Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The pilot Area Board for the Trowbridge area was 'launched' on Monday.
The advertised appearance of a representative from Wiltshire NHS (or the Primary Care Trust as it used to be), who was supposed to be giving a presentation about their proposals for the new Primary Care Centre in Trowbridge, did not materialise. If they can't be bothered to turn up at the launch of this scheme, what hope is there that they will bother coming to the regular meetings?

However, we were 'treated' to a presentation on the role of the Area Board. This looked at how people will be able to contribute to their community and influence decisions under the new Wiltshire Council (WC) which will come into being on April 1st next year. We were treated to an over long and rather tedious DVD explaining how, under the current system, councillors and council officers apparently never listen to members of the public. The clear implication was that under the new, more remote, council, everyone's voice will be heard. Let's hope that this does actually turn out to be the case.

Parish and Town Council representatives were given no reassurance on the way planning applications will be handled by the new WC. The current Conservative administration at County Hall plan to remove the right of town and parish councils to 'call in' controversial planning applications for decision by committee. Hardly what I would call a victory for the democratic process, but it will enable the target-driven WC to tick a Government performance box.

When the candidates start campaigning for your vote next June, please remember to ask them their view on this disgraceful decision and what they intend to do about it!

Wiltshire NHS has been invited to attend the next Area Board meeting in January - let's hope that someone can be bothered to attend and that the roads aren't too icy that night for them to venture out ...