What I'm up to and out and about in the villages

Village clean up and Ridgeway Litter Picks 2019

October 2019: All villages - I had a meeting with UK Broadband (now Three) today (15th October) to discuss some issues with the 4G Superfast Broadband system avaialble to the villages.

Some fixes have been implemented and I identified current issues raised by residents and we discussed possible solutions and a Communications plan for residents to keep them up to date.

IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE SYSTEM PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR RE-SELLER!

September 2019: During both my Ward meetings and directly, I was able to help concerned residents who wanted to make submissions on the 'Local Plan Review' sites in Wanborough, Badbury and in Bishopstone. I was able to offer some useful tips on the best policy areas to highlight to make their case.

September 2019 - Bishopstone:

I organised a site meeting with a senior Highways officer, Parish Councillors and residents to look at speeding and Highways Safety at the junction of West End Lane & Icknield Way. Plan of action agreed.

Wanborough July 2019:

Recent Ward works have included meetings with Highways officers responsible for road maintenance to look at the conditon of Wanborough's High Street and Rotten Row.

I had some patching works done and they replaced some topsoil to a grass verge in Rotten Row where poor soil had meant grass didn't grow.

Having discussed the wider road surface I am aware it is not yet due for major work and have a good understanding of where the thresholds are.

Liddington - July 2019: We had a meeting with Highways Officers in Liddington to look at road safety and road signage and markings.

Bishopstone March 2019:

After two years of chasing I finally got the New Road re-surfacing carried out about which Bishopstone Parish Council and residents were very pleased.

Wanborough Primary School Parking/Safety July 2019: I arranged for Highways officers to meet school representatives to discuss the issues on site in July 2019. Some positive initiatives discussed.

Bus Services: I have again confirmed the continuation of our existing bus services, but improvements will come when the New Eastern Villages developments commence (as without more users it is not possible to improve what we have).

Recent Ward events I have attended and supported have included the Wanborough May Day Fayre (with my wife and son we manned the barbecue all day - so apologies if we didn't chat much), and as usual I took the official photos for the Wanborough Scarecrow Trail (for which we also sponsor first prize).

Attended the Bishopstone & Hinton Parva Country Garden Fete, Liddington Fete, Wanborough Primary's Summer Fete, whilst my son and I marshalled for the Wanborough Fun Run.

We also (through my company) sponsored the Dog Show at the Wanborough Spring Show.

We attended & loved the brilliant 'International Pig Racing' in Bishopstone hosted by Helen Browning & Tim Finney at the equally fabulous Royal Oak in Bishopstone.

NEW WOODEN SIGNS INSTALLED IN WANBOROUGH FOLLOWING

MY REQUEST:

Literally on the morning that this sign's predecessor was spotted knocked over I reported it, whilst my son and a resident put it upright.

The signs were then assessed as rotten and three in the village were replaced in total.

I have had confirmation from Highways that this was done as a result of my intervention.

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH IN LIDDINGTON:

As one of a group of volunteers we give up our time to be a visible presence to speeding motorists in Liddington.

Data about speeding motorists is passed to Wiltshire Police and those motorists can expect to hear from the police.

The data is also used to inform the need for improved signage (which I have been succesful in securing for the B4192 Purley Road) in Liddington.

Swindon Borough Council role

Delighted to be appointed to Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet as Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning 2018/19 and re-appointed 2019/20:

A great opportunity to work in a field where I have 35 years experience - the Housing industry has been my life since I was 18.

I fully intend to deliver on the ambitious plans for Swindon with good housing developments but will work with residents to define the benefits to their community and try to secure infrastructure in a timely fashion.

CLEAN UP IN LIDDINGTON:

My son Will and I removed grafitti - cleared pavements of leaves and fallen branches and removed grass growing alongside the road on the Purley Road (B4192).

Great to look back and see what we achieved in doing this - a very tidy street scene afterwards.

We were just one part of the effort with other Liddington residents concentrating on other areas.

We brought in a leaf blower from home to speed the task!

Swindon Borough Council work

AONB:

I am the representative for Swindon on the Council of Partners of the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

This is an organisation created to protect and enhance the Nationally protected & designated landscapes which surround us.

My family and I enjoy the sheer beauty of our countryside and The Ridgeway!

We walk lots and have a demanding dog 'Coco' who also enjoys our countryside!

Archaeological Advisory Body of the Swindon Development Trust:

I have been the Chair of this fascinating group for two years, considering the important archaeological findings often discovered as a result of developments, monitoring the Swindon Museum and we have held meetings and worked with the National Collections Centre at Wroughton.

We planted 4000 trees at 'Manners Wood', Pack Hill, Wanborough in the AONB in February 2019 - more to plant in November

Together with the Woodland Trust, staff from Nationwide Building Society and the Landscape team at Swindon Borough Council we planted 4000 trees in land aquired by SBC alongside an existing woodland scheme in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Pack Hill, Wanborough.

Staff and pupils from Years 3&4 at Wanborough Primary were able to join us and Nationwide were good enough to lay on the coach to get them there and back safely! They were incredibly enthusiastic planters and trees were planted so quickly that more had to be brought to site! They will watch this special new woodland grow and know they helped create it in 2019.

I have arranged that there will be an opportunity for the pupils and other residents who wish to be involved to do a further planting here in November and I will update you about specific dates nearer the time.

Ridgeway Ward residents let me know if you have any questions:

gary@ridgewayvillages.co.uk

Gary Sumner – your Ridgeway Ward Councillor

LIVING IN A RURAL AREA - we do enjoy our pubs:

In Wanborough we have some fantastic pubs - the New Calley Arms, Plough Inn, Harrow Inn, Brewers Arms and Cross Keys + The Burj Indian Restaurant at Foxhill.

In Badbury we have the Bakers Arms and in Liddington we have The Village Inn. Bishopstone has the fantastic Royal Oak.