At a meeting of the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board, Councillor Nick Dye resigned as chairman, and Councillor Andrew Matthews was elected as the new chairman. Councillors also approved funding for Cricklade Cinema and 2nd Cricklade Scout Group, and heard updates from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, Philip Wilkinson, and Inspector Scott Anger of Wiltshire Police.

Election of a New Chairman

Councillor Nick Dye, the outgoing chairman, explained that he had decided to stand down as he felt he could not dedicate enough time to the role. Councillor Martin Denz nominated the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Andrew Matthews, who was duly elected as the new chairman for the remainder of the municipal year. As a result, Councillor Nick Dye was elected as the new Vice-Chairman.

Community Grants

The board approved two community grant applications:

• Cricklade Cinema was awarded £2,330 towards a ceiling-mounted ultra-high-definition projector. Lester Buck, Chair of Cricklade Cinema, confirmed that the cinema's screen was of sufficient quality to support the new projector.
• 2nd Cricklade Scout Group was awarded £1,490.33 towards 'Master at Arms' activities, including archery equipment, rifles, and tomahawk throwing. Paul Arthurs, Explorer Scout Lead, reassured the board that he was a trained tomahawk throwing instructor and that the group undertook risk assessments.

Police Update

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson gave a strategic overview of policing in Wiltshire, highlighting that Wiltshire Police were performing well, but he had concerns about future funding levels. He noted that Wiltshire was the safest police force area in the country, with 53 crimes reported per 1,000 people, compared to the national average of 87. However, he also stated that it was important for the public not just to be safer, but to feel safer.

Inspector Scott Anger provided an update on behalf of the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Police Team, including:

• Police Constable Beth Butwell was leaving the team.
• Two more staff were due to join the neighbourhood team from January, and they were actively recruiting for a new police community support officer.
• The team had attended a large number of community events and conducted a joint operation with Trading Standards to carry out underage checks and investigate reports of illegal vapes.
• A cannabis factory had been found in an abandoned depot on Marlborough Road in Royal Wootton Bassett.
• Action was being taken in response to concerns from residents about the speed of large agricultural vehicles near Bushton and Tockenham.
• Four drivers had recently been summoned to court on charges of careless driving, in response to concerns about car meets on Whitehill Industrial Estate.

Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group

The chairman, Councillor Andrew Matthews, confirmed that there were no financial recommendations from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting held on 27 August 2025 that required approval.

Councillor Jacqui Lay reported that she had discussed safety on the B4696 with the Clerk of Braydon Parish Council and highway officers, following a recent accident. She also mentioned a road safety scheme being trialled between Corsham and Box, where signs were triggered to notify drivers that vehicles were approaching junctions from smaller roads.

Mark Hopkins, Clerk at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, expressed frustration that projects fully funded by local councils dropped off the LHFIG process and said that he would welcome continued support from Highways, even if Wiltshire Council were no longer funding the works. He also argued that urgent safety issues, such as the lights on Nore Marsh Road in Royal Wootton Bassett, should be fast-tracked outside of the LHFIG process.

Other Matters Discussed

• Elections Act 2022: The chairman reminded the public that changes in the Elections Act 2022 meant that people who registered for a postal vote before January 2024 would need to re-register before 31 January 2026.
• Carer Champions: The board discussed the appointment of a new carer champion for each area board to enhance community awareness and improve support for unpaid carers[^2]. [^2]: Carer champions are volunteers who act as a link between unpaid carers and the community, providing insight into the issues they face.
• Community Care Group: Stevie Palmer from the Community Care Group summarised discussions from their meetings held on 16 July and 10 September.
• Water Outage: The board discussed the recent local water outage, with Councillor Allison Bucknell reporting that the emergency response team at Wiltshire Council had not been notified by Thames Water in a timely manner.
• Wiltshire Connect Bus Service: Members of the public praised the Wiltshire Connect Bus Service, with Councillor Jacqui Lay reminding vulnerable residents that they could request to be picked up at their front doors.
• Rural Hubs Grant Scheme: The chairman explained that substantial capital grants were available for charities wanting to support social, recreational, and cultural activities in rural communities through the Rural Hubs Grant Scheme.
• Bikeability Instructor Opportunities: The chairman encouraged people interested in becoming a Bikeability instructor to look at the information provided, explaining that it was a paid role aimed at improving cycling in Wiltshire's schools.