Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

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Wiltshire Council news from Ernie Clark. Your Independent councillor for Hilperton.

In a rather surprising turn of events, the Leader of Wiltshire Council (WC) has decided that there is no need for a Chief Executive (CE) to run the council. As WC has a turnover bigger than many companies, this is a rather brave approach.

Other councils have managed without a CE, but a number of these are governed by elected Mayors who, basically, run the council as they see fit. With the next WC elections due to be held in May 2013 I wonder if this might be the route that is being planned for Wiltshire?

Hot on the heels of the announcement for a possible cinema on the old Bowyer site in Trowbridge, another developer has put the idea forward for one on ‘Mount Crushmore’ (next to the Civic Hall). Both schemes appear to have their ‘plus points’ and it will be interesting to see which one gets the go-ahead. I very much doubt that both could exist and make a profit for their backer.

The Cabinet at Bath & North East Somerset council has agreed to trial a ban on HGV traffic from part of the city. This could see more lorries using the ‘B’ road through Staverton and Hilperton. Wiltshire Council opposed the ban and must now ensure that any effect on the villages is properly recorded so that objections can be made at the end of the trial.

I’m told that it is actually against EU rules to ban lorries from ‘A’ class roads, so it will be interesting to see whether B&NES gets a telling-off from Brussels or wherever the EU is based at this time of the year.

The new plastics and cardboard wheelie bins will be arriving in Hilperton soon. The collection day will be changing for many of us, so be sure to look out for the letter from Wiltshire Council giving you your new collection details. Alternatively, check my web site for details!!

Finally, congratulations to the village for coming joint second ‘large village’ in the whole of Wiltshire. Again, the judges praised the churchyard, the allotments and lack of litter.