vote was 5 councillors in favour and 5 against. The parish council chairman, who also organised the petition, unsurprisingly used his casting vote in favour of forming the new parish council. We then discussed recommendation 5 that impacts us. The current wording recommends that Calstone, Lower Compton and part of Blackland moves to Cherhill Parish Council in one ward with 4 councillors (Cherhill would retain 5 and Yatesbury retain 2). I produced a modified recommendation that the whole of Blackland should join with Calstone in one new ward in Cherhill Parish Council with 2 councillors, and Lower Compton form a separate ward with 4 councillors. This would give Lower Compton, Blackland and Calstone representation proportionate to their number of electors, ensure that the identity of Blackland and Calstone is retained, and Lower Compton is represented as a distinct area within the parish with its own unique identity and needs. The parish council voted unanimously in favour of my proposed modifications (if Wiltshire Council do decide to split up our parish). Thanks to those of you who replied to my email on this topic. Everyone, except one, was in favour of my proposal. It is important to say that the parish council’s response is just part of the feedback that the Community Governance Review Committee will receive during the consultation phase. You still have until 5th May to let your views be known either by completing the forms sent with the letter you will have received from Wiltshire Council, or by completing the survey online (use the QR code on the right or follow this link: https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council-democracy-cgr).
For your information your local councillors have very different views on this topic. I voted in favour of the Calne Without Parish Council being split up because I feel that it is currently dominated by Derry Hill and Studley with whom we currently have limited, if any, local ties. I believe that we are linked far more closely with Cherhill today, our children go to school there, attend Cherhill Scouts, many of us attend events at the village hall etc. Jurgen and Rob argued very strongly that Calne Without Parish Council has served the community very well for over 100 years so why change it now. They also believe that it will be bad for communities such as Sandy Lane and Pewsham. I am sure that they would be happy to talk to you in more detail about their arguments in favour of the status quo if you contact them.
Once the consultation process closes, the Community Governance Review Committee will access the input at a public meeting. If they make substantive changes to the recommendations a further public consultation will take place. Ultimately Wiltshire Council will vote on the recommendations and the changes will come into effect after the next local elections in 2025.
Doug Price.