The Westbury Area Board met to discuss community grants, highway improvements, and updates from partner organisations. The board was scheduled to consider grant applications for community projects, review local highway schemes, and receive updates from Wiltshire Police and other community partners. Councillors were also expected to discuss key challenges and opportunities in their divisions.

Community Grants

The Westbury Area Board was scheduled to consider several grant applications for community projects:

• Leigh Park Community Centre - A grant of £5,000 was requested for an air source heating pump at the Leigh Park Community Centre. According to the application, the current heating system is non-functional, and the upgrade is essential to ensure the centre remains a welcoming space during the winter months. The centre operates a well-used community facility that hosts a wide range of groups and events, including sports clubs, local meetings, educational activities, and private hires.

• Westbury Festival - A grant of £1,100 was requested for a Putting on the Ritz Afternoon Tea and Music event at the Leigh Park Community Centre. The event was planned as part of the Westbury Festival, offering older residents an afternoon tea with live music.

• Westbury Youth Club - A grant of £5,000 was requested to support the Westbury Youth Club's core costs. The youth club provides weekly term-time sessions for young people aged 11-19, and up to 25 with SEND[^1]. The sessions include activities such as baking, cooking, sewing, art and crafts, quizzes, bingo, karaoke and parties.

  [^1]: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

• Bratton Parish Council - A grant of £3,849 was requested for the installation of a youth shelter for Bratton Village Green. The shelter would provide a secure and visible place for young people to gather in the early evenings.

• Westbury Area Board - A grant of £2,000 was requested to provide funding to community venues throughout Westbury to host a series of tea dances throughout the spring and summer of 2025.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The Westbury Area Board was scheduled to note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 10 April 2025.

Several new issues and requests were scheduled to be discussed, including:

• Parking issues on Westbury Road, Bratton, with concerns about vehicles parked on the pavement blocking visibility and endangering pedestrians.
• Parking problems in Jubilee Close, Westbury, where cars parked across the access to a ramp prevent entry/egress for residents on electric scooters.
• Persistent parking by non-residents on the junction exiting Sarum Gardens in Westbury, causing access/egress issues onto Frogmore Road.
• The need for a footpath from the Equestrian Centre to meet the pavement on Newtown in Westbury, due to safety concerns for pedestrians.
• The lack of a pavement in front of new homes on Frogmore Road in Westbury, where people are forced to walk in the road.
• The installation of a permissive path in Edington, and whether permission is needed for steps to exit onto the pavement, and whether a barrier is needed to stop people falling into the road.
• Slippery paving slabs on Monastery Road in Edington, which become dangerous when damp.
• Speeding issues on the B3098/Lower Road/Tinhead Road in Edington, despite previous traffic calming measures.
• The installation of more Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) in Edington.
• A review of the priorities of the Crossroads Farm junction in Edington, following several accidents.
• Structural damage to the retaining wall of a property on Court Lane in Bratton, caused by the volume and weight of HGV traffic.
• A request for a H-bar marking (access protection) in relation to a planning application on Springfield Road in Westbury.

Several schemes were awaiting construction or had an order issued, including:

• Waiting restrictions on Bratton Road in Westbury, between The Lodge and Cemetery.
• An extension to the 30mph speed limit on Imber Road in Bratton.
• A 20mph speed limit carriageway roundel on Lower Westbury Road in Bratton.
• Pedestrian safety improvements on the B3098 & Lower Road in Edington.
• Waiting restrictions and additional bollards on Bratton Road in Westbury.

Partner and Community Updates

The Westbury Area Board was scheduled to receive updates from various partners and community representatives.

Wiltshire Police

Inspector Lou Oakley was scheduled to provide an update on behalf of Wiltshire Police, including information on retail crime, youth ASB and crime, car/van breaks, organised crime, and community engagements.

The update included information on the #Fatal5 education campaign, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads by targeting the five most common causes of serious collisions: speeding, drink/drug driving, distracted driving, careless driving, and not wearing a seatbelt.

The update also included information on traffic surveys conducted in Westbury between January 2024 and May 2025, and the work of Community Speed Enforcement Officers (CSEOs) in the area.

Community First

The Westbury Area Board was scheduled to receive a Community First update, including information on Youth Action Wiltshire, outdoor education, Carers Together Wiltshire, community organising, Voice It, Hear It, WALC, village halls, CT/Link Schemes, MiDAS, grants, and employability programmes.

Other Updates

Other updates that were scheduled to be discussed include:

• St John Ambulance
• Wiltshire Family Hub
• Wiltshire Community Air Network
• Age UK Wiltshire
• Wiltshire Council and Voluntary and Community and Social Enterprise Sector Framework
• Understanding Dementia workshops
• BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

Area Board Priorities

The Area Board was scheduled to receive updates from Lead Councillors in relation to the following local Area Board Priorities:

• Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Our Community
• Wellbeing for Young People and Positive Activities
• Local Environmental Action
• Combatting Child Poverty

Appointments

The Area Board was scheduled to appoint lead members to Outside Bodies and working groups, and to consider appointing a lead member to the role of Area Board Environment Lead and Youth Lead.