The Stonehenge Area Board met to discuss community engagement, funding for local projects, and highway improvements. Councillors considered grant applications for village halls, recreational facilities, and community services, and they reviewed ongoing projects related to road safety and traffic management. The board also discussed strategies for engaging with the community and supporting vulnerable populations.

Area Board Funding

The Area Board considered several applications for community area grants, youth grants, and older and vulnerable people grants.

The board approved the following grants:

• Figheldean Village Hall was granted £3,297 towards stage lights, to upgrade their current system to LED, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly. The total cost of the project is £7,297.
• Tilshead Village Hall and Playing Field Committee received £2,369.40 for a new heating system. The hall is used for community events and projects, especially for older and younger residents, and the current heating system is insufficient to warm the building. The total cost of the project is £4,738.80.
• Shrewton Recreational Charity Village Hall was granted £1,000 to make the Shrewton Recreation Ground play area safer. The total cost of the project is £2,000.
• Shrewton United Football Club was granted £5,000 towards changing facility refurbishment. The club is undertaking a refurbishment of its changing facilities to modernise the existing infrastructure and introduce dedicated female changing rooms. The total cost of the project is £13,800.
• Amesbury History Centre was granted £2,500 to improve and modernise the display facilities and security of the centre. The centre needs flexible display hardware and improved security to display more valuable and fragile exhibits. The total cost of the project is £5,000.
• Amesbury Town Band was granted £525 towards resources. The band is seeking funding to enhance the professional appearance and functionality of their group by purchasing new branded polo shirts and new music stands. The total cost of the project is £1,050.
• Army Welfare Service (AWS) Community Support Larkhill was granted £5,000 towards the AWS Community Support Larkhill Summer Programme. AWS Community Support Larkhill intend to deliver a summer programme of youth provision for military and civilian young people engaging in their service. The total cost of the project is £10,000.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The board noted the minutes from the LHFIG meeting held on 9 April 2025, which included recommendations for funding various highway and footpath improvements.

The board approved the following recommendations:

• £2,000 (LHFIG £1,500, Enford Parish Council £500) for signing/lining works on the A345 Enford
• £2,000 (LHFIG £1,500, Enford Parish Council £500) for a topographical survey on the A345 Enford

Other issues discussed at the LHFIG meeting included:

• Concerns about HGVs in Woodford
• A pedestrian crossing at Amesbury Boscombe Down
• Traffic calming measures on Antrobus Road, Amesbury
• Parking on the footway outside Archers Gate Primary School
• Traffic volume on the A360/B3083/B3086/B390 through Shrewton
• The state of footpaths in Shrewton
• Sightlines at the junction of Furlong Way with the B3086, Shrewton
• Speed of traffic on the A360/B3083/B3086/B390 through Shrewton
• The junction of Nett Road and Chalk Hill with A360, Shrewton
• A 'Priority Lane' on Hackthorne Road, Durrington
• Parking on the pavement on Bulford Road, Durrington
• A stile from the Mount Pleasant Estate to the field headland, Stoford
• The terminal national speed limit sign at the junction of The Common and the B3083, Shrewton
• The speed of traffic travelling at more than the 40mph speed limit on Countess Road, Amesbury

Appointments

The Area Board appointed Councillor representatives to Outside Bodies[^1].

[1]: Outside bodies are external organisations that the council works with. They can include charities, community groups, and other public sector organisations.

The following appointments were made:

• A303 Stonehenge Steering Group - TBC
• Stonehenge World Heritage Site Steering Group - TBC

The board noted the Terms of Reference for the Local Highways and Footpaths Investment Group (LHFIG).

Community Engagement and Partnerships

The board received a report on the work of the Engagement and Partnerships service, which aims to connect the community with the council. The service supports Wiltshire Council services to engage with communities effectively, acts as a conduit for two-way engagement, invests in developing strong relationships, and develops strategic interventions and acts as a catalyst for projects that directly deliver the council's goals.

Key upcoming engagement work includes:

• Delivering the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and Wiltshire Council framework.
• Delivering employment opportunities for residents with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Wiltshire Youth framework action.
• Tobacco Control Alliance.
• Tackling food insecurity and other cost of living effects.
• Facilitating Social Value Opportunities.
• Stonehenge Area Board legacy workstreams from 2024/25.

Partner Updates and Information Items

• Community First Community First provided a briefing, including information on current vacancies, programme updates, and how to support their work.
• BSW Together (Integrated Care System) BSW Together provided an update, including information on Covid-19 spring booster vaccinations, drop-in sessions for the new Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre, and responses to the ICB's Big A&E Survey.
• Alzheimer's Support Alzheimer's Support are rolling out their dementia awareness programme across Wiltshire, thanks to a grant from the National Lottery.
• Wiltshire Age UK Wiltshire Age UK provided a newsletter, including a message from the CEO, news and updates, and how to help them.
• Wiltshire Police Inspector Gavin Brewster, Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) provided a written update.
• Wiltshire Police A written update on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) was provided.
• Wiltshire Council Information items were noted, including the Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) and Wiltshire Council Framework, Wiltshire Community Air Network, Local Sponsorship Request for SEND Fest 2025, and Shared Lives service video.

Wiltshire Community Air Network

The Environmental Control & Protection team are preparing to launch a new citizen science air quality monitoring project that will place more than one hundred low-cost air quality sensors in communities across Wiltshire for one year. The sensors will measure PM2.5¹ air pollution.

The data from the sensors will be publicly available online.