Limpley Stoke Issue No 29 September 2020 news

n application for a six-month experimental closure of Woods Hill has been submitted to Wiltshire Council by Limpley Stoke Parish Council. Funding support has been applied for which, if Asuccessful, would mean Wiltshire Council (WC) will pay for half the cost of the experimental closure. The Parish Council anticipates a decision on the works to begin in the autumn. The closure will allow any impact on other areas of the village to be assessed and for appropriate mitigation to be taken in the future. Due to essential safety issues and threat to life associated with Woods Hill traffic movements, the Parish Council plans to make the closure permanent at the end of the experimental period. Woods Hill is the Parish Council’s roads priority. The Parish Council also plans to install bollards along the pavement edge in Lower Stoke (by the former railway station) to stop cars using the pavement as a road, as well as improved ‘Passing Place’ signage and markings. Village ‘gateways’ will be installed at the B3108/Lower Stoke junction entrance; on the A36; and at the Midford Lane entrance to Upper Stoke. Traffic chaos is a regular occurrence on Woods Hill In addition, the PC has asked Wiltshire Councillor Johnny Kidney, to push WC/Highways England to improve the ‘Not suitable for HGV’ sign on the A36 which is intended to discourage heavy traffic from using the B3108. A reduced speed limit (from 40mph to 30mph) on the A36 through Limpley Stoke is also being pursued (see separate articles: page 3).

Finally, in an attempt to stop inconsiderate and sometimes dangerous parking, the PC is seeking to place ‘No Parking’ signs in those places where people (both local and visitors) continue to park without due consideration for others.

Chairman’s update courtesy of Anthony Gennard One of many motorists flouting the hill’s ‘No Entry’ signs Pictures: Nick Catcheside and Simon Hares Hop Pole latest ell-known and A lack of any volunteers Wmuch-respected coming forward led to the Limpley Stoke resident, Parish Council taking on the Elizabeth Coombe, died challenge of securing the Hop peacefully at home on Pole Inn for the village at the Monday, August 10. start of the year. A bid to Her funeral will take purchase the pub, set at a place on Wednesday, maximum of £218,000 September 2 at 2.00pm including VAT, was submitted in St Mary’s churchyard, via Criterion Asset Limpley Stoke, where she Management Group, agents will be reunited with her acting for Wellington Pub late husband Brian. Company (WPC). Sadly, due to Covid Unfortunately, the offer was guidelines, the number of rejected by WPC, which official invitees will be very limited. However, Elizabeth’s family suggested a significantly higher plan to carry her coffin to St Mary’s Church, taking the route of her offer would be needed in order usual walk along Middle Stoke, starting from outside Limpley Stoke to be successful. However, the Village Hall at around 1.30pm. If you'd like to pay your respects by PC is neither able nor willing lining the route, the family will be delighted to see you. If you can, to do this but will leave its please wear something yellow, Elizabeth’s favourite colour. A book offer ‘on the table’. Should the of condolence will be left outside the village hall on the day, which PC decide to pursue the anyone who knew Elizabeth is invited to sign. purchase further, its business case will be made available on Elizabeth Coombe was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1925, the the village website. daughter of an army chaplain. She was brought up in Stockton in the The PC has received huge Wylye Valley, where she met and married Brian Coombe, in 1949. support for the purchase of the After several tours in Germany and three hair-raising years as a Inn (97.3% from 183 residents) defence attaché living in war-torn Saigon, Brian retired from the army and also for any possible and the family moved to Dormy House in 1974, where they threw increase in the parish precept, themselves into village life. if that were ever necessary Between them, the couple ran the Parish Council, Royal British (also 97.3% from 183 Legion, Freshford Tennis Club, WI and Friends of Waterhouse residents). Any increase in the (a former nursing home). They also precept has been set at a loved St Mary's Church, where maximum of £50 per annum Brian was a long-standing but, even if the PC were churchwarden and Elizabeth ran successful in securing the pub, the flower and cleaning rota for it would try to avoid any many years. Her most recent increase. official village role was opening The Hop Pole remains under the new railings on the Twizzle the protection of an Asset of path next to the play park in 2017, Community Value (ACV) and accompanied by her son, Simon the PC will continue to object Coombe, a former Limpley Stoke strongly to any moves that may Parish Council chairman. lead to attempts to sell it on for Most of all, Elizabeth was a redevelopment, either now or people's person and the family has in the future. been overwhelmed by the number Read the full update from LSPC of residents who have said she was Chairman, Anthony Gennard, the first person to welcome them to at limpleystoke.org. the village. Opening the village fête in 2010 A36 speed review and B3108 junction issues s society has emerged from lockdown over the past few impley Stoke’s location on the “Aweeks and months, the volume and dangerous speed of “Lborder of two Parliamentary traffic on the A36 through Limpley Stoke has been more evident constituencies, Chippenham and North than ever before”, writes Wiltshire Councillor, Johnny Kidney. East Somerset, means that teamwork “Following a site meeting I held with members of the Parish between MPs and councillors is essential Council and Michelle Donelan MP prior to lockdown, Michelle when approaching the challenges affecting the village”, writes Michelle and I have been pressing Highways England for a review of the Donelan MP. This is especially true speed limit where the A36 passes through Limpley Stoke. On the when it comes to addressing issues back of my liaison with Highways England’s Regional Network surrounding the A36, which Limpley team for the South West and Michelle’s lobbying at Stoke residents have raised as a key governmental level, I was delighted to receive confirmation from concern with me. Residents will no doubt Highways England that they will indeed conduct a review of the be aware of the excellent work that Cllr speed limit. The review will take place before the end of this Johnny Kidney has put in to addressing financial year. It is my hope that this will result in an urgently- concerns in the village about the speed needed reduction to 30mph on the dangerous bends through limits on the A36 and I am keen to build Limpley Stoke, where we have seen a marked increase in traffic on this progress with him and ​our volumes and speeds since lockdown, with HGV traffic in neighbouring MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, to particular representing a significant problem. There is local fix other issues like the A36/B3108 precedent of a 30mph limit where the A36 passes through junction. ​Following meetings I have had Woolverton, a short distance to the south, as has been pointed with the Parish Council and Cllr Kidney, out to Highways England. it is clear that difficulties negotiating this This review represents a junction, particularly at peak times, significant step forward in results in dangerous rat-running through highlighting and addressing LSPC has had to take on the narrow lanes of the village. ​ highways issues in the village, a larger range of Building on the success of the A36 but there is more to do. I look responsibilities with speed limit review campaign, we will be forward to continuing to work fewer than the ideal renewing our efforts to urge Highways with Michelle in supporting the number of councillors. England to implement a solution to aid Parish Council and the Chairman Anthony the flow of traffic through the lights at Gennard is asking for community in addressing related the viaduct on the A36/B3108 junction. volunteers to help carry highways concerns such as the This is a junction that I know residents of forward some of its plans Limpley Stoke and indeed other villages unsustainable and dangerous and to allow it to give the levels of rat-running through the are concerned about and we need appropriate time and Highways England to address this. Not village lanes, as well as the resources to all issues. only would this have immediate safety ongoing issues with HGV traffic, Specifically needed are benefits for Limpley Stoke’s residents ​by both on the A36 itself and the forming an essential element of potential very concerning increase in people to lead on environmental initiatives, solutions to rat-running in the village​, but lorries and trucks using the including developing it would also have a very positive knock- B3108 as an alternative route to links with Freshford PC, on effect for emissions and the local avoid Bath since B&NES and also the King George village economy in the long-term​​, introduced a weight limit on A36 V play park, to include particularly if the Parish Council Cleveland Bridge. annual safety report succeeds in its bid to secure the future of Please do get in touch for help actions, improvements, the Hop Pole Inn. with any local issues at and liaison over So I look forward to getting even more [email protected], landscaping and tree progress on this issue and I hope to able and stay up to date with news plans. to update you with more good news in from Wiltshire Council affecting Contact Parish Clerk the near future.” our village communities via my Bryony Kohn at Michelle can be contacted on 01249 Facebook page at facebook.com/ [email protected] 704465 or you can email her at JohnnyKidney4WandW.” for more details. [email protected]. Household waste Monday, Sept 7 Monday, Sept 21

Blue-lidded bin Black box Green waste (chargeable) Wednesday, Sept 9 Wednesday, Sept 23

Useful numbers Transport Link 07714 16 92 16 Power supply emergency 105 Police (non-emergency) 101 The Galleries Café terrace has opened for business. The terrace Bradford on Avon Police: seating area will be open from Wednesday to Friday, 10am to Andrew MacLachlan 2pm, serving coffees, cakes and lunches. On Saturdays, the 0752 897 2236 terrace will open from 9am to 12.30pm serving coffees, cakes, andrew.maclachlan@wiltshire. filled bagels and other breakfast options. pnn.police.uk MP: Michelle Donelan 01249 704465 michelle.donelan.mp@ parliament.uk Wiltshire Unitary Councillor: A treasure trove of unused Johnny Kidney 07805 236 480 postcards and birthday [email protected] cards was unearthed recently by two daughters Editor: Limpley Stoke News Sheena Broadhead clearing out their parents’ 01225 723404 house in Limpley Stoke. [email protected] Most of the cards come LSPC Clerk: Bryony Kohn from art galleries or were 01225 723749 collected on overseas [email protected] trips. Many have been MyWiltshire app: potholes, road carefully stored with a note of issues, blocked drains, grit bins the country or gallery/museum www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ where they were bought. The mywiltshire-online-reporting or phone 0300 456 0105 sisters would very much like to find a good home for some or all Freshford & District Local of the cards. No purchase is History Society has suspended necessary, they would just like to its autumn talks due to Covid-19 pass them on to like-minded restrictions. Developments will recipients who will appreciate be monitored carefully and them. Contact Sarah on 07900 meetings will resume as soon as Mobile library monthly visit: 080 200 or email her at possible. CANCELLED until further notice [email protected]. Website: www.limpleystoke.org Limpley Stoke News is an independent publication, produced and edited by Sheena Broadhead, who reserves all editorial rights. Limpley Stoke Community To submit an article, email [email protected]. @LimpleyFolk