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From Ernie Clark.
1st May will see elections for both Wiltshire Council and Hilperton Parish Council. If you are not registered to vote, or if you wish to opt-in to postal voting, please contact Wiltshire Council elections team a.s.a.p. The same goes if you will need a proxy vote.
The Wiltshire Council ‘expression of interest’ to the government, to be part of the ‘Heart of Wessex’ mayoral authority, was unsuccessful. Various areas were chosen to be part of the pilot scheme, but Heart of Wessex wasn’t one of them.
WC set its precept for 25/26 on Tuesday. The administration decided it didn’t ‘need’ 0.5% of the ‘permitted’ increase – nothing to do with the election, I’m sure. However, it could have an unforeseen repercussion in the future. How will WC be able to tell the government that it is ‘under-funding’ WC, if WC didn’t precept for the ‘full’ 4.99%? The 0.5% makes a difference of about 20p a week on a Band D property but it could give the government wriggle-room in the future.
Not really a political matter but the village hall bar (in Whaddon Lane) has had a total makeover. It is open from 8.00pm Sunday to Friday. Do drop in and see what you think of it – the prices are much lower than many pubs!
Part of the wide verge on Hilperton Drive has been set-aside as a wildflower area. It will be interesting to see how it develops and, hopefully, people will allow it to grow without walking over it.