Matt Hinton for Chiseldon and Ridgeway

It's been over a month since the election - and it has been a very busy one at that! See below for a quick update on what we have been doing as your Ward Councillors for Chiseldon and Ridgeway:

🚧 SCR: we have continued pushing for the opening of the SCR, with the ambition to open the road to construction traffic the end of the summer on track

🌿 Sight lines and grass cutting: following issues with the contract, the grass cutting schedule has slipped. we have been pushing for a timetable for grass cutting in our villages and have had success raising issues where sight lines are obscured at junctions

🚙 Speed limit surveys: after feedback from residents, we've delivered speed safety surveys to villages that are likely to meet the criteria for lower speed limits, such as Badbury, Hinton Parva and Foxhill

🍺 The Patriots Arms: Matt has been working with Chiseldon residents to get progress on the reopening of The Patriots Arms. Stonegate advise they do not have legal possession back and this is the blocker

🩺 Health provision: we've had conversations with the ICB about provision at Chiseldon's Station House surgery, and are supporting the campaign led by Wroughton’s Councillors to secure the promised Wichelstowe surgery - which will have a significant knock on impact on Chiseldon

🛣️ Road issues: we've continued to road numerous road safety issues, including potholes, faded white lines, damaged signs and the rogue signage around Bishopstone

👂 Ward surgeries: we've held our first ward surgery in Wanborough and have dates for Chiseldon surgeries which we will advertise soon

💼 Cabinet roles: Gary is now Leader of the Council and Matt is the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Safety and Services

🎈🐖 Community events: we've been as active and approachable in the community as ever, supporting coffee mornings, village fetes and the odd pig race!

As ever, please get in touch if we can be of any assistance!

A strong theme that emerged while canvassing in the run-up to the election was dissatisfaction with local health provision – particularly access to services at Station House Surgery.

The Integrated Care Board has provided an explanation of the current arrangements and insists that the existing setup is the best use of resources. However, I know from speaking to many residents that this does not reflect everyone’s experience.

I am looking to challenge some of the assertions made in the ICB’s response – including that there is insufficient patient demand to justify ringfenced appointments for Chiseldon residents or a separate phone line for Station House Surgery.

To do this effectively, I need evidence, so if you have had difficulties accessing appointments or getting through on the phone, I would really like to hear from you.

Please don’t share your experiences in the comments below. Instead, please email me at [email protected]

Gary and I have also been supporting our counterparts in Wroughton – Borough Cllrs Gayle Cook and Matt Courtliff, and Parish Cllr Matt Smith – in making the case for a dedicated GP surgery at Wichelstowe, which is an important part of addressing wider capacity issues. You can sign their petition here: https://www.change.org/p/build-new-gp-surgery-at-wichelstowe-now

Thank you in advance.

Sign the Petition Build new GP surgery at Wichelstowe now

Great news!

This proposed redirection of yet more lorries through Chiseldon has understandably caused concern.

We have contacted the planning officer asking to “call in” the application so it is discussed and decided by Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee.

There are two applications on the website which I have linked below. We strongly encourage everyone who is against this to comment on the applications, citing the impact this will have on the village, the precedent with Earthline, and the crucial fact there is science museum access that can be used instead.

Please try to ensure comments are varied and not copies of one another as this will give them greater weight.

I expect the Parish Council will also comment on this as a statutory consultee.

https://pa.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TEX8AFPT0UL00&activeTab=summary

https://pa.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TEMG40PTINI00&activeTab=summary

pa.swindon.gov.uk

Our priorities for , &

1. Resist dangerous development on Hodson Road
Having secured a deferral of a decision on road safety grounds at the March Planning Committee meeting, we will continue to work with residents and the Parish Council to keep making the point the site is unsuitable for a 42-home development.

2. Lobby for speed limit changes where desired
Where there is a clear consensus in favour, we will raise requests for lower speed limits, such as in Badbury and on Hodson Road near Burderop Park.

3. Push for the removal of the buildout on New Road
Working with Chiseldon Parish Council, we will push Swindon Borough Council to get progress on removing the buildout on New Road, which is in the wrong location and is a danger.

4. Chase National Highways re traffic light timings on the M4 roundabout
We have secured a commitment from National Highways to alter the traffic signal timings at Junction 15 as soon as they have maintenance control of the lights. We will hold them to account on this promise.

5. Campaign for a proper solution to A346 safety issues
Like many residents, we want to see something done about how dangerous the A346 is when turning. We have raised this with our MP and National Highways but now need a review of junction safety and to request accident reports.

6. Coordinating to stop fly-tipping
We will work with local parish councils and policing teams to set up proper surveillance as a deterrent and way of catching those responsible. We will also work to change rules which mean fly-tipping is not cleared from farmland, and rules at the Waterside tip which have caused a spike in commercial rubbish being dumped.

Our priorities for the
, , &

1. Protect the 'green belt' surrounding our villages
We will continue to fight plans to develop Inlands Farm and build a solar farm on Mount Pleasant that will open the door to brownfield development on the site in the not too distant future.

2. Lobby for speed limit changes where desired
Where there is a clear consensus in favour, we will make requests for lower speed limits, such as in Hinton Parva and Foxhill.

3. Support residents of Redlands Grove and Lotmead
We have worked hard to support the residents of Redlands Grove and will continue to push the developers to make good on the promises made, including the building of a primary school and provision for a shop.

4. Fighting for investment in rural roads
We are constantly reporting potholes, damaged or missing road signs, faded white lines, encroaching verges, obscured sight lines and other issues with our rural road network. We have been pleased to see pothole repairs and the renewal of white lines, and will make a wider point of campaigning to ensure rural roads receive a fair share of council resources.

5. Monitoring the progress of the Southern Connector Road
We attended a recent meeting with the Council and Vistry, one of the NEV developers, where the intention to open the SCR to construction traffic this autumn was made clear - with access to the public expected to follow. We will use our good relationship with the developers and experience working with Council officers to ensure the road opens as soon as possible.

6. Coordinating to stop fly-tipping
We will work with local parish councils and policing teams to set up proper surveillance as a deterrent and way of catching those responsible. We will also work to change rules which mean fly-tipping is not cleared from farmland and rules at the Waterside tip which have caused a spike in commercial rubbish being dumped.

Huge thanks to Parish Clerk Clair Wilkinson for helping to organise, and all the volunteers across Chiseldon and Badbury, for today’s litter pick. Many bags were filled and it was a huge success, but a shame it was needed in the first place!

Great to follow it up with lunch in The Plough on the Hill, Badbury! 🍽️

It was great to talk Beckie at The Ink about climate and environmental issues ahead of the election in May.

The Ink Environmental Election Special The Monthly Ink Environmental Focus with Rebecca Clements

The sun is out and it’s hotting up on the campaign trail with Cllr Matt Hinton for Chiseldon and Ridgeway and Gary Sumner Swindon Conservatives for the - great to see residents in Chiseldon & talk local issues