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Snowdrops are the stars at town’s winter festival
Delicate white snowdrops are already lifting their heads from the bare winter soil and should be in full flower by mid-February for Shaftesbury’s third annual Snowdrop Festival. There is a packed programme of events for people of all ages, celebrating galanthus in all... read more
Cycling to bus stops in south Wiltshire now made easier
Bus services in the south of the county are more accessible with people now able to park their bikes at a number of stops. Five bus stops in the south Wiltshire area have had cycle parking hoops installed by Wiltshire Council with funding from the government’s Better... read more
Debt woes in Salisbury on the rise
Increasing numbers of people in the Salisbury area are struggling with debt and are only just able to meet their living costs, according to new figures released by StepChange Debt Charity. During 2014, the charity’s helpline was contacted by 525 people from the... read more
A hollow threat?
The landslip at the Beaminster tunnel, in which two people died when their car was engulfed in mud and rocks was a shocking tragedy. It was inevitable – and responsible – that the result would be risk assessments of similar tunnels or steep-sided narrow lanes where... read more
Rail track mystery death
An 82-year-old pensioner died instantly from multiple injuries when he was struck by a train after he ‘sat on the track’, an inquest heard. Ian Harding had to be identified by finger prints after the horrific death at Holley Bush Crossing, near Warminster. The... read more
Police forces plan to share specialists
Specialist police resources and support functions in the Avon and Somerset, and Wiltshire Police forces could be shared under a new strategic alliance, or collaboration”. Both forces are in discussions on have to make significant savings over the coming five... read more
Ambulance service waiting time worsens
The time it takes for the Ambulance Service to reach patients in a life-threatening condition in Wiltshire has worsened in the past few months. Shock figures released last week show that, in November, just 61% of ‘category A’ emergency calls were answered in the... read more
Local MP donates blood stem cells in lifesaving match
After signing up with Love Hope Strength Foundation / Delete Blood Cancer UK as a willing blood stem cell donor, John Glen MP has recently been matched with someone in need of a lifesaving donation. There are just under a million people registered as potential donors... read more
Tragic car deaths – one identified six months after
Six months after three people in a car were killed and burnt alive in a horrific accident, one of the passengers has just been identified. Three Lithuanians were effectively cremated just after dawn when the Volvo car careered into a hedge before bursting into flames... read more
Hospital’s ‘never event’ to be probed
NHS England has launched an investigation after another ‘never event’ at Salisbury’s showpiece District Hospital, after a swab was left in a patient. It was revealed by the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group. A statement said: ‘NHS England are... read more
A festive time to bury news?
Dorset County Council finally came up with some “progress” on the C13 road closure at Dinah’s Hollow and Melbury Abbas, just days before Christmas, submitting a planning application to North Dorset District Council to fell almost all the trees in Dinah’s Hollow (most... read more
Salisbury Cine Club archive now on DVD
The Wiltshire-based film archive charity Windrose Rural Media Trust has got together with former members of Salisbury Cine Cub to release a DVD of some of the club’s films from the 1960s, with recollections from some of those involved in making the films. Founded in... read moreValley Features
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Cycling to bus stops in south Wiltshire now made easier
Bus services in the south of the county are more accessible with people now able to park their bikes at a number of stops. Five bus stops in the south Wiltshire area have had cycle parking hoops installed by Wiltshire Council with funding from the government’s Better... read more
A hollow threat?
The landslip at the Beaminster tunnel, in which two people died when their car was engulfed in mud and rocks was a shocking tragedy. It was inevitable – and responsible – that the result would be risk assessments of similar tunnels or steep-sided narrow lanes where... read more
Local MP donates blood stem cells in lifesaving match
After signing up with Love Hope Strength Foundation / Delete Blood Cancer UK as a willing blood stem cell donor, John Glen MP has recently been matched with someone in need of a lifesaving donation. There are just under a million people registered as potential donors... read more
Udderly fantastic!
A North Dorset farm shop, begun as a diversification project for farmer’s wife Jane Down, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2015. Udder Farm Shop, on the A30 west of Shaftesbury near the East Stour cross-roads, is one of the success stories of the area. It has won... read more
New plan for ancient sites
Local residents can comment on the new Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan as part of the wider public consultation process which runs to March 1, 2015. Comments on the Plan and any relevant changes must be made before the final version is... read more
Traders say town is now looking up
Wilton traders are looking forward to 2015 after flooding and road works combined to cause four months of business disruption in the historic town in 2014. “Last year was unfortunate with the flooding and the road works, effectively closing Wilton, at different times.... read more
Tunnel plan hit by new stone age discoveries
The ground-breaking discovery of a late Mesolithic encampment in the Stonehenge World Heritage Site has raised concerns over plans to build a road tunnel under the stones. The only known Mesolithic Homebase in the World Heritage Site could be obliterated if plans for... read more
Food waste to be tackled
View from the constituency By John Glen MP for Salisbury This month, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty launched its landmark strategy for a ‘zero hunger Britain’ by 2020. We took evidence from more than 150 people at regional evidence... read more
School bus charges to rise for post-16s
Wiltshire Council is to increase charges to families who pay £676 a year for their children’s transport to the two Salisbury grammar schools. The full rate charge for post-16 transport will be increased from its current level of £446 to a new rate of £625 a year... read more
New town clerk
Shaftesbury Town Council has appointed Stephen Holley as Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer. He takes up his appointment early in February. Stephen was at Cotswold District Council, as a Committee Administrator, and he has had a long career in public... read more
“Build sustainable homes near M4,” MP
Neighbourhood Plan open meeting postponed By Victoria Coombes People would be forced to travel away from the town to find work and that a more sustainable approach would be to provide housing where there are jobs, according to Warminster and South Wiltshire MP Dr... read more
Mayor replies to public concerns
By Fanny Charles Shaftesbury residents have voiced concerns over the town council’s decision on the new siting of the controversial Rifles Monument. A stormy town council meeting – during which police were called – was followed later by interim town clerk... read more
Gun alarm in Tidworth
In dramatic New Year’s Eve scenes in a famous small military town, three men were arrested by armed police after a sharp-eyed member of the public saw a ‘gun’ in their possession. The trio were travelling in a vehicle in Tidworth, Wiltshire, when the alarm was... read more
North Dorset chief executive retires
Liz Goodall, chief executive of North Dorset District Council, has announced her retirement after 12 years heading the local authority which she joined in January 2003. She said: “I have now confirmed that I will leave the council in February 2015 to ensure a... read more
Husband and wife team has 16 years of motoring success
Husband and wife team Elaine and Martin Carter have been running Tisbury Motors for more than 16 years, and have transformed the garage into a modern diagnostic centre for Bosch, serving a wide area of South Wiltshire. Elaine believes in investing in her staff and has... read moreAdvertising in Valley News works. – Join the success story.
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