Parish Awards 2020 and 2021

May 5, 2021

Atworth Parish Council were delighted to give awards in grateful recognition for outstanding service to the community of Atworth Parish. One was given to former PCSO Maggie Ledbury and the other to fellow Parish Councillor Richard Clark.

Maggie Ledbury had been the PCSO for Atworth Parish for thirteen years. She had worked effectively and efficiently in her role, and has established the confidence and trust of the community. She had used her excellent interpersonal skills of being calm and tactful, to build friendships especially with older people, and had become a valuable asset to our village life. She has used her knowledge, advice, good judgement, and sound common sense to benefit lives here significantly. Maggie has been an exceptional representative of Wiltshire Police. Her work was very much valued and appreciated, and she is greatly missed.

Maggie continues to serve the wider community in her new role with SpeedWatch.

Richard Clark is well known and respected in Melksham as he has been a volunteer Link driver for over ten years. In Atworth he is valued for his work with the Atworth Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity. Richard has been Chairman of Trustees for the past eight years. Under his dedicated leadership and personal input, the Village Hall has been sympathetically modernised, renovated and repurposed providing an excellent facility at the heart of the community. His helpful, friendly, and always positive outlook make him a popular personality in the village.   He keeps busy as Village Hall Manager, Booking Clerk, and maintains the Recreation Ground.

Census 2021

March 10, 2021

The next census takes place on Sunday 21 March 2021.

It’s a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. It helps plan and fund public services, like transport, education and healthcare.

By taking part and encouraging others to do the same, you’ll help make sure you and your community get the services you need.

There is plenty of help for people who need it.

taking-part-in-the-censusDownload

your-questions-answered-leaflet-english-1-3Download

Find out more at www.census.gov.uk

General-informationDownload

or those requiring assistance or advice, or that may have concerns there are Census Support Centres in Wiltshire , where you can get support over the phone or book an appointment over the phone for assistance, in person visits may be allowed after April 12th depending on COVID restrictions. 

Census Support Centres in Wiltshire are : 

1) Chippenham Library, Timber Street Chippenham, SN15 3EJ, Telephone:  0124965 0536, Email: libraryenquiries@wiltshire.gov.uk  

2) Devizes Library, Sheep Street, Devizes, SN10 1DL, Telephone: 0138082 6190, Email: libraryenquiries@wiltshire.gov.uk

3) Trowbridge Library, Ground Floor,County Hall,Bythesea Road,Trowbridge,BA14 8JN,Telephone: 0122571 6700, Email: libraryenquiries@wiltshire.gov.uk

4) Salisbury Library, Market Place, Salisbury, SP1 1BL, Telephone: 0172232 4145 , Email: libraryenquiries@wiltshire.gov.uk

5) North Bradley Peace Memorial Hall, Southwick Road North Bradley Trowbridge Wilts, BA14 0SH, Telephone: 0798276 3182  Email: pbaxter70@yahoo.com

6) Warminster Library, Three Horseshoes Walk, Warminster, BA12 9BT, Telephone: 0198521 6022 Email: libraryenquiries@wiltshire.gov.uk

7) Wylye Coyotes Afterschool Club CIC, Greenlight Cherry Orchard Codford, Warminster Wiltshire, BA12 0PN, Telephone: 019 8585 1713, Email: info@wylyecoyotes.com

Further you can use the Census contact information  for anyone to use via the national call centre, text relay, language support, and assistive technology support for those with disabilities as follows: 

  • England- 0800 141 2021 
  • 18001 0800141 2021 (Text relay service) 
  • Language helpline 0800 587 2021

You can request a paper copy from the call centre if that is your preference. 

To complete online go to https://census.gov.uk/

Apply to be a Councillor!

March 5, 2021

Elections are scheduled for all parish, town, and city councils in the Wiltshire area on 6th May 2021

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 The polls will all take place on Thursday 6th May 2021 and polling stations will be open between 7am and 10 pm.

All existing councillors cease to be councillors and will have to be nominated for election if they wish to stand again for the next term (2021-2025)

A timetable of relevant and specific dates can be found at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media/4911

It includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • 29th March 2021 (no later than) – Publication of Notice of Election

  • 8th April 2021 – Candidates have from the date stated on the notice of election up to 4 pm on Thursday 8th April to submit nomination papers

  • 8th April 2021 – Deadline for withdrawal of nomination (4pm)

  • 9th April 2021 – Publication of Statement of Persons nominated

  • 27th April 2021 – Publication of Notice of Poll

  • 6th May 2021 – Day of Poll

  • The previous council stands down on 10th May (4 days after polling day) and the new council takes office on the same day.

 

Within 14 days of the new council taking office, the annual meeting of the council must be held. The first business of this meeting is the appointment of Chairman.

To be able to stand for election (or co-option) to a local council, an individual must meet certain qualifications (by law). They must be:

  • Over 18 and a UK, Commonwealth, ROI, or EU Citizen and

  • An elector for the parish, or

  • For the last 12 months, have occupied land or premises in the parish, or

  • Work in the parish (principal or only place of work), or

  • Live within 3 miles of the parish boundary

    Someone cannot stand for election, if at the time of their nomination and on polling day:

  • They are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).

  • They are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.

  • They have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.

  • They have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations). a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.

    There is guidance for candidates and nomination forms at
    www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parish-council- elections-england
    Candidates are also advised to check the relevant principal authority website:
    www.wiltshire.gov.uk/Elections-2021
Candidates need to have two subscribers (a proposer and a seconder) and will need to advise them that they will require their Electoral Register number and how it will be used (for GDPR purposes). This information will be in the nomination form and candidate pack.

Nomination papers have to be delivered in person. Wiltshire Council is encouraging appointments to do this and has created a booking system – see www.wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-town-parish for details.

Will a poll take place for the local council election in Atworth?

It depends. If, by 8th April only the same number, or fewer candidates than there are seats on the council have been nominated, they will be elected unopposed. If there are more candidates than there are seats on the council – it will go to the poll on 6th May.

How is the current Coronavirus situation affecting the elections?

Government has produced a polls’ delivery plan which can be read at www.gov.uk/government/publications/may-2021-polls-delivery-plan and each principal authority is putting plans in place for the safety of polling stations and the count.