Peter Davison

A lorry driver, Stuart Collis, complained that Chippenham Town Councillor David Poole made offensive and derogatory comments about his parking at a petrol station on New Year's Day and identified himself as a councillor. Wiltshire Council's standards committee found that Poole was acting in an official capacity and that the alleged conduct could constitute a code-of-conduct breach, but conflicting accounts and a lack of corroborating evidence meant it could not determine that a breach had occurred. The committee dismissed the complaint without referring it to a formal hearing. The case comes amid a rise in complaints against Wiltshire town, parish and county councillors.

Nationwide Building Society is installing bleed kits and defibrillators outside all its UK branches. In Wiltshire, listed building consent was required for installations at its historic branches in Trowbridge and Warminster, and Wiltshire Council has approved both applications. A similar application for the Chippenham branch, supported by the town council, remains undecided; equipment is already installed outside the Marlborough branch.

Plans for a 17-hectare solar and battery storage facility at Whistle Mead near Melksham will be considered at a Planning Inspectorate hearing in Trowbridge on September 22. The scheme, proposed by Blue Stone Renewables I Ltd and associated with ABEI Energy, would include more than 31,000 panels and generate 24 megawatts of electricity for about 5,000 homes. Wiltshire Council planning officers recommended approval, but councillors refused the application over its size and the cumulative impact of nearby solar farms. Concerns also include effects on the landscape and Great Chalfield Manor, battery-fire risks, restricted access for emergency vehicles, and possible groundwater contamination. The applicants maintain that there are no valid reasons to refuse the project and that it is needed to support the UK's Net Zero objectives.

Luke and Kylie Cowlard are appealing after Wiltshire Council rejected retrospective planning permission for a log cabin at their smallholding near Calne. They moved into the cabin with their four children after finding that caring for 21 pygmy goats and more than 350 poultry birds required frequent, sometimes overnight, on-site attention. The couple argue that living there is necessary for animal welfare, livestock security and reducing vehicle journeys, and say they may have to close the business if they cannot remain. The National Farmers’ Union supports the application, but the council says the cabin is poorly designed and harms the local landscape. A planning appeal decision is expected after September 10.

Wiltshire Council unanimously backed a motion urging water companies and the government to tackle pollution in the county’s rivers and streams. Councillors cited illnesses following river swimming, inadequate monitoring of recreational waters, sewage discharges, and agricultural and urban runoff. The Environment Agency reported that all of England’s rivers were polluted to some extent, with only 14% rated good. Wessex Water, Thames Water and Southern Water defended their efforts and highlighted planned investment, while acknowledging or attributing river-health problems to a range of sources.

Wiltshire Council has granted listed building consent for repairs to an Elizabethan octagonal turret at Grade I listed Longleat House. Designed by Robert Smythson in the 1560s, the turret is considered of high significance but has suffered water ingress, poor ventilation, structural decay and damage from deathwatch beetles. The works will be carried out on a like-for-like basis to address the deterioration, improve ventilation and access, and protect the turret and rooms below from further damage.

BBC presenter Fiona Bruce and Labour MP Jess Phillips are due to speak at the one-day EVAWG Summit 2026 at Marlborough College on October 23. The invitation-only event will focus on ending violence against women and girls through discussion, partnerships and practical community action. Other speakers include domestic abuse commissioner Nicole Jacobs, police reform lead Louisa Rolfe and representatives from Refuge and Male Allies UK. The summit is being organised by Wiltshire Council representative Monica Devendran, following the council’s support for a motion recognising violence against women and girls as an emergency and committing to stronger leadership, partnership work and survivor support.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council has raised concerns about Wiltshire Council’s plan to build a household recycling centre on council-owned land near the town’s salt depot on Marlborough Road. The facility would replace centres at Purton and Calne. Concerns include additional traffic and queuing, the site’s access on a blind bend, impacts on the town centre and local businesses, emissions, noise, dust, litter, visual intrusion and costs to taxpayers. Wiltshire Council says the location is the only suitable site identified so far, but stresses that further feasibility work is required before a planning application is submitted.

Female councillors at Wiltshire Council described personal experiences of rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse during a debate on appointing an Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Champion. Jennie Westbrook’s motion cited rising domestic-violence and sexual-assault reports in Wiltshire and faced proposed amendments from Conservative and Reform UK councillors concerning a public inquiry into organized sexual exploitation and whether the role should be non-political. The amendments were defeated, and the motion to appoint a council member as champion passed by 80 votes to none, with three abstentions.

Wiltshire councillors unanimously opposed the government's proposed National Scheme of Delegation, which would allow planning officers to decide many applications, potentially including developments of up to 500 homes, without referral to elected planning committees. Councillors from the Conservatives, Reform UK and other groups said the changes would weaken local accountability, public participation and trust in the planning system. The regulations and guidance are scheduled to take effect on October 31.

Wiltshire Council rejected Netheravon Parish Council’s application to register part of the former Orchard Farm as an Asset of Community Value. The parish council argued that the open land provides important green space, wildlife habitat and opportunities for informal walking, while the Ministry of Defence said the fenced site is secure, unavailable to the public and has no public rights of way. The MOD claimed the application was made in bad faith and said a planned auction of the property had been withdrawn because of it. The council concluded that the land’s current and recent agricultural use had not furthered the community’s social wellbeing.

A community-led effort to protect The Swan at Enford has prompted its nomination as an Asset of Community Value, ensuring local residents would have the chance to buy the pub if it were sold. After villagers and volunteers kept it running following the previous licensee’s departure, new majority shareholders reopened it with continued local involvement. The parish council and CAMRA supported the application, citing the pub’s social, historical, and cultural importance. Wiltshire Council is expected to decide on the designation by the end of July.

A GP Patient Survey of more than 650,000 responses ranked surgeries in Swindon and Wiltshire, with Phoenix Surgery in Swindon receiving the lowest patient satisfaction score at 65 percent. Avenue Surgery in Warminster and Downton Surgery near Salisbury followed with 68 percent. Ten practices fell below the national average of 76.7 percent satisfaction. The survey, commissioned by NHS England and run by Ipsos, gathered data from early January to mid-April 2026. The Local Democracy Reporting Service also reviewed the highest‑ranking practices in the region.

Wiltshire Council is set to approve Electoral Review Committee recommendations rejecting Devizes Town Council’s attempt to shift parish boundaries and absorb parts of Bishop’s Cannings. After strong opposition, Bishop’s Cannings retained existing and planned housing areas and gained 200 additional homes at Lock Keeper Gardens. Planning applications from major retailers increased the area’s significance during the consultation. Additional boundary adjustments involving Potterne, Rowde, Purton, Lydiard Milicent, Lydiard Tregoze and Royal Wootton Bassett were also reviewed, with further recommendations to align electoral divisions with new parish boundaries.

An investigation into odours from the Lower Compton Landfill in Calne found that while the smells can cause short-term symptoms such as headaches and nausea, they do not pose long-term health risks. Monitoring data reviewed by the UK Health Security Agency showed no exceedance of health-based thresholds for hydrogen sulphide, particulate matter or methane, though odour levels occasionally surpassed annoyance guidelines. Officials noted that people with respiratory conditions may be more affected. Agencies and Hills Waste Solutions will discuss findings and ongoing mitigation efforts at a community event, while the Environment Agency continues enforcement and monitoring to ensure compliance.

Wiltshire Council has approved plans to expand Malmesbury C of E Primary School, enabling the creation of a Dyson‑funded STEAM centre and increasing school capacity from 420 to 630 pupils. The James Dyson Foundation committed an additional £1.8 million to the project, though neighbouring schools expressed concerns about potential impacts on their enrolment. Councillors acknowledged declining rural school numbers but supported the project, citing a unique opportunity and the value of collaborative funding. The local headteacher welcomed the decision as a major benefit to the community.

A Chippenham homeowner lost an appeal to retain a 4.5‑metre radio antenna installed without permission after a planning inspector ruled it would significantly harm the appearance of the neighbourhood. The inspector found the mast visually intrusive compared with typical domestic equipment, outweighing arguments about its value for amateur radio use and emergency communications. Objections from neighbours and a complaint to Ofcom had described the installation as an eyesore, and planning permission was ultimately refused.

McDonald's is encouraging residents to support its planning application for a new 24‑hour restaurant on Horton Road in Devizes, promoting an online form that submits messages of backing to Wiltshire Council. The proposal involves demolishing existing buildings to build a drive‑through restaurant, creating around 120 jobs and redeveloping the former Cannings Hill Garage site. The application has already drawn public comments, with supporters citing investment and jobs while objectors raise concerns about noise, odour and light pollution. Nearby commercial developments by Aldi and Tesco add to the area's competing plans.

Developers have unveiled plans for a Tesco superstore, a drive‑through Starbucks and a DIY store on land near Devizes, proposing a parkland-style design intended to blend with the surrounding landscape. The scheme aims to create jobs, support the local economy and provide shopping options for the growing east side of the town. The site lies near land earmarked by Aldi for a separate store, with both projects likely to be considered together by Wiltshire Council. Public consultation runs until July 21, with a planning application expected in September and a potential construction start in 2027.

Two fires in four days at the Compton Bassett recycling site prompted strong criticism from local MP Sarah Gibson, who demanded improved safety measures and better battery disposal practices. Hills Waste Solutions attributed the fires to incorrectly discarded lithium‑ion batteries and urged the public to use designated disposal systems. The company highlighted rising battery‑related incidents nationwide, while local authorities supported calls for safer disposal to protect residents and waste crews.