Another blow for local Public Transport

First Bus Services really are' transforming travel' as they cut yet another service on 29 November. The popular 233 'Express' service from Bath to Chippenham via Corsham will cease apparently following a 'careful analysis of actual travel plans'.

The great thing about the 233 service is that it really did provide a viable option to using the car in that it went straight down the A4 without going all around the houses which the 231 and 232 do. The 233 service was only launched earlier this year and I have to say with minimal publicity and quite high fares. I do wonder what sort of business strategy that was all about!

I understand that this new service was drawing existing passengers away from the 231 and 232 (understandably). Unfortunately First saw this as a threat to their viability so have decided to cut the sensible service and just leave us with the 231 and 232.

I would have though that with so many good local services in our towns (like Corsham’s No 10 service) there was a clear case for ensuring we have direct links between towns. But with our deregulated bus system bus companies are their own masters so there is little influence we can have on what services are run when and where.

Poll: Have you been to the new Corsham markets?

Poll: Have you been to the new Corsham markets?

Corsham Markets take to the streets

Local people seem to be really enjoying the new markets in Corsham High Street. It has been nearly a year in the planning and now we have not just one but a whole series of markets springing up in the town.

The regular Tuesday 'General Market' is already very popular with a range of stalls selling everything from fresh vegetables to Venetian masks! Meanwhile the monthly 3rd Saturday 'Farmer's Market' offers really high quality local foods and other delights and looks really attractive with their green a white striped roofs. I also look forward to our first 'one off' specialist markets starting on 30 October with an Italian Market.

And that is what we all wanted with the aim of creating a Visible, Vibrant and Visible market in the centre of Corsham to reinvigorate the local retail centre, encourage more people to shop locally and to draw more people form outside into the centre of our town.

I think the evidence is there that this is working already as these markets days are the busiest in our town and I have seem queues at many of our local retailer's shops which can only be good for the local economy and make the town a more attractive place to live, work and visit.

It's really great to see the pedestrianised High Street come alive in this way but let us also not forget our excellent Friday Country Market in St Aldhelm's Church Hall - and sometimes in Martingate, and of course the ever popular 'Fishman' every Tuesday morning in the Methuen Arms Car Park now joined by an excellent local fresh vegetable stall. Perhaps these should not move into the High Street as well where all the people are?

Is the Area Board listening?

The Extraordinary meeting of the Corsham Area Board on Wednesday was certainly extraordinary:

A school hall full of people unconvinced about the proposed traffic lights etc planned as part of the Section 106 agreement with the MOD developments at Basil Hill.

And an area board telling us that the legal team says it is not their business to change anything!

Who is running Wiltshire - the Elected Members or the Highways Department? Yet again it seems the 'silos' of local government are not communicating with each other - Highways - Planning - Conservation.

The problems seem to be:

• A massively overblown scheme to cope with a fictitious traffic projection for 2020
• Conflicting projected figures for traffic growth
• A concern that due process has not been followed
• Lack of consideration as to the conservation area setting at Pickwick
• Works which are unconnected with the impact of Basil Hill
• Lack of public consultation over this aspect of the project
• A huge amount of (public) money (about £2.5 million?) to be spend on these works
• Still no public transport plan in place
• A plan which is contrary to current thinking about traffic management
• A general disbelief that traffic lights are better than roundabouts

I was amazed when the chair of the meeting announced that this issue would no longer be on the agenda at the next Area Board meeting in October. I think he may be wrong!

I would not be surprised if this issue went to a judicial revue.

Edinburgh Festival 2009

Taking a week off from Corsham matters to spend a week in Edinburgh. This will be my 12th year in Edinburgh looking for new shows for Corsham Festival, The Pound arts centre or Rural Arts Wiltshire. Follow my regular twitter updates on the column on the right to find out what I been seeing and what I think of it all so far.

Basil Hill Traffic Management - is this really a solution?

Funny things are going on in Corsham at the moment. An exhibition has sprung up at short notice in the Town Hall today and is going to be on Neston Memorial Hall tomorrow 3pm - 7pm to show the planned alterations to traffic movement along the A4 in Pickwick, and Leafy Lane. What makes it odd is that is not the public consultation exercise as it may first appear - planning permissions were granted last year as this is tied in with the MOD Basil Hill developments. The works are costing millions and people are starting to ask why is all this necessary?


The reality is that this is not just about Basil Hill but about an apparent attempt to 'future proof' the A4 against future traffic growth and in particular future development of the land currently occupied by the MOD at Copernacre, Rudloe etc for other uses.


The exhibition is being staged now to pre-empt a possible angry scene at next week's first Area Board meeting on Tuesday 21 July 7pm in the Town Hall because local people are understandably really concerned about the blinkered approach to the way these proposals have been put together.


'Consultants' have been paid a small fortune to come up with a plan to addresses the future growth of traffic on the A4. In my view this was the wrong question! They should looking at the bigger picture here. First of all a few facts:

• There are currently no other proposals for development on the existing Copernacre / Rudloe sites

• There are currently limited traffic flow problems along the A4.

• The Basil Hill developments, once completed, will apparently generate no additional traffic in this area.

• Any existing or potential traffic speed issues are ignored in these proposals

• Pickwick is a conservation area and the addition of traffic lights is yet another addition of further unnecessary street clutter - exemplifying English Heritage's recent report on the decay and neglect of our conservation areas across the country from 'Cluttered streets' and 'intrusive traffic-calming measures'.

• The proposed works would not help to prevent a repeat of the recent tragic accident at the Bradford Road Junction

• The proposed shared cycle / footpath runs the length of Park Lane but the cyclists entrance to the Basil Hill site is still shown on Westwells Road along with the cars entrance - hardly an incentive to cycle from Corsham to work at Basil Hill.

• Although discussed there is no evidence as to how the cycle routes are planned to connect to the cycle routesto link with the Town Centre or Box

• Despite the apparent money available there is not even a single bus stop shown on the plans so public transport will be simply a last minute add on to the plans.

• A possible link to the rail service, despite enthusiasm from the MOD itself does not figure in any of the proposals

• I asked if cabling etc for real time bus information was being installed - I was told no but it could be added later - so the roads would be dug up as soon as they are laid. How daft is that?

My main concern is that the starting point for the consultation was all about traffic flow. There is apparently £450K (money from Basil Hill and Spring Park developments) for public transport improvements. This sounds a lot but there is currently not a single proposal as to how any public transport improvements could be made - not even a bus stop is shown on the map so once again we consider public transport as a last resort rather the natural default way of travelling in this country. Why could there not have been a more holistic approach to the whole consultation which considered cars, buses, trains, cycling, walking all together in the same proposal and on the same map? Everything starts from the assumption that everyone will simpy get in their cars and drive!

I do hope lots of people will turn up for the first Area Board meeting next Tuesday. We need to show the new Board that local people really do care and want their voice to be heard. Just because planning permission has been granted does not mean that the plans have to be implemented as they are currently presented or that they are necessarily the best solution to a perceived future problem.

It could be a lively meeting!

National Greenwash Day

EDF seems to be digging itself into a nice hole over yesterday's PR stunt over the so called 'Green Britain Day'. Not only have they pinched Ecotricity's marketing images from earlier in the year they have also exposed themselves as promoting the biggest Greenwash farce I have yet come across.

EDF is one of least green energy supplier on the planet. EDF is the biggest global corporate producer of nuclear waste and one of the worst carbon polluters in the world. Furthermore they are also demanding a reduction in UK wind power targets.

I am also concerned that other power companied seem to now be trying to jump onto the bandwagon: British Gas is promoting a 'Green Britain Day. For us, it's everyday', Npower has launched its Climate Cops educational programme ‘Every day's a green day for Climate Cops'.

Electricite de France (EDF) is not Green and not British, it is Nuclear, French and Brown. This is the biggest Greenwash scandal I have yet come across

There is now a lively facebook campaign to stop the 'greatest British greenwash of all time.' You can also read more on the Ruscombe Green blog: http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/2009/07/national-greenwash-day.html

More Double Yellow Lines?

As many of you will know there are plans to change the parking arrangements in Pound Pill and in Station Road. Much of this seems to make sense as it can be chaotic at times in both these areas and also quite dangerous as a pedestrian or cyclist when cars mount or park on the pavements.

Part of the plan involves putting double yellow lines down the west side of both roads with defined parking bays on the east side. One of the effects of this will be to make traffic flow more easily which sounds good on one level but will also mean that the traffic will be moving faster - and in an area where there is a lot of pedestrian movement associated with schools, Jargeau Court and The Pound arts centre.

It is also likely that it will simply push the parking problem elsewhere and I am aware that there are concerns from residents in Grove Road and other areas that those roads would then become the unofficial free car parks for the town centre.

All this will be discussed at the next Corsham Town Council Planning meeting on 24 June at 7.30pm in the Town Hall . Make sure you are there if you want your views heard! Sadly I will NOT be there as I shall be in the middle of Corsham Festival!

It is a national outrage that currently nearly 3,000 people are killed on our roads each year - nearly as many badgers are killed on our roads - and think how often you have seen a dead badger on the roads! Surely anything that can help to reduce this appalling statistic and make our town centres a more pleasant place to live, shop and work at the same time must be good thing.

My view is that there needs to be more of a balance between traffic calming and parking regulation as part of an integrated approach to the whole issue surrounding transport management. There is a recognition that parked cars can actually help to calm the speed of traffic if planned carefully. I am aware from the Community Plan update that concern regarding traffic management and control were among resident's number one concern for the Corsham Community Area.

A very interesting blog I have been following is that of Philip Booth http://www.ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/ - a district councillor for Stroud District Council who has been lobbying for '20 is Plenty' in the Stroud area. 20mph is largely accepted as a way of saving lives, preventing injuries, encouraging more walking and cycling and making our streets more pleasant to live on. This is something that the TransCoCo Transport group could consider as one of its aims - and CCAN, the Partnership for the Corsham Community Area. What are your views on this - would this help to make the streets of Corsham more people friendly and safer?

A Three Horse Race

Disappointed? Yes, of course but also energised by the whole campaign and overwhelmed by the level of support and encouragement from people within the town as well as from outside. This one was always going to be difficult to predict and there was clearly a sense of 'better the devil you know' and a tendency for people to revert back to 'safe mode' at the ballot box. The turnout was high at nearly 55% which does show people want to engage with the political system after all and make their views known.

It is a shame because I know I could have done a great job - and an important job in bringing some fresh thinking and energy to the new council. But what is really interesting is that Peter Davies has only a little more than a third of the vote - hardly a majority mandate from the people of Corsham.

Allan Bosley, the other independent candidate over in Corsham Pickwick, also deserves many congratulations for a splendid performance and a very similar result.

My biggest concern is that all four seats on our new area board are now Tory, in a Unitary Wiltshire Council with a two thirds Tory majority, and with a likely Tory government in the near future - hardly a healthy situation for us moving forward. So I feel my role is even more important - to ensure the new regime is held to their promise to allow local communities to have a greater say and influence on what happens in their locality, to ensure the area board really does take forward the vision of the Corsham community as expressed in the Community plan update, and above all to ensure it is certainly not 'business as usual in the new authority.

However, I do now feel more empowered than ever through Corsham Town Council, The Area Partnership 'CCAN' and Transition Community Corsham to work towards making Corsham a better place to live, to work and to visit and look forward to the challenges ahead

I plan to continue my blog and hope it will develop into a valuable interactive forum for local people. Thank you all for you support over the past few weeks. It has certainly been worth it.

It's Your Choice ...

I write this post on the eve of the local goverment elections for the new Wiltshire Council. And I want to stress that it is a new council - and one which bring both opportunities and challenges for us all in the years ahead.

The whole point of the move to 'One Council for Wiltshire' is to allow local communities to have a greater say in their affairs - for people to have more influence on what happens in their locality - and to have a closer contact with the new council through their directly elected councillors on the local area board.

The opportunities are tremendous. We have the chance to place more emphasis on the issues and aspirations that really matter to local people. A real opportunity for local people to engage with local government directly and to help shape the future direction of the community on which they live and work.

But there are also serious challenges if this new council is to be more than a veneer. Some of those elected will undoubtedly be people from either the former district or county councils and I am sure some will be effective council members who are really committed to the people they represent. but I am also concerned that there will also be an expectation of 'business as usual' with an automatic reversion to the ways things operated before - but with an ever increasing centralisation of beaurocracy and control from Trowbridge HQ - the very opposite of what we have been promised.

That is one of the main reasons I have stood as an Independent candidate for Corsham Town. I have had a great campaign over the past few weeks supported by a fantastic team of people with a strong sense of purpose. I have also met so many local people committed to Corsham and with a strong sense of value and respect for the town.

Tomorrows vote is as unpredictable as it is fascinating. I know people choose their vote for an enormous variety of reasons but I hope tomorrows vote will be to elect the person we all feel is best suited for the task ahead. One who shares in our vision for a vibrant community, unhindered by party politics, or by a history of 'how things were done'.

I shall, of course, be at the count on Friday afternoon and will be awaiting the result with a mixture of of excitment and trepidation. I've really enjoyed the last few weeks and look forward to working with you all in the future. Thank you all for your support.

Independents Take to the Streets

On Saturday I spent a useful morning talking to many local residents in the High Street. As well as developing my suntan it was a great opportunity to be able to explain how important this election is for the people of Corsham.


At the ballot box on Thursday we have a real opportunity to ensure Corsham is represented by someone who:

• lives and works in the heart of the town
• is committed to creating a vibrant and sustainable community
• will be an Independent voice on the Area Board
• represents all people in Corsham

I was joined by Allan Bosley who is also an independent candidate standing for election in Corsham Pickward Division - essentialy to the north of Pickwick Road and including most of Katherine Park. We were both very aware that all the other candidates representing the political parties were conspicuous by their absence - perhaps not surprising given the total lack of respect the main political parties have at the moment!

Doorstep deliveries

Over the past two weeks my team and I have knocked on over 2500 doors across Corsham Town Division and I have been very encouraged by people’s reaction to me as their independent candidate for Wiltshire Council. These are the things people are saying on the doorstep:

• I am the only one of the five candidates for the Corsham town Division who both lives and works in the town. This is important and it means I have first hand knowledge of our town 24 hours a day

• There is a real concern about Political Parties as a result of the expenses scandal. It is outrageous to assume that just because they may not have broken the ‘rules’ they are therefore excused from having any moral common sense when it comes to accessing public money.

• People realise that councillors cannot work in isolation. As I have proved in my work on Corsham Town Council things can only be achieved through consensus and by collaborating with my colleagues. Only an Independent can do this without being told what to say and do by the party whip.

• People recognise that there is a real opportunity with the new Wiltshire Council to ensure the voice of our local community is heard clearly and confidently. As an Independent I can do this more easily as I am not bound by party political views.

It is really important that we get everyone we know out to vote on Thursday 4th June. Please help by spreading the word about me and my campaign - and only with your help will I really will be able to make a difference to our community.

On Yer Bike!

What a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend for getting out and about across Corsham. And what better way to do it than by bicycle. I know we don't have much of a cycle network - yet - but the weather was great and it was good to meet so many people across the Town and out to Easton, Westrop and Thingley.

Most people in the Corsham Town Division have now had my Wiltshire Council Election Special which sets out the key local issues for our community and which the new council can actually act on. Fortunately I have not been told to get 'On Yer Bike' yet as these issues do seem to resonate with many local people!

Click on the image on the left for a closer look at what these issues are. I have grouped them broadly according to the themes of the new Council. Share your thoughts and views by clicking on 'Comments' below.

The Party's Over?

This headline comes from last week’s Independent on Sunday which hints at the extraordinary strength of public revolt against the mainstream political party’s over the past few weeks.

Polls suggest that between 40% and 63% of people will not be voting for Con, Lab or Lib Dem which has sent shock waves into the heart of every mainstream politician in the country.

This is clearly a great time for Independents, (whether celebrity or not!) as more and more people are looking for the alternative vote. It is likely that UKIP will benefit – although I question their value in local government. The greens are doing well too and look set to increase their share of the vote.

Fortunately we do not seem to be seeing a wave of BNP support. However, my greatest fear is that many people will simply not bother to vote – voter apathy is the most dangerous thing of all and that is what can let in extremist views as we have seen before in history.

That is why I am getting out there in Corsham Town – knocking on every door in the division to let people know who I am, why an independent vote is so important and how I can represent the people of Corsham effectively. The response so far has been excellent with a real look of relief on resident’s faces when I say I am independent of all party politics – and when they realise I am the local candidate – the only one who lives and works in Corsham Town.

Election Campaign Underway!

My election campaign started at the weekend with much enthusiam. I have a great team of people helping and supporting me and we are thoroughly enjoying meeting Corsham people on their doorsteps.

With all the appalling news and revelations of Westminster MPs from all parties claiming outrageous expenses I am quite relieved to be an Independent at the present time. If fact so were most of the people we talked to on our way around - I was told by one resident 'It's Yours Time!' I would have had a very different reception if I had been a member of a polictial party.

I am really pleased with my election leaflet which I think sets out the value of voting Independent with a realistic look at what the new Unitary Council will actually be responsible for. There is clearly much disatisfaction with the main political parties and I fear many people will just not use their democratic right to vote - which can be a very dangerous thing - so I hope they will be encouraged to vote for an Independent voice who can represent the views of Corsham people with fairness and honesty.

Corsham Area Community Partnership relaunched

Corsham Area Community Partnership (CACP) has been relaunched at a ‘Wider Gathering’ event last week at The Pound with its new updated Community Plan. I have been involved with CACP for the last year and more recently as 'Convenor' and I believe this plan will become an important document to influence the priorities, spending plans and decisions of the new Corsham Area Board following the June elections.

Interestingly after widespread consultation and research the top two priorities have emerged:

1. Transport, Access and Traffic

• Desire for better access to convenient, sustainable affordable safer public transport
• Concern regarding traffic management and control
• Concern over links within community area and to neighbouring towns

2. Environment, Countryside and Land Based Issues

• People really value the rural nature of the community area
• Concern over pressures which threaten this character
• Desire to see more action to sustain and improve the environment

I am delighted that the former district councillor for Pickwick, Chris Reid was elected to take over from me as chair of the new partnership and that CACP has also adopted a new name to reflect its new upbeat future role: Corsham Community Area Network: CorshamCAN

Keeping in touch

Welcome to my new online blog! In addition to the usual email, telephone, letterbox or catching me for a chat on the High Street I have launched this online blog which for many people will be an interesting and interactive way of keeping in touch, letting me know your views – and sharing them with others.

The New Council for Wiltshire

The big change replacing districts & county councils with a Unitary Authority for Wiltshire has started so it’s vital Corsham’s voice is heard loud and clear. The new structure based on local community areas gives us a great chance to have a big say in our own affairs locally - but only with the best people representing us!

Local people have encouraged me to stand as an Independent Candidate for the elections to the new Council on 4th June. It will be a disaster if the ‘WC’ is taken over by party politics. As an independent voice I am not bound to always say what the Cons, LibDems or any other party says I should say - so I can truly represent ALL people’s views in Corsham INDEPENDENTLY.