Ian McLennan 

Newly Elected Wiltshire Councillor

Laverstock, Ford & Old Sarum Ward

Laverstock

Ford

Old Sarum

Hampton Park

 

Keep the faith vote:

Ian M^cLennan

X

Wiltshire Council Election Thursday  4 June

 

Keep the Faith - Vote Ian M^cLennan

 

You had my ‘Pre Postal Vote’ leaflet to let you know I was standing again.  This time it is the promised knock on the door and hand delivered leaflet in the form of my normal twice yearly ‘Viewpoint’ Newsletters, which I promise to continue writing, printing and delivering through your letter box, if you elect me as your ONE Wiltshire Councillor.

Every vote counts this time.  It is not a case of one for the party and one for Ian.  You have only one vote.  I ask that you vote for me.  Laverstock is my home and the Parish Communities are dear to my heart.  Let’s keep it local and let me use my 14 years experience as your District Councillor, to continue to serve you at the Wiltshire Council.

If you need a lift to the Polling Station just call me on 01722 332233

STOP PRESS: Opposition Candidates.  Conservative NOT LOCAL (Lives Boscombe Down stood  Durrington last time - came last).  LibDem NOT LOCAL (Lives Harnham stood Milford & St Martins last time one of 4 also-rans well adrift of winners) UKIP LOCAL.    We deserve ‘local’ representation not remote candidates

School Traffic in Laverstock

You know this has been a task I have been pursuing for years.  Recently, as a member of the Salisbury/Wiltshire Joint Transport Committee, I was able to modify the proposed Cycleway linking Laverstock to the City.   At the committee, I was able to change the route to the more practical Laverstock Road (to Godolphin School at the top), Riverside Road and Church Road, to London Road instead of a route up Manor Farm Road.  The removal of the middle white line is proven to slow the car speed.  The cycle lines enable all those with a bike to cycle throughout Laverstock and link to the City, Bishopdown and Hampton Park.  Once Green Lane from Ford to Old Sarum is completed, as a result of developer funding, we will be able to cycle and walk the Parish.   For me, the major advantage of the cycle lines covering the length of Laverstock is that I was also able to ask (and my colleague cllrs voted with me) for the Council officers to immediately work with the Schools on new Green Travel Plans, which include the use of Park & Ride as drop off/pick up for school pupils and make Laverstock a ‘no drop off/pick up’ area during school times.  This is the major finding of the new Parish Plan.  Not only do virtually all residents want safe walking and cycling links to Salisbury, they also want the school traffic sorted.  We are not alone.  The school pupils want the same thing in the same numbers!  Expect the cycleway in July.

 

The ‘drop off’/’pick up’ etc could start in September if the schools and the council officers in Trowbridge had the will. This would be one of my first projects to continue to surmount ‘obstacles’ presented, if elected.

 

The other elements of my original plan for Laverstock included a reduction in speed to 20mph outside the schools and the provision of Yellow school buses.  On both counts, the Country Council officers have always maintained a “No”.  They say 20mph is not necessary as the traffic is at a standstill anyway and therefore ‘safe’.  They also prefer to deal with Wilts and Dorset, instead of experts in the field of school pupil transport.  If you live or walk in Church Road, like me, you will know that it is a very dangerous place at school times.  This is why the pupils want rid of the parents in their cars too!  Mounting the pavement and driving at speed is ‘normal’ for some and once one starts it, the rest follow.  They also park on the pavements, which cause pedestrians to veer off line – another danger to life and limb.  With so many young people evacuating at the same time and many on foot, cycle or bus, it really is time to ditch the cars and fall in line with the new Government recommendation of 20mph outside schools.  If it is good enough for Salisbury City pedestrians it should be essential outside schools, if we are to care for our young.  I would press for 20mph outside our schools, if elected.

 

When it comes to Yellow Buses, it is proven that parents, once they understand the concept, clamber to get their children on these buses and stop driving them to school themselves.  The yellow Buses are exclusively for school pupils with the same driver and route each day.  Passengers sit in the same seat and the drivers are trained and fit for the purpose and welcome, not frown on children in their bus!  Again, I would maintain my pressure on Trowbridge officers to deliver.

Old Sarum New Primary School (or lack of it!)

Former colleague Cllr Frank Bissington and I used our experience over Hampton Park, where we saw the County Council spend the school money elsewhere and then plead poverty, to ensure that this could not happen at Old Sarum.  The legal agreement insists that the money for the new primary school is available from the outset.  However, what we had not reckoned on was County officers ‘deciding’ that as not many new properties were being built at Old Sarum, as yet, the school could be delayed 18 months or more!  This means that all new residents with children (most, as it is the affordable housing that is being built at present), will have to send their children to other schools, instead of their own local primary school.  The officers also refuse to take into consideration the existing residents and their children.  They insist that the school is for the new development!  What the County officers refuse to accept is that the Old Sarum development was placed and agreed by all FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELIVERING FACILITIES TO THE EXISTING RESIDENTS, WHO HAVE NO FACILITIES OTHER THAN A BUS SHELTER AND A SMALL CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA.  I suggested to the Parish Council and the recently formed residents association, that a survey of Old Sarum residents take place to establish ages and views on how many children would change school to attend Old Sarum.  An initial survey of Partridge Way only produced the staggering result of “47 Primary school children and 46 would change immediately”.   I would insist on an immediate build for the local kids.

Ford / Hampton Park II – Housing/Country Park

Under the Local development Framework (LDF) proposals and consultation, it is intended to develop in our ‘Strategic Gap’ between Ford and Hampton Park.  The developer wants 524 ‘units’.  The density would be far greater than the existing Hampton Park development.  The local view, including the Parish Council, is that this number and the land earmarked, should be greatly reduced. The key ingredient for me is that the remaining strategic gap is large enough to be ‘fit for purpose’.  I also suggested, very early on, to the Forward Planners, that all the remaining green space owned by Alexander Pearce, should be given over as publicly owned green space, to the Parish Council.  I am pleased to say that they liked the idea and a vast tranche of land has been proposed as a Country Park.  Part of my strategy is to prevent the remote Trowbridge based officers pushing through the ‘Northern Link Road’ from the Amesbury Road down Pearce way and on through Laverstock.  Blocking the end of Pearce Way would be a grand idea…so they cannot make a compulsory purchase in years to come!   I am pleased to say that the developers seemed very clued up as to who I was, when I attended their recent exhibition!  Glad to know I have earned a reputation with them!  At the meeting they told me that the preference would be for them to retain ownership of the ‘Country Park’ or perhaps County/Wiltshire council. I told them that ‘local means local’ and that the Parish Council should have it.  I noted that they subsequently, commented that the land would be passed to local ownership in the Salisbury Journal!  The land would enable footpaths, cycleways, bridleways etc and should be of value to Ford residents. No traffic will exit onto Roman Road, Ford! 

I believe I am the strong voice needed to continue this process.

Keeping the Parish Together

The new Wiltshire Council electoral ward comprises Laverstock, Ford and Old Sarum, owing to the proposed housing developments bringing a large increase in numbers.  This means that Hampton Park is, once again, ‘Warded’ for election purposes only, to Bishopdown Ward, a City Ward.  However, Hampton Park continues to be part of the Parish of Laverstock & Ford and householders pay the Laverstock & Ford council tax of just over £10 at Band D, as opposed to the £80 in the City.  They are also properly represented on the Parish Council.  All communities in the Parish voted to stick together, when I held a vote, some time back.  That vote led to the boundary reform committee honouring our wishes.  However, I understand that one erstwhile County Councillor has asked her leadership to start the process for Hampton Park and all the land up to the Amesbury Road, to become part of the City.  This would mean that the parish would be smaller and we would all pay more council tax.  It would also inflict the £80 tax on Hampton Park residents!  Not sure that would be acceptable!  It would also mean that our proposed Country Park would no longer be in the Parish…it would be in the City! Ford would be on the City boundary.  City housing densities are much higher than rural parish densities!  Beware!  A representative of the area should actually know the consequences of their actions on local residents, not to mention residents  thoughts on the issue! (although she is standing in a ‘safer’ seat this time).  I would fight this one and seek your help once again, to put this issue to rest.

 

I have been proud to be your District Councillor for the last 14 years and ask for your support and vote once again, this time for the one new Wiltshire Council seat, which replaces the three County and District seats.

I would continue to deliver my ‘Viewpoint’ newsletters twice yearly, if elected. Keep the faith.  Thank you.  Ian