DAUNTSEY PARISH PLAN 2007-2012 The Village at the dawn of the Millennium PARISH PLAN 2007-2012

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 3

Chapter 2: THE PAST - HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE 4

Chapter 3: THE PRESENT - THE VILLAGE TODAY 7

Chapter 4: THE OPINIONS OF THE RESIDENTS 10

CONCLUSIONS 16

Chapter 5: THE ACTION PLAN 17

Acknowledgements: Grateful thanks to: The Parish Plan Steering Committee Department of the Environment, Food Community First for their support and consists of Ellen Blacker, Margaret and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Community advice throughout the project. Buggins, Gina Compton, Sue Dixon, First, for funding the majority of the Bob Dixon and Di Wood. project and their advice and assistance.. The residents of the Parish who took the time to complete the questionnaire and Pam and Nigel Hutchings (Aitch Design), North District Council (NWDC) feedback valuable comments during the for the production of this brochure. Area 1 Committee and Dauntsey Parish project. Council for additional funding and continuing support. November 2007 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Dauntsey is situated to the west of for publication in October. Further advice Swindon in North Wiltshire. In 2005, was taken throughout from Community following the Annual Parish meeting, open First and North Wiltshire District Council. to all Parishioners, Community First invited support for the concept of producing As far as possible, the Parish Plan adopted a Parish Plan. The purposes of the Plan the themes of the North Wiltshire were to focus on the needs and concerns Community Plans drawn up by the of the Parish, encourage greater cohesion Northern Community Area Plan and the amongst the local population and guide and Villages (Area 1) for the development of facilities and amenities Wiltshire to allow commonality in the within the Parish. Following a public analyses of the needs of the Villages in the meeting a volunteer Steering Group was northern part of the County. The main formed and financial support for the themes in this Plan are: • Malmesbury • Swindon development of the Plan was sought and · The Local Economy approved with the main contribution from DAUNTSEY · Communications DEFRA, Community First. • · Transport and Traffic • · Crime and Community Safety Marlborough In early 2006 an extensive questionnaire ·Housing and the Built Environment was delivered to every household and the • Trowbridge results were collated and analysed by the · Countryside and Land Based Issues - Steering Group. The results were made Environment WILTSHIRE available at the main social event, Dauntsey · Community Care Feast, in July 2006 and useful feedback · Village Amenities and Facilities discussions were held with visitors to the (including Leisure, Sport and Social) • exhibition stand. The draft Plan was again Salisbury circulated to all households in summer It is hoped that the Parish Plan for 2007 2007 together with an invitation to modify to 2012 will be accepted and adopted by or extend the contents. A special stall was the Dauntsey Parish Council and that it Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission manned at the 2007 Dauntsey Feast to will serve to assist them in the develop- of the Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright 2001 obtain further direct feedback and ment of the Parish in the coming months opinions before the Plan was finally sent and years.

The Village is divided by the M4 2 Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Dauntsey Village is located in North The houses range in size and age from low attendances at Church Services. The Wiltshire some 6 miles from the ancient small Alms Houses to the Dauntsey Park Brinkworth Earl Danby’s Lower School in town of Malmesbury and a similar House and from thatched and farm Dauntsey is, however, thriving and distance from Wootton Bassett. The major cottages to bungalows, semi-detached, expanding and it attracts young people town of Swindon is 12 miles away. The detached and council-built homes. The from outside the Parish. Its new Hall has allows swift access to the 15 new-build houses and 4 affordable given the Village a facility it has lacked South, East and West and London homes being built at present also include and it is hoped that it will become a focus Heathrow, , Birmingham and office buildings in the same development. in the reinvigoration of Village life and a Cardiff airports are all less than 90 minutes The pre-Norman Church has a newly means of bringing the geographically split away by road. However, the Motorway restored Doom Board within it, one of population together. was built straight through the Parish. only 5 in the country, but struggles with

As a result, Dauntsey is a ‘disjointed’ Malmesbury Village with a scattering of its 200 houses Swindon and DAUNTSEY - ‘the in five main clusters on both sides of the Wootton Bassett Disjointed Village’ Motorway, each grouping being about a Earl Danby’s Primary School M4 A schematic plan of mile away from the others. The Parish ‘Church Lane’ and Hall covers some 1348 hectares and includes Dauntsey Village, Dauntsey Church ‘The Green’ several working farms, formerly dairy but and Doom Board showing the pockets of housing separated now mainly beef. The river Avon flows by the Motorway. through one part of the Village and in Phone Box earlier times the Village had links by canal ‘Sodom Lane’ and railway to the surrounding district. They are long gone, together with the M4 Phone Box Village shop, garage and Post Office, but ‘St James’ the Public House is still in use. The majority of inhabitants have lived in the Roads community for a long time, but few work M4 Motorway in the Village and local farms. Many Peterborough Arms Railway Housing clusters residents commute to work outside the Railway ‘The Lock’ Lyneham Key places Village and local area, and a significant Chippenham and in the Village number work from their homes.

3 Chapter 2 THE PAST - THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE

The first mention of Dauntsey was in 850AD Residents Bells of Saint James the Great when King Ethelwulf granted the village to Dauntsey has had some interesting The Reformation resulted in the removal . Records in 1377 residents: Henry Danvers, Earl Danby and destruction of many bells including show 111 poll tax payers; today we have founded both a hospital in Malmesbury the three in Dauntsey in 1553. Henry approximately 450 on the Electoral Roll. and a School in the village in 1631. Sir Danvers built the present Church tower in John Danvers, who inherited the Estate in 1630 and it now has a peal of five bells Domesday Book 1644, went on to become an MP the hung on bail bearings in an iron frame. The Village is featured in the famous following year and was one of the The earliest bells were cast by Nathaniel Domesday Book of 1086-7. The book said signatories on the death warrant of King Boulter in Bristol in 1632. The other bells that “The Church itself holds Dantesie. It Charles I. Considerable rumours circulate were installed in 1673, 1848 and 1926. paid geld (Old English money or tax regarding his final resting place! More The weight of the tenor bell ‘Come when I assessment) for 10 hides (the hide was a recently, at the turn of the last century, the call to serve God all’ has been estimated standard unit for the assessment of tax, estate was owned by the Meux family. It is to be 14 hundredweight (700 kilos) being the amount of land which would reputed that Lady Meux owned, and even support a household divided into 4 rode to hunt, on an elephant! Doom Board virgates). There is land for 6 ploughs (8 ox The 14th Century Doom Board was plough teams are needed to work the land Parish Church discovered in the 19th Century after being of 1 plough). Robert holds it of the Abbot. The Parish Church of St James the Great hidden and forgotten. It is a rare antique In demesne (demesne is land held whose could date back to before the Norman and has very recently been restored. It product is devoted to the Lord rather than Conquest of 1066, but is known to have depicts the last judgment and it is only his tenants) are 2 ploughs and 2 slaves; been given away by Malmesbury Abbey one of five left in the country. It was used and 10 villans (villagers) and 11 cotsets in 1086, reclaimed in 1177 and gifted to to put the fear of God into people, (cottage dwellers) and 3 cottars (cottagers) the Lord of the Manor before 1263. It was graphically showing what happens to the with 4 ploughs. There is a mill rendering named St James the Great of Dauntsey in good and evil after dying. The good are 20 Shillings and 12 acres of meadow and 1763. There are memorials to the Bisset shown rising out of their graves, being woodland half a league long and as much family, Mordaunts, Joan Dauntesey, and received by St Peter and given the keys to broad. It was and is worth 6 Pounds.” Henry Danvers Earl of Danby. The East Heaven, while the evil are driven out by window was commissioned by Lady an angel with a sword into the flaming Meux in memory of her husband in 1900. jaws of a monster depicting Hell. There was also a Victorian Providence Chapel in the Village. It is now a private residence.

4 Alms Houses Dauntsey has records of Alms houses being present in the village in 1420. Today’s building dates from 1865 and has 6 houses. To qualify for help, the person had to be over 50, have been born in the village or lived three years there, ‘be able to recite the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments’ and be unable to support themselves without help. They also had to ‘attend Church, avoid swearing and not to frequent the ale house or keep evil company’! Residents received Alms (of £5.4s.0d in 1901) and every second year a length of cloth to make a coat or gown and before Michaelmas, one wain load of wood or ten bushels of coal. The Alms Houses were originally funded by the Parish but Earl Danby later ensured that sufficient funds were set aside to pay for the Alms Houses and the School.

Earl Danby’s School Henry, Earl Danby established the School in 1631 in a building, now long gone, known as ‘The Stripes’. The present building dates from 1862.

Dauntsey Park The Park is the largest house in the Village and it is a Grade II* Georgian property by the River Avon. Probably the most famous owners of the house and estate were the Danvers family. When Charles II became king, he ordered all of the signatories of his father’s death warrant to be executed. Those, like Sir John Danvers, who had already died were to have their remains exhumed. It is rumoured that the parishioners of Dauntsey secretly removed and hid Sir John’s remains. Their loyalty may have been encouraged by the establishment of the Village School and Malmesbury hospital by the family (Earl Danby) in 1631. The house and estate land stayed more or less intact until the sale in 1913 when the main house and some of the land and farms were sold separately. Since then Park House has had a number of owners including Sir Hugh Brassey who was Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire. During the War the House was taken over by the Red Cross as a nursing home.

5 Chapter 2: THE PAST - THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE continued

Great Smithcot Farm in 1913 ...... and today

Farms run through the Village on the route from Motorway There were 25 farms in the Parish, mostly Trowbridge to Abingdon. Competition Sadly, noise from the Motorway is dairy, many bought after the break up of from the railways led to closure in 1914, probably the major item that most people the Dauntsey Park estate. At one time in but an active group of volunteers are think of when Dauntsey is mentioned. the 1950s the London Brick Company working to restore stretches of the original Opened in 1971, the volume of traffic bought 4 farms in a block with a view to waterway. The railway station was opened and associated noise from the M4 extracting the clay. After many objections in 1877 on a branch line off the main continues to increase each year. the project was abandoned and the Village Bristol to London route and it connected Undoubtedly the construction brought a saved from the digging of 80 foot pits! the Village to Malmesbury. It brought coal physical division to the Village which is to the adjacent coal yard after the canal still resented particularly by those who Peterborough Arms closed. It ceased moving milk in 1931 but lived here pre-1971. To this day, some The Peterborough Arms, allegedly named remained open until ‘the Beeching cuts’ Villagers have worked hard to form the after the Earl of Peterborough, is located and closed in 1965. Motorway Noise Action Group with the next to the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal aim of resurfacing the road with a noise and near to the Railway Station. The Post Office reducing surface and the building of original ale was supplied by Bowleys For many years one of the focal points of barriers to muffle the noise. Brewery in Swindon. the Village was the Post Office, shop and petrol pump. It was situated in the Green Canal and Railway close to the school and it closed in 1989. Dauntsey has had important rail and canal A Community Post Office was then opened links. The Wilts and Berks Canal used to and it ran for over 10 years, closing in 2001.

6 Chapter 3: THE PRESENT - THE VILLAGE TODAY

Alms Houses Brinkworth Earl Danby’s School These days the stringent rules for Following a threat of closure in the early qualifying to live in the Alms Houses have nineties, the Earl Danby’s School in been revised to reflect modern day life. Dauntsey was federated with Brinkworth Today the applicant should be over 50 Primary School. The combined school years of age and have lived in the Parishes has grown and thrived under the new of Dauntsey, the Somerfords, Brinkworth arrangements. The Lower School in or the Lavingtons for a period of 3 years. Dauntsey has 3 classes and a maximum The properties are currently being capacity of 90 pupils. Approximately refurbished. 30% of children are from outside the Community Hall catchment area and this exacerbates the After several years of fund raising in the parking difficulties at peak times. The hope of building a hall for the Village, the federation has been successful and the Dauntsey Community Association school has earned high ratings from realised that the task was beyond them. recent OFSTED inspections. The two However, when the School announced school sites will be able to teach a that it proposed to build a school hall at maximum of 210 in the future and it is the Dauntsey site it was seen as an expected that the continuing support of opportunity to link the school and the local community should sustain the community. Following negotiations with high standards of achievement. the School and LEA, applications were made and, through grant aid, the community benefited from the building and furnishing of the Hall in 2005, a long awaited amenity for the Village.

Rooftop interest above the School and Alms Houses 7 Chapter 3: THE PRESENT - THE VILLAGE TODAY continued

Community Areas Hunt Riding The Village has a recreation ground with The Beaufort Hunt starts its meet from the Dauntsey and its surrounding countryside a large grass area, swings and a slide. Village twice a year and frequently crosses are popular with horse riders and There are also many footpaths which are the Parish area. The magnificent sight of equestrian businesses. generally in good condition. The Mile this famous Hunt preserves a very old Drive, constructed for Lady Meux some tradition. Gardens open to the Public 100 hundred years ago, is a particularly Every other year the Village takes part in pleasant spring walk when the flowers of Feast the National Gardens Open day Scheme the Chestnut trees lining the bridleway The origin of the Dauntsey Feast was that and several of the larger houses near the are in bloom. The new bridge over the the Schoolchildren were fed after parading Church open their lovely gardens to the Motorway, completed in 2007, provides to the Church from the School on 25th Public. walkers and horses with a safe crossing. July, Saint James’ Day. A Village fête has been held on the nearest weekend and it is growing in popularity.

8 Cricket Teams designed and made a wall hanging for the considerable amount of business The Dauntsey Gentlemen’s Cricket Club Church, depicting well known buildings conducted within and from the village, was formed in 1979 and obtained the in the village. Regular meetings are now much of it out of sight. From shot blasting current ground in Church Lane. Volunteers held in the Lower School Hall on the 3rd to graphic design, general electrical repair built the Pavilion and tea rooms. The club Wednesday evening of the month. There to double glazing, driving school to had two teams for several years and has is also a popular, annual spring fund plumbing, teak garden furniture to pottery had some success in the Wiltshire Cricket raising Plant and Cake sale. painting and home-based sales to IT! Soon League. Currently they play on Saturdays there will be Alpaca wool products and in Division 5. The Peterborough Arms Girl Guiding fashion outfits and the new office Cricket Club was formed in 1987 and, Rainbows are the youngest section of Girl buildings under construction will following early matches at the Brinkworth Guiding UK. It is open to girls aged encourage even more entrepreneurial Golf Club, thanks to the generosity of the between 5 and 7 years. Dauntsey has a activities. Not forgetting, of course, the Hitchcock family they obtained their unit, known as 1st Great Somerford Sunday Car Boot sale, there are many ground at St John’s Farm in 1996. There Rainbows, which moved to the Lower activities we probably do not know about! are currently 35 fixtures each year and the School Hall from Walter Powell School, team plays on Wednesday evenings and Great Somerford when the new hall Parish Council Sundays enjoying social cricket as well as opened in 2005. The new location offers The Parish Council meets in the Lower participating in the Calne Evening League. four times the floor area for activities. The School Hall and consists of a Chairman, unit meets for an hour, one evening per Vice Chairman and five members, all Dauntsey WI week during term time. The aim is to have elected, and an appointed Parish Clerk. Dauntsey Women’s Institute was formed fun, playing games, cooking, doing crafts, The latest full election was in May 2007. in 1941 and is now celebrating its 66th singing etc. It is an excellent social group year. The membership has fluctuated over and seven different schools are represented Parish Pump the years and fell as low as seven; it is amongst the 18 girls who take part. The monthly magazine was discontinued now thriving with 21 ladies. The WI is in 1995. Revived by the Parish Plan friendly and informal and the members Farms and Businesses Steering Group, it has since grown from two have always made their contribution to There are still 22 farms in the Parish but small issues into a bi-monthly publication Village life. Their Millennium Project now only four are dairy farms. There is a returning to its original size and scale.

9 Chapter 4: THE OPINIONS OF THE RESIDENTS

What is bad about life in the Parish? Dislikes BACKGROUND When asked what they disliked most In 2006, a questionnaire was delivered to about living in the Parish the problems the 200 homes in the Parish . Of these were centred on traffic and noise. Nearly homes, over 55% responded to the 70% objected to the noise from the questionnaire. Motorway; 59% were worried by speeding and traffic volume through the Age range of respondents Village and 33% disliked the congestion The total numbers of residents in and dangers caused by parking outside Dauntsey is over 530 and at the 2001 the school at certain times of day. Other census it was stated that the area of the disturbing factors were those of house Parish was 1348 Hectares. In the building on previous farm areas, the ‘lack respondents households, 49 are below 17 of a Community feeling’, inaccessible years, 111 are adults aged 18-60 and 30 Public Transport; the lack of facilities for are of retirement age. shopping and for children. The exceptional weather during the summer Noise from the Motorway Length of residence of 2007 caused unexpected flooding in a Speeding and traffic volume 52% of respondents have lived in the village great many areas of the village, but the House building on fields Lack of Community feeling for more than 20 years and only some persistent and combined risk of flooding Parking during School hours 18% have lived here for 5 years or less. and sewerage overflows have been Inaccessible Public Transport reflected in the worries of some 24% of Inconvenience of shopping villagers, particularly in ‘The Green’ and LIVING IN THE PARISH Flooding worries ‘St James’ areas. Lack of childrens’ facilities What is good about life in the Parish? When asked what they liked most about the Parish, 98% enjoyed the country setting and 82% liked the home they lived in. A small proportion enjoyed the ease of access to the Motorway and the short distance from their work or studies. However, access to Public Transport and ‘Community feeling’ were virtually absent from their responses.

Likes

The country setting The home we live in Distance from work/study Easy access to Motorway Community feeling Access to Public Transport Traditional cottages at ‘The Green’ 10 publicises its decisions, only 14% gave a ‘St James’ and a new board in ‘The Lock’ THE LOCAL ECONOMY positive reply.The Council has subsequently at the Peterborough Arms. This new The questionnaire did not directly address taken action to widen the publication of notice board has been constructed and the requirement for office and workshop the timing of its meetings and contents of located by volunteers in that part of the facilities within the Parish but the its minutes via the Parish Pump and notice Village. requirement has been incorporated into boards. Two thirds of respondents had the planning of the new build in Dauntsey never attended a Parish Council Meeting Website Green and 5-6 office units are in the but, encouragingly, a significant number Although the questionnaire revealed no process of construction. There was said they would attend if the dates were significant interest in a Village website, general support for the establishment of a given more publicity. A significant increase subsequent local interest has grown and farm shop with 62% of respondents in the number of Parishioners attending the establishment of a website is saying that they would support such a recent Meetings has been recorded. underway at www.dauntsey.org.uk. venture. Notice boards Telephone There are 3 notice boards: in ‘The Green’, The 2 public telephones in the Village, in COMMUNICATION ‘Church Lane’ and ‘St James’ (former ‘The Green’ and ‘St James’, are little used Role of the Parish Council and Community Post Office). Although 80% and the survey indicated that their the Village Newsletter were satisfied with current arrangements, withdrawal from service would cause The role of the Parish Council in Village suggestions for other locations included ‘major problems’ for only 4% of life came under criticism, largely because more central locations in ‘The Green’ and respondents. of the poor means of communication to the Villagers. To remedy these obvious difficulties the Parish Plan Steering Group resurrected the former ‘Dauntsey Parish Pump’ as a newsletter to involve residents in the Parish Plan and to pass on general Satisfaction with Parish Council information. After the first 2 issues, a expenditure volunteer took on the editorship of a more comprehensive newsletter and it started bi-monthly distribution to all households in November 2006.

When asked how satisfied they were about how the Parish Council spends its income, 52% admitted that they did not know how it was spent and only 22% were satisfied overall. That said, 82% believed that more of their Council Tax Satisfied should be spent on their Parish. Dissatisfied No opinion When asked how well the Parish Council Don’t know how money is spent 11 Chapter 4: THE OPINIONS OF THE RESIDENTS continued

CRIME AND COMMUNITY SAFETY

Security There was general dissatisfaction with the police coverage of the area with 51% rating their presence as ‘poor’, but 23% had ‘no opinion’. Although only 45% of respondents said they were registered in the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, perhaps the very low experience of recent crime explained the lack of interest in running such a scheme. When asked, 89% of respondents had not had any experience of crime in the Village over the previous 6 months.

Parking can be a problem at peak times

TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC

Public Transport Roads: speed limits and parking · ‘The Lock’ wanted a reduction from At the time of the survey the availability of Following on from complaints about noise 40 mph throughout their stretch of road. public transport and connections by taxi and HGVs driving through the Village · ‘Sodom Lane’ wanted to have their to local bus routes were not in operation. there was a strong majority (64%) who de-restricted signs changed to 40 mph. 76% said they never used public transport wanted to change the speed limits on the · Parking was considered to be a problem: and another 16% rarely used it. The Village roads. Each Village area had its own 60% considering parking constituted a overwhelming reason why they did not requirements and 7% wanted enforcement road hazard, especially outside the use the services was because of perceived of current limits to be conducted: School and Hall in ‘The Green’ and inadequate connections and frequency. · ‘St James’ wanted their speed limit to be outside the Church. Recently, connecting services have been lower than the current 40 mph. provided from the Village by taxi to a · ‘The Green’ wanted their speed limit nearby, frequent service route between two past the school to be less than the large towns: Swindon and Chippenham. current 30 mph. 12 new houses should be built there was a Village Utilities HOUSING AND strong preference to accept building only The views of householders on the THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT as infill across the Village (in spaces standards and quality of the main Housing between current houses bordering the Environmental Services were positive for In 2001 the North Wiltshire District roads) or small sites within current built most of the important facilities. Overall Council conducted a Housing Needs up areas (79%) There was no significant respondents’ satisfaction with water, Survey which identified the requirement support for larger plots joining current electricity, refuse collection, recycling for four affordable houses in the Parish clusters of houses or to centralise the and street lighting was high. The main and that 18 householders were in some Village or to connect villages. criticisms were targeted at the form of housing need. Our survey asked maintenance of verges, cleaning and for residents’ views on whether there was Conservation of Buildings gritting. Sewerage was a major concern enough housing, by type, for the Village. 54% of respondents identified landscape for parts of the Village. The great majority were content with the and buildings that deserved protection in number of detached, semi-detached and the Village: Church, Canal, Mile Drive, The Church of St James the Great bungalows available in the Village but Park House, Alms Houses, and School. and its Doom Board three areas were identified where housing The location of the Church in the ‘Church was inadequate. Some 57% identified the New Development at ‘The Green’ Lane’ area makes it remote from the other shortage of starter homes, 55% the lack of A new development of industrial units and more populated parts of the Village and affordable housing and 22% thought houses, including four low-cost houses is generally requiring a car to get to it. there were not enough rental homes. nearing completion at ‘The Green’. Local Although not well attended, 74% of residents have proposed to the Parish respondents said that the threat of closure When asked what the acceptable Council and Developers that a Recreation ‘was a worry’ and 26% ‘were not percentage increase in Village housing facility should be included in the project concerned’. A monthly Sunday service is would be, 22% wanted no growth at all, and discussions over its design and held in the Lower School Hall in ‘The whereas 64% would accept growth of up funding continue. Green’ which is more central for many to 10% in size. When asked where the inhabitants.

Siting of new houses to be built Satisfaction with Utilities in the Village Electricity Sewerage Gritting Verges Cleaning Lighting Recycling Small sites within current built-up areas Refuse Infill across Village Larger plots on edge of current Water populated areas Larger sites to centralise population ••••••••••• 0% 50% 100% Large developments joining Dauntsey to other villages Good or reasonable Poor No opinion 13 Chapter 4: THE OPINIONS OF THE RESIDENTS continued

removal of unsightly scrap and cones. COUNTRYSIDE AND LAND Agreement to offer practical contributions BASED ISSUES - ENVIRONMENT in conservation work were forthcoming Environment and Conservation from 45% of respondents: including litter Hedges, new ‘Green’, Church Lane trees, picking, hedge trimming and planting. night sky, open spaces and recreation Some aspects of the conservation of the field were some of the features identified Village were found to be satisfactory and as being in need of conservation, but they the great majority believed that there affected different residents in the widely were enough litter bins in the Village and spaced Village and few found common dog mess was not a problem. ground. When asked what was important to encourage the improvement and Noise conservation of the environment of the Noise was the predominant complaint Parish, 90% wanted tidy grass verges and affecting the quality of life of most hedgerows, 80% wanted to encourage a Villagers including noise from road traffic, pleasant appearance to gardens and the Motorway, Aircraft and Heavy property whilst nearly 50% also raised the Vehicles. All these aspects were indicated issues of appropriate parking of vehicles in the replies of over 50% of respondents and identifying local conservation areas. rising to 77% for Motorway noise. Individual suggestions included the clearing of ditches, recycling, restoration of the canal, tree preservation and the

Mile Drive in full bloom ... 14 Dauntsey volunteers are joining the COMMUNITY CARE VILLAGE AMENITIES AND Link Scheme which will FACILITIES Access to local services provide good neighbour support to the In general, respondents were happy with Villages of Brinkworth, , Use of Village Hall the provision of hospitals, doctors, Dauntsey and Foxham and the service The recently completed new School Hall, practice nurses, chemists, chiropodists, will start in November 2007. located in ‘The Green’, has also been dentists, opticians, day care and health made available to the Village for their centres. 8% indicated that they would Brinkworth Earl Danby’s School and meetings and events. Currently used for have difficulty getting to a hospital and Youth Activities Church social and family services, lesser percentages expressed fears about There were few respondents with Rainbows, Womens’ Institute and Keep Fit reaching the other community services. children of school age. Anecdotal clubs, there were several ideas for its evidence, however, indicates a high level further use. To date the utilisation of the Volunteers for community support of satisfaction with the Lower School and Hall has not been large, perhaps because Despite minority support for a Dauntsey its standards. Although there was some of communications difficulties previously based Community Service Scheme (34% interest in after-school provision and highlighted. There were, however, many said yes and 51% said no) there were holiday play schemes, there was a ideas put forward on how it might be used healthy numbers of volunteers for support general acceptance of the need to go to in the future. in specific areas should they be required. other larger villages and towns for youth The numbers of householders who would activities. The Recreation Field was Mobile Library volunteer for tasks are as follows: appreciated by the parents whose The number of visits to the Village by the children used it although some disliked its Mobile Library and locations where it Voluntary Driving Scheme 10 location close to the Motorway. Overall, stopped has decreased in recent years. Sitting Scheme for elderly 15 whilst 9% thought it should be closed, 24% of respondents did not even know it Gardening for less able 45% supported its continued existed and, of those who did, only six (already underway) 11 maintenance and 26% said it should be people said they used it. Unfortunately, Lunch Club helper 6 improved. When asked where it should the use made of it indicates that it will be Support of families 3 be relocated from its current site, those a struggle to retain the facility. Shopping for housebound 25 who responded all said it should be at the Social Visits to elderly/housebound 22 new development in ‘The Green’. House Watch for vulnerable people 32 Help with bills and forms 7

Suggestions for future use of the Hall

Village events/Dauntsey Feast Keep fit classes Meeting place for the elderly Bingo Children’s events Quiz nights Womens’ Institute Wine and beer tasting Arts and crafts classes Sport Adult education

15 Chapter 4: THE OPINIONS OF THE RESIDENTS continued

quality of life of the inhabitants. The to act independently in preparing it. It is CONCLUSIONS greatest challenge is to reduce the hoped that the Plan will assist the Parish We cannot predict the future but that adverse affects of the Motorway upon Council in deciding priorities for the should not dissuade us from making plans most residents. The cutting of the Village maintenance and improvement of Village for improvements to the Village and in half cannot be altered, but effective life and that it will complement other Village life in the years to come. The noise reduction must remain top of the emerging initiatives, from global warming Parish Plan is a reflection of the wishes of agenda as the action that would affect the activities to reduce carbon dioxide the Village drawn from the questionnaire most inhabitants and would have a emissions to the protection of the local and follow up formal and informal marked effect upon those living in landscape (Campaign to Protect Rural consultations. It is clear that there is much Dauntsey. Some actions are already ). feeling over some issues within the Parish achieving positive results whereas others and with continuing support from the will take longer to achieve, but it is hoped These subjects could be included in community the Parish Council can that this document will assist the Parish, future questionnaires that seek implement measures to address them. District and County Councils in their Parishioners’ opinions and update the decision making processes. Action Plan published in Chapter 5. It is Some of the proposed actions are already also hoped that a new voluntary group in progress and several aim to sustain and The Plan has been submitted for adoption will be formed to monitor and review the maintain the small number of facilities by the Dauntsey Parish Council which progress being made to complete the available in the Parish. Whilst some has been supportive throughout the Actions identified in the Plan, to canvas actions are more easily achieved than preparation of this Plan, but has local opinion and to recommend updates others, all have a positive effect upon the encouraged the volunteer Steering Group and modifications to the Plan over time.

,,, and in the depths of winter 16 Chapter 5: THE ACTION PLAN

Timescales: Ongoing = started or continuous / Short term = within 5 years / Medium term = 5-10 years

THE LOCAL ECONOMY

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Office and Parish should be an (1) Include office/business elements in (1) Parish Council (1) Ongoing Workshop attractive location for housing development plans Accommodation small business (2) Dauntsey Green to have 5 office buildings within new build area (2) Ongoing

Farm Shop Encourage setting up Local Farmer Community First Short term of local shop Village Shop Adviser

COMMUNICATION

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Communication Improve communication (1) Revival of ‘Parish Pump’ magazine (1) Volunteers (1) Ongoing between Parishioners successful and now a bi-monthly issue and their awareness of local issues (2) Establishment of a Village website (2) Volunteers and (2) Ongoing underway Wilts Community Web

(3) Broadening of interest in Parish (3) Parish Council and (3) Ongoing Council matters being tackled by the Community publication of minutes in ‘Parish Pump’ and on notice boards

(4) New notice boards and refurbishment (4) Parish Council (4) Ongoing of current boards in progress and volunteers

TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Public Transport Improve public transport (1) Stagecoach services between (1) Stagecoach (1) Ongoing service with frequent Swindon and Chippenham etc are being access to local towns greatly improved

(2) Bradenstoke Taxis have provided (2) Bradenstoke Taxis (2) Ongoing special Boomerang Taxi Service to access bus route

(3) Timetables to be posted on notice (3) Volunteer (3) Ongoing boards

Speed of Vehicles Reduce the risk of (1) Obtain permission for local volunteers (1) Police and (1) Short term vehicular traffic to speed check volunteers pedestrians, horses and other road users (2) New speed limits. Applications (2) Wiltshire County (2) Ongoing submitted by Parish Council Council (WCC) Highways Dept

(3) Roads painted with current limits (3) WCC Highways Dept (3) Completed

Parking Provide parking facilities (1) Support the Bus use initiative to (1) Parish Council with (1) Ongoing away from front of discourage the use of cars School School/ Village Hall (2) Alternative parking areas under (2) Parish Council (2) Short / consideration by Parish council Medium term

17 Chapter 5: THE ACTION PLAN continued

CRIME AND COMMUNITY SAFETY

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Neighbourhood Re-establish and Discussions between local volunteers Volunteers Ongoing Watch Scheme reinvigorate NWS as and NWS Village Coordinator (NWS) required

HOUSING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Affordable Provide affordable (1) Requirements identified in Dauntsey (1) NWDC Planning (1) Ongoing Housing housing for local needs Housing Needs survey 2001 by NWDC Dept and housing team and current new build in Dauntsey Green includes low cost houses

(2) Feedback comments and become (2) NWDC Spatial (2) Medium involved with NWDC’s Local Develop- Planning Team term ment Framework (LDF) and Core Strategy

Sewerage Overcome sewerage Past and recent improvements have not Parish Council and Ongoing problems of house- proved effective and new build is Community pressure holders in Dauntsey considered to exacerbate problems; group Green and St James pressure to be placed on Wessex Water Authority by the Parish Council and identification of the utility of forming a pressure group

Maintenance of Provide effective gritting (1) Gritting service improvements have (1) Parish Council (1) Ongoing roads and verges service in winter and for been put into practice the maintenance of verges (2) Parish Steward be requested to tidy (2) Parish Stewardship (2) Ongoing specific areas and residents encouraged Scheme and residents to assist

Footpaths and Provide more active (1) Construction of pavement in front of (1) New build (1) Ongoing Pavements lifestyle opportunities, new build by contractors agreed contractors and Parish reduce car parking Council outside the School and improve safety of (2) Pressure by Parish Council for funding (2) Parish Council (2) Ongoing residents moving around of pavements to continue with application the village. for funding annually

Litter Create a litter-free (1) Parish Council to request NWDC (1) Parish Council (1) Ongoing community resources for ‘litter pick’. Volunteers and volunteers were recruited for a ‘litter sweep’ on two dates in 2007

(2) Village to be entered into the ‘Best (2) NWDC (2) Ongoing Kept Village’ competition to encourage householder involvement in creating a clean environment

Threat of Prevent closure of (1) Volunteers to find ways of attracting (1) Parochial Church (1) Ongoing Church closure the Village Church visitors and increasing Church attendance Council and Community of St James (2) Investigate how to exploit the newly (2) Parochial Church (2) Ongoing restored Doom Board as a tourist Council and Community attraction and the use of the Church for other events

18 COUNTRYSIDE AND LAND BASED ISSUES - ENVIRONMENT

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

M4 Motorway To improve the quality of (1) Long standing requests all rejected to (1) Parish Council (1) Short term Noise life of all Parishioners by date but continuous pressure to be and volunteers reducing Motorway noise sustained by Parish Council and volunteers levels; strongly identified to persuade WCC Highways Dept to as the most adverse factor include Dauntsey in the Highways Dept of Dauntsey village life surface noise reduction plan. In addition, other measures of noise reduction to be re- examined, including fencing and planting

(2) Reinstate Dauntsey Motorway Action (2) Parish Council (2) Short term Group and volunteers

COMMUNITY CARE

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Community To identify Parishioners (1) Survey showed no specific demands (1) Ongoing Support Schemes requirements and match but volunteers found to meet future needs assistance from volunteers (2) Joined Community Link Scheme to (2) Community First (2) Ongoing broaden support for adjacent Villages and volunteers

VILLAGE AMENITIES AND FACILITIES (including Leisure, Sport and Social)

Issue Vision Action Partnership Timescale

Village Hall To promote the use of (1) To use the Dauntsey Lower School (1) School and (1) Ongoing the Village Hall to bring Hall facility for meetings and social events community Villagers together (2) Advertise the availability of the Hall (2) ‘Parish Pump’ (2) Ongoing and promote its use via ‘Parish Pump’ and notice boards

Mobile Library To sustain availability (1) Increase the frequency of use – (1) Wilts Mobile Library (1) Ongoing of the facility by recently reduced to one stop fortnightly Service and volunteers broadening knowledge of the schedule and (2) Advertise the availability of the (2) ‘Parish Pump’ (2) Ongoing encouraging its use Mobile Library via ‘Parish Pump’

Recreation To move, maintain or (1) Research into possible new locations (1) Parish Council (1) Ongoing Ground improve the Village Recreation area (2) Sufficient allocation of Precept to (2) Parish Council (2) Ongoing maintain area

(3) Extend lease to 25 years to qualify for (3) Parish Council (3) Ongoing aid to improve the area

(4) Seek NWDC advice (4) NWDC Senior (4) Short term Regeneration Officer

New Public Area To provide a new public (1) Working party of local volunteers (1) Volunteers (1) Ongoing area beside the new being recruited to help with landscaping and building contractors build in Dauntsey Green (2) Planning permission for facilities to be (2) NWDC Planning (2) Ongoing provided and continued discussions with Dept and Senior building contractors for their support Regeneration Officer

19 NOTES Aitch Design · 01666 510583

20 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION