Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Ernie Clark, your Independent councillor.

Wiltshire Council news.

The Wiltshire Council election for Hilperton saw a reasonably good turnout of 40% - far better than many areas of the county.

My thanks to all that voted for me. My majority increased and, so I’m told, is again the largest in Wiltshire. My share of the vote also increased to 87%. My thanks to friends and family for all the leaflet delivering, including 2,000 on the day of the election.

At the first meeting of the council, I asked a couple of questions. One related to a committee of WC and its cost. Apparently, last year the WC Standards Committee cost over £7,000 but met only twice. For my follow-up question I asked the (Conservative) Chairman of the committee whether he felt this was value for money. His reply was verbose but basically he felt that it WAS. I’m not sure that I agree with him. By the way, the Chairman received £2,517 allowance for his onerous duties...over £1,250 per meeting, each of which only lasted a couple of hours. As Private Eye might say, 'Nice work if you can get it' but what a disgraceful use of council tax!

I understand that Trowbridge Town Council (TTC) has made an offer for the pony paddock to the east side of the new rugby ground on Devizes Road, and that their offer has been accepted. Neither myself nor the parish council were aware of what was being planned which seems a rather odd way for TTC to conduct its business.

I'm presuming that access will not be via the rugby club. Apart from anything else, I am sure that it would create highways issues. Presumably anything TTC plans would be subject to the same planning procedure that the rugby club had to go through. I understand that TTC wish to use the land as formal sport pitches and will fund the scheme using S.106 money from housing developments in the town.