The Tidworth Area Board meeting on 02 February 2026 saw the approval of several community grants totalling over £12,000, alongside discussions on policing, road safety, and local development. Key decisions included awarding £5,000 to the Detached Youth Work Project and £3,600 for improvements to Ludgershall Memorial Hall.

Partner Updates and Community Safety

Philip Wilkinson OBE, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, addressed the Board regarding proposed government reforms that would see the number of police forces reduced and the role of Police and Crime Commissioners replaced by Mayoral Strategic Authorities. He highlighted that Wiltshire Police is currently one of the lowest-funded forces in England and outlined proposals for a council tax increase to address a significant funding shortfall. Inspector Gavin Brewster of Wiltshire Police provided an update on local priorities, noting a reduction in anti-social behaviour following partnership work with schools and the Youth Justice team. He also detailed efforts to combat rural crime, including tool thefts and hare coursing, and ongoing operations with Hampshire Police.

Town and Parish Council updates covered a range of local issues. Tidworth Town Council reported on successful Remembrance and Christmas events, the awarding of the first Freedom of Tidworth, and ongoing efforts to address anti-social behaviour and pothole repairs. Ludgershall Town Council highlighted their upcoming Medieval Street Fair and ongoing work with Wellington Academy to establish a safer walking route. Concerns were raised about the impact of funding cuts to Community First, which supports vital community link schemes, including those in Ludgershall and Tidworth.

Dame Sue Gray, CEO of the Armed Forces Equine Charity, presented an overview of the charity's work, which focuses on equine therapy and wellbeing initiatives for individuals experiencing trauma, including veterans and local schoolchildren. The charity's Tidworth hub was emphasised as a key community asset.

Area Board Funding Approvals

The Board considered several applications for Area Board funding. The Detached Youth Work Project received £5,000 from the Youth Budget, and the Youth Engagement Project was awarded £2,000. The Tidworth Area Youth Committee Projects received £1,000. The Chutes Connect Community Transport Initiative was awarded £870 from the Older and Vulnerable budget. For Community Area Grants, Ludgershall Memorial Hall Improvements Project received £3,600. The Tidworth Community Area Safety and Security Group was awarded £2,000, split equally between the Older & Vulnerable and Youth budgets.

Local Highway and Footway Improvements

The minutes from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting on 7 January 2026 were noted. Several highway improvement requests were discussed, including:

• Tidworth Town Council – Wylye Road Waiting Restrictions: Approved for inclusion in a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) alongside other schemes.
• Collingbourne Ducis Parish Council – Church Street Bollards: Work to improve kerbing and verge protection was underway, with further kerb works submitted for maintenance.
• Ludgershall Town Council – No Stopping Markings Tidworth Road: A keep clear marking was deemed more appropriate than a yellow box, with costs to be discussed with the business involved.
• Everleigh Parish Council – Marlborough Road & The Street Street Name Plates: Marlborough Road signage was approved for installation, while The Street requires further consultation as it is not formally named on the national street gazetteer.
• Tidworth Town Council – Merrington Way with Zouch Farm Tidworth Waiting Restrictions: Approved and included in a wider TRO.
• Tidworth Town Council – Lining Amendment Pennings Road: Approved and combined with signage amendments for Ordnance Road.
• Tidworth Town Council – Damaged Brick Pillars Station Road: Work to repair or replace damaged brick pillars was ongoing, with consideration for electrical connections within the structure.
• Chute Parish Council – Additional Street Lighting: Further investigation into the feasibility and cost of installing additional street lighting was paused pending local consultation and assessment of electricity connections.
• Tidworth Town Council – Removal of Taxi Parking Station Road: A review of taxi ranks across Wiltshire is underway, and the Board will await the outcome before proceeding.
• Tidworth Town Council – Amendment to Signs on Ordnance Road: Signage improvements were approved and combined with other projects.
• Collingbourne Ducis Parish Council – Church Street Footway: Kerb and verge improvements were submitted for maintenance, with further assessment of the extent of works required.
• Ludgershall Town Council – Signage Improvements: Approved and combined with other projects.
• Tidworth Town Council – Yellow Box Repainting: Approved and added to the maintenance programme.
• Tidworth Town Council – Pedestrian Barrier Wellington Lions: A site visit confirmed the footway width was insufficient for a barrier, with investigation into zig-zag markings to follow.
• Ludgershall Town Council – No Stopping Markings Tidworth Road at CRH Plant: A keep clear marking was approved, with costs to be discussed with the business.
• Ludgershall Mead Road Waiting Restrictions and Ludgershall High Street Disabled Parking Bay: These previously discussed items were noted as completed or closed.
• Empress Way Road Marking Replacement: Completed.
• Station Road Tidworth Bollards: Ongoing.
• MOD Event: Awareness was raised of an upcoming County Lines event for the MOD and community.
• Collisions within the Area Board: The MOD was advised to request incident statistics directly from Wiltshire Police.
• Drummond Park to Wellington Academy Cycle Path: Awaiting further information from LTC and Wellington Academy.
• Maintenance Issues for GL: Ongoing.
• Street Name Plates: To be reviewed on a parish-by-parish basis.
• Lahore Road Bus Stop: Tidworth Town Council confirmed responsibility for maintenance.
• Ludgershall Street Lighting: Still with the developer.

The meeting concluded with the confirmation of the next meeting date as Monday 15 June 2026.