Following reports of a near disaster outside the school last Friday, our Community Speed Watch team has been out and about this week, helping to remind drivers that the speed limit is there for a reason. If you’d like to join the team and help, please email cllr.valbrodin@gmail.com for details of how to sign up and get trained. The parish council will soon be consulting residents about a possible 20mph zone in Bishopstone. Meanwhile, a huge thank you to everyone who drives safely in our villages, and thumbs up to those who slowed down when reminded this week!
FIREWORKS AND ANIMALS![]()
Please be considerate of pets, horses and livestock this Bonfire Night. If you are planning a bonfire or firework display at home, it would be kind to notify your neighbours, whose animals may be very distressed by the unexpected bangs and flashes. In our rural villages, thatched roofs and hay bales are a worry too and many residents will be out on ‘fire patrol’. The link below takes you to a Blue Cross guide to keeping animals safe at this time of year. Please enjoy Bonfire Night responsibly – and go to an organised display if you can. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/218678/fi…
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
Foxhill Motocross activity update: ![]()
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Foxhill Mx are running an event on 7/11/2021 Plus a practise day on the 21/11/2021
Fibre Broadband Update – if you live in or near Bishopstone High Street and have download speeds of less than 10MBPS we urge you to apply for connection under BT’s Universal Service Obligation. www.bt.com/USO![]()
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SBC Highways department have confirmed that the BT/Openreach work in Bishopstone in November will cover a substantial part of the high street. If BT is upgrading the network to facilitate some residents then the USO cost of upgrading other residents will be mitigated. It is worth a try! The more people who apply, the more attention will be drawn to the ridiculous situation in this Parish.![]()
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Because of the legal brick wall between BT and OpenReach, and because there is personal data involved, it is proving extremely difficult to find out which homes they are planning to connect in November. It seems that there is a deliberate barrier because if OpenReach were aware of planning related to the USO it might give them information that would affect their commercial plans but which would not be available to other infrastructure providers.![]()
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We continue to press OpenReach, who have today once again confirmed they have a survey team still trying to find out. The hope is that once this information is available we can get a revised quote for a Voucher scheme for the remaining homes which are not eligible under USO.
Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Broadband
www.bt.com
USO a piece of government legislation that gives eligible addresses the right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection.
Please stay safe while enjoying Halloween and Bonfire Night. Here’s a link to some great advice from your local fire service. www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/safety-at-home/seasonal-advice/halloween-safety/
Halloween safety – Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service
www.dwfire.org.uk
Keep you and your family safe this Halloween.
Gigabit Broadband Update![]()
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OpenReach has applied for a road closure at the bottom of Bishopstone High Street and it is confirmed that this is so fibre broadband can be extended in the area. ![]()
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The Parish Council and Swindon Borough Council have met an absolute brick wall when trying to find out which properties are to be connected.![]()
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A glimmer of good news though. The government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) team recently announced that they were setting up a tender programme to facilitate and encourage commercial suppliers to roll out to the less commercially viable rural and rural fringe areas. Our area (along with Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire) is included in the second Phase of this programme.![]()
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The first part of the project is to establish a list of premises that need to be included, which will be done via an Open Market Review (OMR), an invitation to all suppliers to advise of their existing coverage and planned works. This is exactly the information we have been trying for months to obtain.![]()
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We learned this morning that the OMR for Phase Two went live at 5pm last night and will run till 22nd November. This is very good news because it was originally scheduled for later next year. After 22nd November BDUK will collate the responses and draw up the list of eligible premises for the tender exercise.![]()
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Rural Gigabit Voucher schemes and any works planned under the Universal Service Obligation (USO) that are already in flight will continue.![]()
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We know this is no consolation to everyone struggling with their slow broadband speeds at the moment, but we will keep you informed.
Most of Bishopstone and the central part of Hinton Parva are designated conservation areas, which means that there are tighter controls on planning than usual to protect and preserve their historic character. Many buildings are also protected by their ‘listed building’ status. Bishopstone is further protected by an Article 4 Direction, which means that solar panels require planning permission to ensure their design and location don’t adversely affect the character and appearance of the village. The Article 4 Direction can be found on Swindon Borough Council’s website at www.swindon.gov.uk/downloads/file/5247/bishopstone_article_4_direction To find out more about Article 4 Directions in general terms, follow this link to the Government’s Planning Portal.![]()
www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200187/your_responsibilities/37/planning_permission/2
Bishopstone article 4 direction | Swindon Borough Council
www.swindon.gov.uk
Swindon Borough Council download – Bishopstone article 4 direction | Planning and regeneration | Land and premises
Junction 15 works update from National Highways![]()
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We’re writing to let you know we were unable to complete our works to the east side of the roundabout last week due to adverse weather. The work has now been rescheduled and will take place overnight (8pm to 6am) 11 and 12 October.![]()
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Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.![]()
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If you have any queries or would like more details about the work, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Contact Centre who will direct your question to the most appropriate person, Tel: 0300 123 5000 (open 24/7) or Email: info@highwaysengland.co.uk
Wiltshire Police offer reassurance checks![]()
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Wiltshire Police officers will be offering a simple verification process to the public which will allow them to confirm that the officer is on duty.![]()
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All officers will now proactively offer to carry out this verification check to anyone they engage with who appears concerned for their safety or vulnerable by putting their personal issue radio on loudspeaker and asking a member of our control room to confirm who they are and that they are on duty.![]()
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This check can also be requested by any concerned member of the public.
Reminder: The Parish Council recommends that all villagers who think they might be eligible should apply to BT for better broadband via their Universal Service Obligation website at www.bt.com/broadband/USO![]()
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The Universal Service Obligation is a piece of government legislation that gives eligible UK addresses the right to request a ‘decent’ broadband connection. Ofcom defines this as a connection that can deliver: "A download speed of at least 10Mb" and "An upload speed of at least 1Mb"![]()
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You can request a network upgrade for your home or business if:![]()
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– You don’t have access to a decent and affordable connection from BT or any other service provider.![]()
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– You’re not due to get access to one through a publicly funded scheme within the next 12 months.![]()
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-You can’t get a connection through a 4G hub![]()
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Please let the parish council know the outcome of any application you make or have made under USO, so we have up to date facts and figures as we continue trying to engage with Openreach to achieve improvements to local broadband services. Email your updates to cllr.valbrodin@gmail.com please.
Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Broadband
www.bt.com
USO a piece of government legislation that gives eligible addresses the right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection.
Local Plan Review consultation – the deadline for feedback has been extended to 17.00hrs on Thursday 7th October 2021.![]()
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This is because Swindon Borough Council discovered an error with one of the email addresses they provided for responses to the Local Plan. The correct email address (forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk) is listed on their website and can be used to send in your feedback. We understand only a small number of residents have been affected by this error, but if you have recently made a representation to this process that has bounced back, please do resend your comments to the above email address. Any comments sent to the correct email address will have been received and will be reviewed.![]()
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Please select the following link to view:![]()
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swindon-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/lpr/lps/local_plan_submission_revised_draft_plan![]()
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If the link appears to be broken, please try copying the entire link into the address bar on your web browser.![]()
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This is also accessible via the Local Plan Review webpage here: www.swindon.gov.uk/localplanreview.
Privacy Notices – Planning Policy Privacy Notice | Swindon Borough Council
www.swindon.gov.uk
The council’s privacy policies, by department and by process. Each explains how we use information about you and how we protect your privacy.
The Inlands Farm/Wasdells Public Inquiry resumed this morning for its final two days and the Inspector allowed me to speak on behalf of our parish about villagers’ traffic and "rat running" fears. A copy of my submission can be found at this link: bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bishopstone-PC-submission-Inlands-Farm-p…
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
The agenda for the next Parish Council meeting is now on the parish website and on the noticeboards. The meeting will be in Bishopstone village hall at 7.30pm on Monday 6th September.
SBC have just informed us that recycling box collections in Swindon will return to normal from next week (16 August) thanks to the recruitment of some additional HGV drivers and changes to legislation around self-isolation.![]()
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The council apologises for the brief disruption and asks for your support and understanding whilst they restart. They are expecting significant additional volume which could result in pressure on the collections service. Staffing is still tight with little contingency for sickness or unexpected absences. In addition new drivers are unfamiliar with the waste rounds, which may mean some missed collections in the early days while they familiarise themselves with their routes. ![]()
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Fortnightly recycling box collections will resume from 16 August and residents will return to their regular collection schedule. Residents can remind themselves of their usual collection days by typing their address into the collections calendar on our website: www.swindon.gov.uk/rubbishcollectiondays![]()
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To help residents clear any backlog of recycling they may have acquired during the temporary changes to collections, the crews will be collecting additional recycling over the next few weeks, providing it is sorted correctly and presented in sturdy containers. For example:![]()
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Large plastic storage tubs![]()
Cardboard boxes (for paper and card only)![]()
Large buckets![]()
Bags – as long as materials are separated (e.g. glass in one bag and metal in another bag). Bags should not be too heavy or overfilled.![]()
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If a resident does not have space in their recycling boxes or sturdy containers for any additional cardboard, they should break it down into manageable pieces and tie it up – then place it neatly next to their recycling boxes ready for collection.![]()
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Recycling can also be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Cheney Manor. Slots for the HWRC can be booked on the Council’s website or by calling Customer Services.
Rubbish and recycling collection days | Swindon Borough Council
www.swindon.gov.uk
Add your post code to the online search box to look up your rubbish collection day. Includes refuse, recycling, garden waste and plastic collections.
Foxhill MX Circuit have informed us that they will be active on the following dates:![]()
15th Aug![]()
28/29 Aug![]()
12 Sept ![]()
18/19 Sept
NOTICE OF TEMPORARY 40MPH SPEED LIMIT, RIDGEWAY, SWINDON![]()
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This restriction is being introduced to manage road flows and will prohibit vehicles from proceeding at a speed exceeding 40mph as indicated by signs along The Ridgeway between Ermin Way and Liddington Hill.![]()
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The restriction will come into force on the 18 August 2021 until the 8 September 2021.![]()
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Strategic Transport and Infrastructure![]()
3 August 2021![]()
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For further information please contact 01793 463040 quoting reference STR000204![]()
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PUBLIC NOTICE, SWINDON BOROUGH COUNCIL![]()
SECTION 14 – THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
New Gigabit Fibre Scheme to cover ‘hard to reach’ rural areas: ![]()
The government has today announced a new scheme to get faster broadband to rural areas. It will cover Bishopstone and Hinton Parva. It looks like it could take 2 years to get to a build but as soon as we have more information we will share it with you. ![]()
As Openreach are already active in our area and building Wanborough’s network under the previous voucher scheme, ward councillor Gary Sumner is asking them about delivery under this new scheme. ![]()
If you click on the link it will show eligibility but you won’t be able to do more yet – WE WILL UPDATE YOU WHEN ACTION IS REQUIRED.![]()
gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk
gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk
The Government is providing up to £210m worth of voucher funding as immediate help for people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas.
Swindon Borough Council’s consultation portal for the Local Plan is now open at this link swindon-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/![]()
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There are two sites allocated in our parish, both in Bishopstone. LA22 at The Forty, for which five ‘high end’ homes are proposed, along with a much needed play area for the village. This is a substantial reduction from the 30-40 homes that were originally proposed for this site. And LA23 for up to nine homes to the west of New Town Lane. Parish Councillors will be discussing on Monday and will send in the council’s views and recommendations. All residents can also make their own comments via the portal.
The agenda for the next Parish Council meeting on 2nd August is now online at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/
Recycling – because of COVID pinging problems causing staffing issues, SBC recycling has had to move to a 4 week schedule. If your recycling boxes were not emptied, please bring them in and put out again on 4th August.
Please note updated message from Swindon Borough Council regarding disruption to recycling collection. ![]()
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This has been updated since yesterday and looks like recycling will not be collected until Wednesday 4th August for the parish. ![]()
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www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20015/bins_rubbish_and_recycling/1206/covid-19_-_disruption_to_recycling_…
COVID-19 – Disruption to recycling collections | Swindon Borough Council
www.swindon.gov.uk
COVID-19 – Disruption to recycling collections
The Parish Council meeting on Monday 5th July will be held in Bishopstone village hall at 7.30pm. The agenda is now on the village website bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/![]()
Because of Covid capacity and spacing challenges, fewer than usual members of the public can be accommodated. If you would like to attend please email the clerk before Friday. Public question time is the first item before the meeting starts. Don’t forget you can also email questions or raise issues with the clerk. clerk@bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
Meetings – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
2022 Date Village Hall 4th April Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 7th March Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 7th February Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 10th January Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 2021 Date Village Hal…
It’s been brought to our attention that one of the posts on the pond barrier has been badly damaged. We’ve been in contact with our lengthsman who will be coming out to assess the damage for repair ASAP. ![]()
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Many thanks
The Parish Council meeting on Monday 7th June will be held in Hinton Parva village hall. The agenda is now on the village website bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/![]()
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Because of Covid capacity challenges, fewer than usual members of the public can attend. If you would like to attend please email the clerk before Friday. Don’t forget you can also email questions or raise issues with the clerk. clerk@bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
Meetings – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
2021 Date Village Hall 7th June Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 17th May Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 12th April Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 1st March Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 1st February Bishopstone Age…
CHAIR’S ANNUAL REPORT, MAY 2021![]()
I started last year’s report by thanking everyone who was doing ‘their bit’ to help take care of the isolated, shielding and vulnerable members of our community during lockdown. None of us dreamt, then, that lockdown would be extended and repeated, or that Covid-19 would have such a long-lasting impact and require so much adjustment to our lives. This year, once again, I extend the parish council’s sincere thanks to everyone who has taken time to care and support others and whose efforts have kept our parish such a safe, friendly and attractive place to live.![]()
On behalf of the parish council I would especially like to thank Cllr Stuart McGuigan, who has retired after many years of service. Our thanks and sincere good wishes also to the family of the late Cllr Andy Greenhalgh, whose untimely death was such a sad loss to our whole community.![]()
Bishopstone Parish Council’s meetings this year have been held online, with residents able to attend remotely and submit questions and raise concerns as usual. Elections planned for last year were postponed till 6th May this year. Rural parish councils often struggle to find people willing to serve as councillors, and the few who do raise their hands are often elected unopposed. In Bishopstone this year, for the first time in 40 years, more candidates stood for election than there were seats available. 52% of villagers turned out to vote, and all nine incumbent councillors were re-elected. The election cost to parish funds will be around £1,100.![]()
Newly elected councillors include Helen L’Abbate, an expert in risk management who was co-opted in June 2020 and Andy Clark, who joined the parish council in October. Andy has already made a difference by ensuring parish council Facebook posts automatically upload to the village website as we take our first steps into the use of social media.![]()
We are fortunate to have two long-serving councillors with professional expertise in planning and infrastructure management, who contribute invaluable knowledge and considerable amounts of time to drafting the council’s carefully considered responses to planning issues. The parish council does not make planning decisions. That is done by Members of the Borough Council (SBC) under guidance of the local planning authority within SBC. However, the parish council is a statutory consultee to all planning applications, and considers all applications on their merits, fairly and without bias.![]()
It’s also thanks to councillors’ expertise that the parish council has been able to approach the highway authority in SBC with considered proposals for introducing a 20mph speed limit within the centre of Bishopstone (including a footway provision adjacent to the pond and restrictions on parking) and also for extending the 30mph speed limit on Bodyhorse Hill. It is not in the parish council’s power to instigate these proposals, that falls with SBC, but it is by lobbying and considered approaches such as these that we get things done for the benefit of residents.![]()
The parish council has maintained all publicly owned areas to a good standard this year, including the pond, island, village verges and footpaths. We have provided and emptied dog bins and litter bins, made grants to both village halls and the newsletter and maintained the defibrillator in Bishopstone. We also adopted the heritage phone box in Hinton Parva, funding its conversion to a vibrant book and seed exchange for the community.![]()
Councillors and the clerk have liaised with SBC’s tree officer, the highways department and housing association to try to resolve issues noticed by councillors or reported by residents, such as parking problems near the Wyncies, dangerous trees and flooded gulleys. Residents in The City won’t need wellies to leave home next winter since we engaged with SBC to solve their muddy problems. SBC has now installed sleeper steps, a new French drain and gabion walling. The parish council contributed to the substantial costs, helped with preparatory work and will be taking on future maintenance.![]()
Willows by the pond have been pollarded and island maintenance carried out, encouraging new wildlife to take up residence – have you seen the egret yet? Councillors also ensured that traditional wooden fingerposts were used when SBC replaced direction signs, upholding the traditional look of the conservation areas.![]()
Although this year’s parish clean-up was called off, councillors are grateful that volunteers have kept litter in check and reported fly-tipping. We all hope that the dumping problem will abate when normality resumes, as well as some traffic and parking challenges. Our additional dog poo bins have helped relieve one unpleasant problem though, sadly, some walkers continue to leave their dogs’ deposits in the coombes and, bizarrely, hanging from trees.![]()
Broadband speed has been a big issue in the parish in recent years, eased for a while by the 4G mast in Bishopstone. This year, lockdown home school, working from home and the proliferation of household devices quickly highlighted the disparity between urban and rural broadband provision.![]()
The parish council is still working with Ward Councillor Gary Sumner to try to bring an entirely new fibre network to the whole parish, through the government’s Gigabit fibre ‘voucher’ scheme. Initial costings received in October were not viable, as nearly 100% of residents would have had to subscribe. A more tightly drawn scheme was being costed when, in December and January, a small cluster of homes to the east of Bishopstone unexpectedly achieved fibre connection, we believe via BT’s Universal Service Obligation. This significantly reduced the pool of potential subscribers for the voucher scheme. Back to square one, new figures are being calculated by OpenReach. The parish council will keep residents informed and continue to lobby and investigate every option and opportunity to bring better broadband to our villages.![]()
This year, councillors debated at length whether to continue offering financial support to the Parochial Church Council to help them maintain churchyards in the parish. The parish council is not responsible for this work, but has historically given the PCC money towards it. Councillors decided to continue giving money to support maintenance of these important heritage assets whilst ensuring full compliance with local council regulations.![]()
For an unprecedented 8th year running the parish council unanimously agreed not to increase the parish element of our council tax. It remains at £39.08 for a band D property. Bishopstone Parish now enjoys one of the lowest council tax rates in Swindon. This has been made possible by renegotiation of contracts and clear prioritisation of spending. The members of Bishopstone Parish Council, unlike many others in Swindon, voted to perform their duties on a voluntary basis and do not take an allowance. All of our funding goes to providing services to the Parish.![]()
I would like to extend councillors’ thanks to Jaine Blackman, our new clerk, who has spent her entire first year trying to keep everything orderly without ever meeting the full parish council face to face. Great job, Jaine – we look forward to seeing you on the 17th! Thanks also to Paul Bailey, for continuing to audit the parish council’s accounts even in his retirement. We are very grateful.![]()
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place at 7pm on 17th May at Bishopstone Village Hall, followed at 7.30pm by the first meeting of the newly elected council, unless cancelled by Covid rules. Watch for news on the village website, noticeboards, and Facebook. Because of Covid regulations, there is limited capacity in the hall, so please contact the clerk if you would like to attend or raise questions.![]()
I wish to thank all residents who have supported the parish council’s efforts this year, and particularly my fellow councillors for their unstinting efforts and hard work. Congratulations on your election success and I look forward to continuing to work with you for the benefit of our community.![]()
Val Brodin![]()
Chair, Bishopstone Parish Council![]()
8th May 2021
Elections 2021 – For your information![]()
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We know some of you are keen to know the results of yesterday’s election. ![]()
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Swindon Borough Council are carrying out the count of votes for the Borough Councillor elections today. The count for Ridgeway Ward is due to commence at 3pm so if all goes to schedule SBC will announce the results around 4.30pm.![]()
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The Parish Councillor votes are not being counted until Saturday 8th and Bishopstone (inc Hinton Parva and Russley Park) is due to commence at 9am with expected results at around 10.30am – 11am.![]()
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The Police Crime Commissioner are due to be counted in Wiltshire on Monday so we should know the results at some point on the 10th. ![]()
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Thank you
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!![]()
The polling station for Bishopstone and Hinton Parva residents will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday May 6 at Bishopstone Village Hall. Covid precautions will be in place and voters are advised to take their own pen/pencil to make their mark. There are 10 candidates for the nine seats on the Parish Council and you can vote for up to nine of those standing.
Good Morning, ![]()
Yesterday saw some rather horrid bank holiday weather and the early birds amongst you may have seen the tree debris that has come down overnight, blocking the Dingle footpath – see picture 1. ![]()
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Thanks to the footpath reps, by 08.12 this morning, the path had been cleared. ![]()
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Many thanks to the early birds Doug Stevens and Ian Thomas that cleared the path this morning![]()
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Thanks guys!
Gigabit Fibre Update![]()
Openreach has had to go ‘back to the drawing board’ and review the proposed scheme for Bishopstone and Hinton Parva. This is because around 30 homes in Bishopstone have unexpectedly been connected to fibre by BT, which means those addresses have to be taken out of the 260 home parish-wide Gigabit voucher project. BT and Openreach are separate legal entities and Openreach only has visibility of what’s connected, not what is in progress. The parish council continues to work with our ward councillor and Openreach and will provide updates as they become available.
Tree maintenance on public land in the parish is mainly the responsibility of Swindon Borough Council. The parish council only has responsibility for low level tree maintenance that can be undertaken from the ground using hand tools. Contact the clerk@bishopstoneandhintonparva.org to report.![]()
On private land, trees are the responsibility of the landowner.![]()
To report problem trees on public land requiring high levels of work, residents should contact Swindon Borough Council using their online reporting facility: www.swindon.gov.uk/forms/form/366/en/trees_maintenance
To vote in the 6th May local elections, you must be registered before midnight on19th April. It’s fast and easy to register online. www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
www.gov.uk
Get on the electoral register so you can vote in elections and referendums.
Bishopstone Parish Council (including Hinton Parva) will have a contested election on 6th May as ten people have been nominated.
The agenda for 12th April Parish Council meeting is now on the village website at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Agenda-April-2021-585.pdf
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
Have you registered to vote yet?![]()
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If you don’t, you won’t be eligible to vote in the local elections on Thursday 6th May.![]()
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It’s easy to register online. Just go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
The agenda for the next Parish Council meeting is now on the website, as well as the March edition of the Parish Times. www.bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings
Meetings – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
www.bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
2021 Date Village Hall 1st March Hinton Parva Agenda 1st February Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 4th January Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 2020 Date Village Hall 7th December Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 2nd …
Census 2021 is coming![]()
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Households across Swindon will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021. The official census date is 21 March.![]()
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The census is a survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. Rest assured that while overall results will be available within 12 months, all personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations. ![]()
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This will be the first one run predominantly online, with all households receiving a letter in early March with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets. It will, however, still be possible to complete a paper questionnaire if you prefer. ![]()
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There will be more information available over the next month through both national and local media campaigns. In the meantime, if you are interested in finding out more, visit census.gov.uk.
Good news for walkers! The Parish Council has arranged for chippings to be laid on the the footpath leading off from the bottom of Nell Hill out towards the old cress beds and valley. We noticed it was getting pretty impassable. Look what a smashing job our Lengthman and his team did!
The agenda for February’s Parish Council meeting is now online at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Agenda-Feb-2021.pdf
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
It’s up to all of us to play our part in limiting the spread of coronavirus in our community and prevent overwhelming our NHS. Latest government advice can be found here www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
Nottingham Knockers – more rogue traders to avoid![]()
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Bishopstone and Hinton Parva are often targeted by Nottingham Knockers – doorstep callers who offer a selection of household products for sale. They are often ex-convicts who claim to be part of a rehabilitation scheme which doesn’t exist.![]()
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They will initially appear polite, show you some form of ID and will always carry a very large holdall full of household items, such as dusters, polish and other cleaning items, which they will try to sell to you at an inflated price. However, their story is not correct and the ID they show you is fake. If declined, they may become abusive or threatening. Nottingham knockers operating in the villages this week have also been maskless and gloveless, and apparently unaware of COVID-19 lockdown.![]()
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They are committing the offence of "Peddling without a license" and it is recommended that you don’t buy anything from them, politely close the door and call 101 to report them to the police, ideally with a direction of travel and registration plate of any vehicles involved.![]()
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The name originates from Nottingham as this is where the early gangs originated from. However, recent knockers in Wiltshire have come from the Cleveland area. They visit southern counties in groups, staying in nearby accommodation for the week.![]()
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They are known to sell the addresses of vulnerable residents to rogue traders. If you have any elderly or vulnerable neighbours, please make them aware of this type of crime and remind them not to answer the door to unexpected visitors.
It seems that some people are still confused about the current lockdown law. For clarification, please see the government link below. Enforcement is happening, even in our small villages!![]()
www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
National lockdown: Stay at Home
www.gov.uk
Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do.
Full Lockdown 3 rules can be found at this link: www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
National lockdown: Stay at Home
www.gov.uk
Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do.
There are some very very nasty scammers out there. If you get the message below, delete it.
Beware of Doorstep Scams and Rogue Traders![]()
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Bogus tree service scammers have been reported in Bishopstone this week. The Parish Council would like to remind residents how to protect yourself and stay safe on your doorstep. Please share this information with neighbours who might not be online or on Facebook. Sadly, often the elderly and most vulnerable are targeted.![]()
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What is a doorstep scam?![]()
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Doorstep scams take place when someone comes to your door and tries to scam you out of your money or tries to gain access to your home. ![]()
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Doorstep scammers aren’t always pushy and persuasive, they may seem polite or friendly. So if you’re not expecting someone it’s important to be vigilant when you answer the door, especially if you live on your own.![]()
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It can be very easy to fall victim to a scam, but you can be scam savvy if you know what to look out for.![]()
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What are some common types of doorstep scams?![]()
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There are many different types of doorstep scams, some of the most common ones include:![]()
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Rogue traders: A cold-caller may offer you a service you don’t really need. They may claim to have noticed something about your property that needs work or improvement, such as the roof, and offer to fix it for cash or an inflated price.![]()
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Bogus officials: People claim to be from your utility company as a way of gaining access to your home. Always check the ID of any official, and if they’re genuine they won’t mind waiting while you check.![]()
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Fake charity collections: A fraudster may pretend they’re from a charity and ask you to donate money, clothes or household goods. Legitimate charities will all have a charity number that can be checked on the Charity Commission website. ![]()
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Made-up consumer surveys: Some scammers ask you to complete a survey so they can get hold of your personal details, or use it as a cover for persuading you to buy something you don’t want or need.![]()
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Hard luck stories: Someone may come to your door and ask you to help them out with cash, ask to use your telephone or claim they’re feeling unwell. The story is made up and intended to con you out of your money or gain access to your home.![]()
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How can I protect myself from doorstep scams?![]()
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• ‘If in doubt, keep them out!’![]()
• Never work with cold-callers and don’t be rushed into home repairs![]()
• Consumers are legally entitled to a 14-day cooling off period in most home improvement contracts formed at their home![]()
• Check the identity of the caller by phoning the company they claim to be from. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider![]()
• Check whether traders are members of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, the local Authority Assured Trader Schemes or the Government Trust Mark scheme.![]()
• Ask a neighbour or friend nearby to check out the caller before you open the door to them or agree to have work done![]()
• Never pay cash up front![]()
• Always get at least three quotes before agreeing to have work done![]()
• Use the Trading Standards approved "Buy with Confidence" traders. These businesses are vetted and audited by Trading Standards Officers. To find a Buy with Confidence trader visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or for approved Swindon businesses go to www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20147/trading_standards/33/buy_with_confidence_scheme![]()
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Where can I get help or report scammers?![]()
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If anyone suspects a rogue trader is at the door, they should contact the police by dialling 101. In an emergency, call 999. People can also report rogue traders to local trading standards by calling Swindon Trading Standards service on 01793 466155 or the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 040506. Further information from Swindon Borough Council’s Trading Standards service can be found at www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20147/trading_standards/1110/covid-19_scams_cons_and_overpricing
COVID-19 – Scams, cons and overpricing | Swindon Borough Council
www.swindon.gov.uk
COVID-19: Scams, cons and overpricing
The minutes of December’s Parish Council meeting are now online at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/
Planning Application S/20/1497 Land at Whatleys Orchard. At the Parish Council meeting on 4th January, councillors agreed unanimously to object to this development. A letter setting out in detail the Parish Council’s reasons for objecting has been uploaded to SBC’s planning portal.
www.facebook.com/SwindonBoroughCouncil/photos/a.1683569718589758/2824013627878689/?type=3Following a review of the latest evidence, the Government has announced today (30 Dec) that Swindon will be moved into the Tier 4 ‘Stay Home’ Alert level from 00:01am tomorrow.![]()
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The Tier 4 guidance means you should minimise time spent outside your home and must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household in a public place. ![]()
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To reduce social contact, the regulations will also require some businesses to close. Read the full Tier 4 guidance here: www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home![]()
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Approximately one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it. It’s fundamentally important that we all follow the guidance to look after ourselves and each other while also reducing the strain on our NHS.
Timeline PhotosDue to the current conditions, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has been triggered. This means that accommodation will be found for anybody who is known to be sleeping rough in Swindon.![]()
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All rough sleepers known to us have already had an offer of accommodation and this help remains available.![]()
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If you see anybody who is sleeping rough and needs our help, please get in touch.
The agenda for 4th January Parish Council meeting is now on the website and on the noticeboards in Bishopstone and Hinton Parva. bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/
Meetings – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
2020 Date Village Hall 4th January Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 7th December Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 2nd November Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 5th October Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 7th September Hin…
BT have been busy installing overhead fibre in Bishopstone again today. Some High Street and Wyncies area addresses look to have been wired up. These are the postcodes that may now be able to access BT superfast fibre broadband:![]()
SN6 8PR![]()
SN6 8PW![]()
SN6 8PP![]()
SN6 8PL![]()
SN6 8PN![]()
SN6 8PH![]()
SN6 8PJ![]()
SN6 8PE![]()
SN6 8PZ
Universal Service Obligation (USO)![]()
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Since 20th March 2020, if you can’t get a download speed of 10 Mbit/s and an upload speed of 1 Mbit/s, you can request an upgraded connection. You can make this request to BT. You do not need to be an existing customer of BT to apply. Every home and business in the UK has the legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection. The Parish Council understands that the recent BT fibre installations in Bishopstone are a result of USO requests.![]()
To carry out an initial check of whether you could be eligible, and find out more information on how to apply, visit BT’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) web page at www.bt.com/broadband/USO
Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Broadband
www.bt.com
It’s a piece of government legislation that gives eligible addresses the right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection.
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The minutes of the November meeting are now online. Don’t forget that minutes and agendas for all Parish Council meetings can be accessed on the parish website at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/
Meetings – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
2020 Date Village Hall 7th December Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 2nd November Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 5th October Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 7th September Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 3rd August Bish…
We’re keeping an eye on the BT fibre installation in Bishopstone. More homes have been added to their database this week. If you are in one of the postcodes listed below it is worth checking on bt.com ‘See broadband deals’ and/or registering your address on Openreach’s site at www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/fibre-for-home?fbclid=IwAR20I8eEXnefal_mHXxd2n2ttbMBBgKL-crVO18… Postcodes where some homes can now get fibre broadband include SN6 8PR, SN6 8PW, SN6 8PP, SN6 8PL, SN6 8PN
www.openreach.com
Get faster broadband with fibre straight to your home. Find out how Openreach is building fibre across the UK and see if you can get connected.
BT Broadband![]()
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BT have recently installed additional fibre cables in Bishopstone, meaning that some lucky villagers may be able to contract with BT for a much faster broadband service. This localised fibre upgrade is wholly unconnected to the wider Gigabit voucher scheme (which Cllr Gary Sumner and the Parish Council are still working on) and is part of BT’s own service obligation to ensure a minimum broadband level can be provided to every property.![]()
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To check whether you are lucky enough to get a faster connection with BT, you will need to go to bt.com and click on broadband deals and find your address by entering your postcode. We know BT’s database has not been fully updated to reflect the recent fibre installations and they may show your property having slow download speeds (1 to 3 Mb). If this is the case you will need to contact BT (either by the live chat or on the phone number provided) and request that their database is updated for your property to reflect their recent fibre installations.![]()
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Currently, it appears the new BT fibre can only provide higher speeds to a small number of homes in Bishopstone. BT may not be able to offer you higher speeds, however you don’t know if you don’t ask!
The attached NHS summary provides a very useful list explaining what we can and can’t do in Tier 2 from 2nd Dec
Government Guidance ![]()
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From the 3rd December Swindon have been put into Tier 2 – High Alert. A link explaining details in full can be found in the following link![]()
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www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know ![]()
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The attached NHS summary provides a very useful list explaining what we can and can’t do.
Local restriction tiers: what you need to know
www.gov.uk
Sets out the local restriction tier system that will be in place from Wednesday 2 December, including what you can and cannot do in each tier.
Gigabit fibre update: Openreach is now working on a detailed costing to assess the viability of bringing gigabit fibre to Bishopstone and Hinton Parva using the government’s rural broadband voucher scheme. The costing stage will take around two months. If it looks viable, the next step would be an online ‘pledging’ programme like the one started for Wanborough and Liddington yesterday. Congratulations to Gary Sumner, Rob Buckland and our neighbouring parish councils for getting one scheme off the ground in Ridgeway Ward, and here’s hoping we will be next! #ruralbroadband
Financial help if your income has been affected by Covid-19 www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20013/benefits_and_swindon_money_matters/1138/covid-19_-_financial_help_i…
COVID-19 – Financial help if your income has been affected by coronavirus | Swindon Borough Council
www.swindon.gov.uk
Read guidance about applying for benefits and seeking other financial help if the coronavirus crisis has affected your income or created problems with debt.
New Government restrictions from 5th November![]()
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www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a…
New National Restrictions from 5 November
www.gov.uk
Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.
The agenda for November’s online Parish Council meeting is now on the parish website at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/
Meetings – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
2020 Date Village Hall 7th December Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 2nd November Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 5th October Bishopstone Agenda Minutes 7th September Hinton Parva Agenda Minutes 3rd August Bish…
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Do you know the background to the Bishopstone pond?![]()
Want to meet our new Parish Council member?![]()
Read more in the Parish Times:![]()
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Oct-2020-Parish-Times.pdf
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
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Welcome to the Bishopstone and Hinton Parva Parish Council page. ![]()
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We will keep this page up to date with key parish council information, such as meetings dates, agendas and key topics for the council.![]()
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Please follow our page to stay up to date on PC matters.
The agenda for the next Parish Council meeting is now on the website at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/meetings/![]()
You can also read the Parish Times online at bishopstoneandhintonparva.org/parish-times/
Page not found – Bishopstone and Hinton Parva
bishopstoneandhintonparva.org
That page can’t be found. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try one of the links below or a search? Search for: Recent Posts No News Today 🙁 Local Plan Review The Lane in Hinton…
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