Elections are on May 6th.

Full statement

This is my manifesto for our area:

One of the most important duties of a Wiltshire Councillor is to work with the Parish Councils. All of our villages have effective and well-run Parish Councils, and I hope to be able to support them in the future as I have in the past, for example by:

– attending all Parish Council meetings.

– taking up problems with council officers.

– supporting grant applications to the Area Boards.

– ‘calling in’ controversial planning applications when asked to do so by Parish Councils.

It’s also important to keep in touch with residents, so again I’ll continue to:

– put out regular Focus leaflets and newsletters.

– hold monthly surgeries in Atworth and Holt.

– be available for anyone who wants help or advice.

Looking now at the individual villages:

Holt

The Neighbourhood Plan gives a template for how the village should progress over the next decade. I fully support the plan, especially the development control and traffic management aspects.

The development of the Tannery site is underway. There have been some problems with construction, with planning conditions not being properly observed, so I’ll continue to support neighbouring residents by monitoring this.

I’ll work towards the ambitions in the Neighbourhood Plan for better traffic management along the B3107. The Plan also mentions the desirability of cycle routes to Bradford and Trowbridge, so I’ll look for any possibilities of getting those in place.

I’ll continue to support the village Youth Club by attending the trustees meetings and helping them with Area Board grant applications both for the general running of the club and for specific projects.

Cuts to bus services have been put on hold until after the election, but I’ll be ready to put up a fight against any proposals to reduce services in our area.

Staverton

I’ll continue to work with Wiltshire Police by leading the Speedwatch team in the village. We’re also measuring the volume of traffic on the B3105, and with the help of equipment from Friends of the Earth we’ve previously monitored air pollution levels, and will continue this if necessary.

We have an enthusiastic team of volunteers who turn out for our six-monthly litterpicks and village clean-ups and I’ll continue to organise those. We’ve also carried out environmental projects – for example working with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to tidy up the ‘reed bed’ areas in the village and to install a ‘butterfly garden’ in School Lane.

Atworth

I’m new to Atworth and have been discussing problems and the way forward. Clearly the speed and volume of traffic on the main road is the most commonly raised problem. I’ll work with the Parish Council and Wiltshire Council to see how we can improve road safety, and will carry out a survey of residents to see which of the various options which have been suggested would have public support. Other problems include provision for young people, and the threat by the current administration at County Hall to impose inappropriate development on the village.

In summary….

These are difficult times for local government, but despite the cuts there’s still an important role for an effective local councillor in standing up for our communities.

If you’d like to discuss these or any other matters please get in touch – contact details below.

I hope you’ll feel able to vote for me on May 6th, so that I can continue (or begin) to serve you as your Wiltshire Councillor. Please also let me know if you would like to help with the election campaign, for example by delivering a few leaflets or putting up a poster.

Trevor Carbin

Liberal Democrat candidate for ‘Holt’ division of Wiltshire Council.

3, Copper Beeches, Hilperton, BA14 7QG

07706 994178 / votefortrev@yahoo.co.uk