The Pewsey Area Board met on Monday 8 June 2026 to discuss a range of community matters, including funding applications, local highway improvements, and updates from various partner organisations. The meeting also included a presentation on the work of Carers Together Wiltshire.

Appointments and Governance

The meeting began with the election of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the Pewsey Area Board for the 2026/27 term. Following this, the board was scheduled to consider the appointment of lead members to outside bodies and to note the Terms of Reference for the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG). The report pack indicated that Councillor Paul Oatway QPM was the current representative for the Pewsey Community Area Partnership, and Councillor Stuart Wheeler for The Vale Health and Wellbeing Centre. The LHFIG's Terms of Reference were also available for review, outlining its role in making recommendations to the Area Board for highway and footpath improvements.

Written Updates and Information Items

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to noting various written updates and information items from a range of organisations. These included an update from BSW Together (Integrated Care Board) regarding its five-year strategic commissioning plan and the development of Neighbourhood Health in Wiltshire. Community First provided an update on its activities, including job vacancies, its status as a Disability Confident Employer, and support for youth clubs and village halls. Wiltshire Money also shared information on its events and training opportunities.

Further updates were provided by the Wiltshire Faith Communities Network, outlining its objectives to increase participation and co-deliver impactful engagements. Wessex Community Action presented a briefing note on the challenges facing the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, highlighting financial strain and rising demand. The Wiltshire Community Lottery was introduced as a new initiative to generate sustainable revenue for local good causes.

Wiltshire Police provided a quarterly report on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), detailing work on Project Vigilant and efforts to tackle stalking. A Road Safety update also highlighted the #FATAL5 education campaign and speed enforcement activities in the Pewsey area. Alcoholics Anonymous provided an update on its local services and activities across Wiltshire. Finally, information was shared on the Connect to Work Programme and Skills Bootcamps, designed to help individuals return to or stay in employment.

Community Spotlight and Funding Applications

The board was scheduled to receive an update from The Green Vale Project as part of a Community Spotlight segment, offering an opportunity to highlight positive community initiatives or feedback from previous grant awards.

A key item was the consideration of funding applications. The opening budgets for Community Area Grants (£16,464), Young People Grants (£13,967), and Older & Vulnerable Grants (£7,500) were noted. Several specific applications were to be considered:

• Wilcot Cricket Club requested £2,566.73 towards capital equipment.
• Greatwood Charity sought £2,429.00 towards kitchen refurbishment.
• Pewsey Parish Council applied for £1,972.00 towards a temporary ice rink as part of The Pewsey Winter Festival.

The board was also to note any funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The meeting included a review of the minutes and recommendations from the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting held on 13 May 2026. The report pack indicated several recommendations for the Area Board to consider, including:

• Closing specific issues:
  • Chirton 20mph speed limit (Issue 10-20-9)
  • Beechingstoke Village Gate and Nameplate (Issue 10-24-13)
  • Bagshot Traffic Signs (Issue 8-24-21)
  • A345 North Newnton request for speed limit assessment (Issue 10-25-36)
• Returning funds: £3,200 previously allocated for A4 Froxfield Crossings (Issue 10-24-15) was recommended for redistribution.
• Allocating funding to priority schemes:
  • Manningford 20mph Speed Limit (Issue 10-21-12) was recommended for £5,000.
• Adding new issues to the Priority Schemes list:
  • Great Bedwyn Brook St / Jockey Green Lighting Assessment (Issue 10-25-28) with a recommended allocation of £2,104.20.
  • A345 Woodbridge Upavon Road Village Gates (Issue 10-25-31) with a recommended allocation of £1,500.
  • C8 Wilcot Alton Road SID Infrastructure (Issue 10-25-30) with a recommended allocation of £253.33.
  • Froxfield Unsuitable for HGVs Signs (Issue 10-25-34) with a recommended allocation of £415.49.
  • A338 Shalbourne area Speed Limit Assessment (Issue 10-26-01) with a recommended allocation of £2,250.

Public Participation and Partner Updates

An Ask your Area Board session was scheduled, providing a 10-minute window for the public to ask questions. This was followed by verbal updates from representatives of Health & Wellbeing, Youth, Environment, the Pewsey Community Area Partnership, and various Parish Councils.

Community Discussion

The second session of the meeting was dedicated to community discussion, beginning with a presentation from Kirsten Kerr, Operations Manager at Age UK, about the work undertaken by Carers Together Wiltshire.

The meeting concluded with a review of future meeting dates. The next Pewsey Area Board meeting was scheduled for 7.00 pm on 2 November 2026.