The Bradford on Avon Area Board met on 2 July 2025, and among the items discussed were community grants, updates from partner organisations, and highway improvements. Councillors agreed to allocate funding to several local initiatives and noted updates on ongoing projects.

Community Grant Funding

The board approved several grant applications to support local initiatives.

• Handmade BoA CIC received £2,500 towards shop fittings for a new community shop in Bradford on Avon. The new shop will provide an outlet for local artists and makers, as well as volunteering and work experience opportunities.

• Bradford on Avon Dementia Action Alliance was granted £200 for transport for vulnerable adults and £400 for a summer lunch for older and vulnerable adults.

• Bradford on Avon Town Council received £2,000 for the Broadford on Avon Summer Holiday Club 2025, which will provide affordable activities for young people, with 50% of spaces fully funded for those eligible for free school meals.

A decision on a grant application from Wiltshire Rural Music for £1,000 towards 'Keep Music In Mind' sessions for people living with dementia in Bradford on Avon was delegated to the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager, subject to majority Area Board member support. Councillor Trevor Carbin, Holt and Staverton, Chair of the Area Board, declared an interest as a trustee of the organisation and recused himself from the discussion.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The Area Board received the notes from the LHFIG meeting held on 14 April 2025. The Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager reported that the 2025/26 LHFIG budget had not been set at this stage but was hopeful that this would be confirmed soon.

The LHFIG discussed a number of ongoing and new requests relating to local highways and footpaths. These included:

• Wine Street, Bradford on Avon: The group discussed potential conflicts for contraflow cycling and agreed to proceed with Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) adverts.
• B3109 Lower South Wraxall Junction Visibility Improvements: The legal process for land purchase is ongoing, with construction expected in Summer 2025.
• A365 Atworth: Design work is progressing, with implementation expected in Spring 2026.
• Frome Rd/Chapel Lane Wingfield: Design work is underway for proposed footway works, and the group agreed to progress school warning signs and SLOW markings with £1,800 funding (£900 from LHFIG and £900 from the Parish Council).
• 23-30 St Margaret's St, Bradford on Avon: Community Speed Watch (CSW) will operate in this area, with speeds recorded at 26/27mph.
• Lower Stoke, Limpley Stoke: A site visit is planned to address pedestrian, cycle, and vehicle safety concerns.
• Southville Road/Culver Road/Lodden Way, Bradford on Avon: The Town Council will consider the level of support for proposals before further work is undertaken.
• Kingston Road, Bradford on Avon: The recommendation is for no further action, and the item was closed.
• South Wraxall Village: Awaiting report completion, but the criteria for a 20mph speed limit has been met.
• Hawcroft, Holt: It was agreed to provide three bollards within the verge as a trial, with funding of £750 (£325 from LHFIG and £325 from the Parish Council).
• Junction of Marina Drive and Cygnet Way, Staverton: To be reviewed.
• A363 adjacent to Cumberwell Golf Club: It was agreed that signing would be reviewed outside of the Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) process for LHFIG.
• Westwood Park, Westwood: Awaiting a street lighting response.
• Eastern approach to Lower Westwood: The 20mph speed limit works will be undertaken through the Ad-Hoc signing budget at no cost to the Parish Council or LHFIG.
• Lower Westwood Road: Installation to be progressed.
• Bradford on Avon Town: Implementation is underway, with 90% complete at the last on-ground check.
• Lower Woolley St/Silver St, Bradford on Avon: Re-advertisement for residents' parking to take place imminently.
• Ashley Road, Bradford on Avon: Complete.
• Holt Rd, Bradford on Avon: Complete.
• Bridge Yard: Councillor Kirsty Rose to arrange a site meeting with Milestone to discuss works.
• Bridge St/St Margaret's St, Bradford on Avon: Complete.
• Wingfield Deer Warning Signs: Complete.
• Holt Station Road: Complete.
• Speed Limit Review, Monkton Farleigh: 90% complete, with one additional sign to be ordered.
• Dane Rise, Winsley: Works complete.
• Church Lane, Limpley Stoke: Works complete.
• Market Street, BoA: This is now to be considered as part of wider measures following town traffic consultation.
• New Road Bradford on Avon: On hold.
• St Margaret's St/Station Approach, BoA: There are no alternative funding sources available, so the item is to be put on hold.
• Staverton: Item to be put on hold due to lack of funding available from the parish council.
• Poulton Lane, Bradford on Avon: BoA Town Council to consider writing to adjacent landowners to seek determination of ownership.
• Silver Street, Bradford on Avon: It was agreed that this item would be put on hold.
• Winsley Rd: It was agreed to take this forward and funding agreed.
• Bath Road: Wiltshire Police stated that an updated assessment is needed to allow them to comment on proposals.
• Budbury Close: It was resolved to investigate this further and bring back a proposal to the next meeting.
• Limpley Stoke: Initial site investigation to be undertaken to determine feasibility.
• Elms Cross Drive and Frome Road: H bar marking supported subject to funding by resident.
• B3107 Holt: It was agreed that an initial review of schemes to update feasibility and cost should take place.
• A363 Farleigh Wick: Site meeting to be arranged.

Appointments

The Area Board appointed lead representatives to the following outside bodies:

• Climate Friendly Bradford – Councillor Sam Blackwell, Bradford-on-Avon North
• Health and Wellbeing – Councillor Nigel White, Winsley & Westwood

The Area Board also appointed Councillor Sam Blackwell as Area Board Environment Lead and Councillor George Simmonds, Bradford-on-Avon South, as Area Board Youth Lead, following a request made by Councillor Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate and Waste.

The Area Board noted the Terms of Reference for the LHFIG.

Community Engagement and Partnership Update

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager provided a background on the work being delivered by the Engagement and Partnership Service. Area Board members provided an overview of their division, and the key challenges and opportunities identified that the Area Board could support, including environment and climate issues, cost of living, road safety and speeding, the need to protect the natural environment, support for those living alone, the use of speed watch and Speed Indicator Devices, planning and Rights of Way issues and the development youth support.

The Area Board noted the report and its use as a basis for shaping future work.

Shared Lives Service

The Area Board received a video presentation highlighting the work undertaken by the Shared Lives Service¹ and the need to recruit further carers. Members noted the need to reinforce the role of Shared Lives Services in the community and share information about the Service more widely.

Partner Updates

• Inspector Ho Tsang of Wiltshire Police provided details of the neighbourhood team, their community commitment, activities undertaken, action and priorities, comparisons in crime statistics, and future focus. The Area Board noted that Police Constable Rob Dentry had recently visited St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon and spoke about tagging and graffiti.
• Jeremy Wire provided an update on Climate Friendly Bradford, including information about a successful Wild Water festival, healthy rivers project, participation in the Great Big Green Week, and a recent Climate Summit held at County Hall in June 2025.
• Updates were also provided on health and wellbeing and the Local Youth Network.

The Area Board noted written updates from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Road Safety, Wiltshire Police VAWG Quarterly Update, and the Wiltshire Age UK Newsletter.