The Warminster Area Board met to discuss community grants, local highways, and updates from partner organisations. The board agreed to allocate funds to several local projects, including village hall improvements, community events, and initiatives for young people. Councillors also reviewed ongoing highways projects and discussed priorities for the coming year.

Community Area Grants

The board considered several applications for community area grants, as detailed in the Warminster Area Board Grants report. These grants support local initiatives and organisations that contribute to the well-being of the community. The board approved the following applications:

• WhiteHorse Short Mat Bowls Club: £1,200 for new short mat carpets at their venue in Codford Village Hall.
• Bishopstrow Village Hall: £4,260 for the refurbishment of the hall's toilets.
• Codford Tennis for Club and Community: £5,000 for the replacement of fencing surrounding the tennis courts.
• Chapmanslade Village Hall and Memorial Ground: £5,000 for an integrated energy solution for the village hall.
• Corsley Reading Room: £500 for updating heating in the main hall of the village hall.
• Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: £1,200 for the Country Comes to Town event.
• Upton Lovell Village Hall: £400 for the Upton Lovell Village Newsletter.
• Age UK Wiltshire: £2,000 for Celebrating Age Wiltshire.
• Horningsham Village Hall: £499.82 for kitchen equipment.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The board discussed the minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 23 September 2025. Key topics included:

• Horningsham Street Nameplates: The LHFIG agreed to contribute £1,500 (75%) towards new street nameplates in West Common, Anchor Barton, Hitcombe Bottom, Gentle Street, Rowe's Hill and White Street, with Horningsham Parish Council contributing the remaining 25% (£500).
• Maiden Bradley Traffic Calming: Improvements are required to traffic calming buildout due to numerous road traffic collisions (RTCs). The group agreed to commit £5,000 towards a scheme for new gateway/SIDs, with LHFIG contributing 75% and Maiden Bradley Parish Council 25%.
• Warminster Waiting Restriction Review: The Warminster Town Council has agreed designs for waiting restrictions at Norridge View, Pampas Road, Emwell Street, Upper Marsh Road, Coppice Close, Fire Station, Deverill Road and Victoria Road. The plans are with legal for the Traffic Regulation Order preparation, formal advert/consultation date to be advised.
• Warminster Town Centre 20mph Speed Limit Assessment: The WTC have agreed a 20mph recommendation and want to proceed to formal advert/consultation. Cost estimate £12,250, with LHFIG contributing 75% (£9,188) and WTC 25% (£3,062).
• Horningsham Lining Works: The group are still waiting for the Parish Council's agreement to budget for the scheme to continue.
• Codford Salisbury Road New Street Lighting: Codford Parish Council ordered a metrocount to provide evidence of speeding prior to any designs undertaken.
• Corsley High House Farm: Posts are in for cattle warning signs, and can be invoiced and removed when complete.
• Upton Scudamore HGV Issues: Scheme recosted £650, with LHFIG contributing 75% (£488) and Upton Scudamore Parish Council 25% (£162). Order issued.
• Longbridge Deverill Village Gates: Ordered issued awaiting installation.
• Chapmanslade A3098/Short Street Safety Concerns: Investigations ongoing with signing and lining team.
• Codford Green Lane Waiting Restrictions: To be changed to Codford area waiting restriction for next agenda (new site from new issues to be added to this list).
• Chapmanslade A3098 Revise 18T Weight Limit to 7.5T: Cost estimated at £18,000, with LHFIG contributing 75% (£13,500) and ChapPC 25% (£4,500). Works can progress.
• Corsley Gey Hill Speed Limit: Metrocount requested awaiting data.
• Corsley RoW: Works to be ordered by PC on this occasion.
• Upton Scudamore Warning Signs: Location plan required for Lee Haine ref Horse Signs. PC to contact Lee to discuss further.
• Upton Scudamore Parking Issues: To be looked at when officer time allows.

Chairman's Announcements and Information Items

The chairman provided updates and information on several items, including:

• Elections Update: The Elections Update briefing note included information on postal vote renewals and the annual canvass of electors. Anyone who applied for a postal vote before 31 January 2024 has until 31 January 2026 to renew their postal vote. The Elections Team writes to all properties in Wiltshire every year to check if the data held on the electoral register is correct.
• Highways Defect Dashboard: The February 2025 Defect and Potholes Dashboard provided an overview of completed defects and potholes reported and repaired in the area.
• Completed Surfacing Schemes: The Completed Surfacing Schemes - April to Dec 2024 document detailed surfacing schemes completed up to the end of December 2024.
• Age UK Update: The Age UK - Newsletter provided an update on the organisation's activities and services for older people in Wiltshire. Age UK Wiltshire offers a range of services, including wellbeing checks with meals, charity shops with information points, fitness and friendship clubs, and information and advice.
• Community First Update: The Community First update - September 2025 included information on the organisation's various programmes and services, including youth action, outdoor education, and community organising. Community First delivers vital programmes and services for people and communities in Wiltshire and Swindon.
• Reinvigoration of Wiltshire Carers Champions: The briefing outlined the proposal for the reinvigoration of the Wiltshire Carers Champions initiative, which aims to strengthen support for unpaid carers through improved visibility, engagement, and collaboration.
• Veteran's Oaks Initiative: The Veteran's Oaks is a community-led initiative, dedicated to celebrating, commemorating and remembering the resilience and sacrifice of those who took part in World War Two through the symbolic planting of oak trees across the United Kingdom.
• Family and Community Learning Impact Report: The Family and Community Learning Impact Report highlighted the transformative power of adult learning across Wiltshire. Family and Community Learning is part of Wiltshire Council's Targeted Education Service and is funded through the Department for Education's Adult Skills Fund under a Tailored Learning contract.
• Citizens Advice: Wiltshire Citizens Advice and the Wiltshire Council Engagement and Partnerships team are working together to ensure that local advice and support services are accessible to those who need it most across Wiltshire.

Community Updates

Updates were received from partner representatives, including:

• Wiltshire Police: Inspector Lou Oakley provided an update on local policing priorities and activities, as detailed in the Wiltshire Police - Update. The presentation covered neighbourhood policing pillars, top reported crimes, and NPT priorities such as retail crime and youth ASB.
• Warminster Health and Wellbeing Forum: The Warminster Health and Wellbeing Forum - Update provided an overview of the forum's activities, including promoting volunteering and planning for the upcoming Health Fair in May 2026.
• Chapmanslade Footpath Volunteers: An update was provided on the progress of footpath improvements in Chapmanslade.
• Spurgeon's: The Spurgeons - Update provided information on the organisation's work with children and families in the area.

Area Board Priorities

The board reviewed and discussed the Warminster Area Board Priority and Action Plan, which outlines the key priorities for the area and the actions that will be taken to address them. The Engagement and Partnership Team's work will mainly focus on the core themes of cost-of-living support, the local youth offer, older and vulnerable adults and the local environment.