The Chippenham and Villages Area Board met to discuss community grants, flood preparedness, local highway improvements, and other community issues. Councillors agreed to allocate funding to various local initiatives, including community projects, youth programs, and support for older and vulnerable adults. They also received updates on flood preparedness and discussed local highway and footpath improvements.

Area Board Funding

The Area Board reviewed and approved several grant applications for community projects, older and vulnerable people, and youth initiatives. The Board noted the remaining budgets for 2025/26:

• Community Area Grant: £34,104
• Older & Vulnerable: £7,500
• Young People: £29,553

The following grants were considered:

• Wiltshire Scrapstore and Resource Centre: £2,500 requested for a new van. The van is essential for collecting resources and delivering craft activities.
• Corsham Windband Association: £1,250 requested for the Chippenham Primary School Project, which provides brass lessons in local primary schools. The funding would support the purchase of a third set of instruments, benefiting at least 180 children.
• Seagry and Startley Recreation Ground: £5,000 requested to revamp the recreation ground and replace play equipment. The project aims to improve the play area and create a more inviting space for the community.
• 4Youth South West: £5,000 requested for TeenTalk Young People Counselling, a service offering free person-centred support for young people experiencing mental health issues. The funding would enable the service to offer more bespoke support to young people.
• Rag and Bone Arts CIC: £5,000 requested for Public Art and Public Performance projects. The funding would support drama improvisation and training for young people, as well as public art initiatives.
• The Stay Safe Initiative CIC: £3,600 requested for the Boyz 2 Men and The Digital Empowerment Programme. This project supports teenage boys' mental health, promotes positive masculinity, and prevents violence against women and girls, while also equipping students with digital skills.
• Wiltshire Rural Music: £1,500 requested for Keep Music In Mind, a program that brings live acoustic music to older people living with dementia in Chippenham. The funding would support six free sessions in local care homes, memory cafes, and day clubs.
• Friendly Faces Community Group: £2,050.25 requested for a start-up fund to create a welcoming space where adults with additional needs can build friendships and social confidence.
• Age UK Wiltshire: £2,000 requested for Celebrating Age Wiltshire, a project that delivers creative arts, music, theatre, and heritage events for older, vulnerable adults in daytime settings.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group

The Area Board reviewed the minutes and recommendations from the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting held on 9 June 2025.

Some of the key items discussed and awaiting decisions included:

• Bath Road, Chippenham: A proposal to create a shared-use footway/cycleway across the site frontage of the Rontec Esso petrol station at Patterdown roundabout. However, due to issues with a utility pole, it was considered that no further action should be taken.
• 4-23-30 Union Road, Chippenham: Feasibility options were provided for consideration, with cost estimates ranging from £37,450 to £45,685. The proposals would now be sent to the Town Council for formal comment.
• A420 The Shoe – pedestrian improvements: The secondary schools in Chippenham are to be encouraged to include improvements in a bid to Taking Action on School Journeys. Otherwise LHFIG will consider implementing this as a further phase of A420 works.
• 4-24-09 River Street, Chippenham: Options provided by Atkins for street lighting, with costs ranging from £1,500 to £2,000. Decision to be taken by Town Council regarding standard or heritage lighting option.
• 4-24-13 Market Mead, Chippenham: Proposal plan included for consideration, with an estimated cost of £800 for lining and bollards. It was agreed to take forward the installation of bollards with waiting restrictions to be considered at later date if bollards unsuccessful.
• 4-24-34 The Causeway, Chippenham: The Area Board discussed an outline proposal for The Causeway, London Road, Market Place, and Wood Lane to be considered as a holistic piece. It was agreed that contact would be made with the 'One' board and the Chippenham Place officers group for wider scope including London Road etc. Councillor Ross Henning, Vice-Chairman to raise with Sarah Gibson MP.

Partner Updates

The Area Board received written updates from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Wiltshire Age UK, and Parish Forum Notes.

Inspector Pete Foster of Wiltshire Police provided an update on community policing, crime statistics, and operational priorities. The report noted that Wiltshire crimes per 1000 persons is the lowest in their 'Most Similar Grouping'.

The Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter highlighted various services and activities for older people, including wellbeing checks with meals, charity shops, fitness and friendship clubs, and information and advice services.

Other Information Items

• Community First: The Area Board noted the Community First briefing, which included updates on various programs and services, such as Youth Action Wiltshire, outdoor education, carers together Wiltshire, and community organising. The briefing also highlighted the upcoming Community First AGM on 8 October 2025.
• Wiltshire Money: The Area Board was briefed on Wiltshire Money, a project managed by Wiltshire Citizens Advice, which provides a network and strategic framework for organisations to coordinate and share knowledge on financial inclusion issues.
• Elections Update: The Area Board noted the elections update, which included information on postal vote renewal, the annual canvass of electors, and registering young electors.
• Reinvigoration of Wiltshire Carers Champions: The Area Board received a briefing on the proposal to reinvigorate the Wiltshire Carers Champions initiative, which aims to strengthen support for unpaid carers through improved visibility, engagement, and collaboration.
• Bikeability Instructors in Wiltshire: The Area Board was provided with information on the Bikeability program, the government's national cycle training program, and the requirements for becoming a Bikeability instructor in Wiltshire.
• Wiltshire Citizen's Advice and Wiltshire Council Engagement and Partnerships team: The Area Board noted a briefing note from Wiltshire Citizen's Advice and the Wiltshire Council Engagement and Partnerships team, which highlighted their collaboration to ensure that local advice and support services are accessible to those who need them most.
• New cycle path - Fairfoot Close and Gascelyn Close, Chippenham: The Area Board was informed about the opening of Wiltshire's newest cycle path, between Fairfoot Close and Gascelyn Close in Chippenham, which forms a key link in a longer north-south route being developed through this part of Chippenham.

Flood Preparedness

The Area Board received an update from Councillor Liz Alstrom, Portfolio Holder for Arts and Culture, on her attendance at a recent presentation on flood preparedness. The presentation covered flood risk management roles and responsibilities, reporting floods, and actions individuals can take to be better prepared and resilient.

Area Board Priority and Action Plan

The Area Board received an update report from the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager on the Area Board Priority and Action Plan. The plan focuses on key themes such as cost-of-living support, the local youth offer, older and vulnerable adults, and the local environment.

Appointments

The Area Board considered appointments to outside bodies for 2025/26. The Board agreed to appoint members as lead representatives to various outside bodies, including:

• Chippenham Multi-Agency Forum: Councillor Ross Henning
• Chippenham Town Team: Councillor Liz Alstrom
• Chippenham Arts Team: Councillor Ross Henning and Councillor Liz Alstrom
• Chippenham Pride: Councillor Liz Alstrom
• Chippenham Climate Forum: Councillor Dr Nick Murry
• Chippenham Parish Forum: Councillor Howard Greenman
• Community Safety Forum: Councillor Ross Henning

Local Policing

The Area Board received a written update and presentation from Inspector Pete Foster, Wiltshire Police, which included detail about the Community Policing Team including upcoming changes in personnel, the Police community commitment, community engagements, Chippenham town and rural areas crime and incident statistics, operational priorities and how to get involved. The Area Board also received a written road safety update.

Members commented on:

• Shoplifting issues and engagement between the Police and shops
• Town Council engagement with the Police about violence towards women and girls
• Number of PCSO's and changes in the Neighbourhood Police Team
• Speeding on Plough Lane, Kington Langley and number of fines generated
• The number of Community Speed Watches
• Speeding along the A350
• A number of 4x4's being abandoned in fields and set on fire and notification to the Fire Service and Police

Councillor Liz Alstrom thanked Inspector Pete Foster for attending the Area Board meeting, responding to questions and to continue the great work in Chippenham.

Age UK Wiltshire

The Area Board received a written update from Age UK Wiltshire, which included information on their services, such as wellbeing checks with meals, charity shops, fitness and friendship clubs, and information and advice services. The update also highlighted the upcoming Daytime Discos, fun and friendly events for anyone aged 55 and over.

Parish Forum Notes

The Area Board received a written report from the Chippenham Community Area Parish Forum meeting held on 25 June 2025. The report included updates from Wiltshire Police, Yesterday's Story CIC, and various issues raised by Parish Councils, such as traffic speed management, Wiltshire Highways, and the Lime Down Solar Park.