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Area board - the tail still wagging the dog
(January 09, 2011)ONCE again those who might like the chance to see one of Wiltshire's flagship policies in action can do so on Thursday - if they can travel to a village miles away from Warminster.
Warminster area board's next eight meetings now have dates and venues but five of the eight meetings are scheduled to be held in villages miles away from the town.
Which means that many people who might like to go will not be able if they don't drive or can't afford a taxi.
''Around three-quarters of the Warminster Community Area's population lives in the town so three quarters of the meetings should take place here not in a drafty hall in the back end of beyond,'' said former county councillor Steve Dancey.
''Most people living in villages these days are wealthy and have access to cars and getting into Warminster is no problem - but the incidence of car ownership is lower in the town and those who organise these meetings should plan to enable as many people to attend as possible.
''That is not the case with the current system. If the allocations of meetings were pro-rata only one meeting a year would be held in a village - preferably in the summer as finding somewhere like Chapmanslade village hall on a dark winter night will be tricky.
''I've attended a number of these meetings and it also seems that the villages and their well-heeled residents get more of their fair share and say in what takes place even though they only have a population of 7,000 compared to Warminster's 17,400.
''Another case of the tail wagging the dog.''
Warminster area board's next eight meetings now have dates and venues but five of the eight meetings are scheduled to be held in villages miles away from the town.
Which means that many people who might like to go will not be able if they don't drive or can't afford a taxi.
''Around three-quarters of the Warminster Community Area's population lives in the town so three quarters of the meetings should take place here not in a drafty hall in the back end of beyond,'' said former county councillor Steve Dancey.
''Most people living in villages these days are wealthy and have access to cars and getting into Warminster is no problem - but the incidence of car ownership is lower in the town and those who organise these meetings should plan to enable as many people to attend as possible.
''That is not the case with the current system. If the allocations of meetings were pro-rata only one meeting a year would be held in a village - preferably in the summer as finding somewhere like Chapmanslade village hall on a dark winter night will be tricky.
''I've attended a number of these meetings and it also seems that the villages and their well-heeled residents get more of their fair share and say in what takes place even though they only have a population of 7,000 compared to Warminster's 17,400.
''Another case of the tail wagging the dog.''
The schedule of meetings is as follows
| 13 January 2011 | Chapmanslade Village Hall | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 10 March 2011 | Kingdown Community School | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 19 May 2011 | Christchurch Hall | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 30 June 2011 | Corsley Reading Room | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 01 September 2011 | Chapmanslade` | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 10 November 2011 | Christchurch Hall | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 12 January 2012 | Codford Village Hall | 6.30pm for 7pm start |
| 08 March 2012 | Corsley Reading Room | 6.30pm for 7pm start |