Graham Ellis - my blog
Candidates announced - Melksham South by-election
Update - 20th December 2023, 23:00 There were two candidates for the byelection to be held on 18th January for a seat on Melksham Town council to represent the South Ward along with Jacqui Crundell, Jon Hubbard and myself. They are:
* Elson, Gillian Heather - "Local Conservatives"
* Griffin, Andrew Shaun - "Liberal Democrats"
I look forward to working alongside whoever is selected next month for the good of Melksham and its electorate; I know both candidates - not closely but well enough to know that each has a background that could bring really useful extra experience to The Council.
Original Article - Are YOU a potential Town Councillor
A Notice of Election has been published for the South Ward of Melksham Town Council, for a new Melksham Town Councillor to take the place of Colin Goodhind who resigned from the role recently. Nominations close on Tuesday of next week (19th December) with an election taking place if more than one candidate is nominated on 18th January 2024.
The new councillor will sit alongside Jacqui Crundell, Jon Hubbard and myself (Graham Ellis) representing the area show on the map - in summary, it's most of the Town Centre out as far as the Western Way (current bypass). Beyond Western Way is the neighbouring Parish of Melksham Without - not a part of the Town Council. To the east and north, the Town Council does include the wards of Melksham East, Melksham Forest and Melksham North and between all 15 councillors we work together (most of the time!) for the town. I look forward to working with whoever is elected. If you're a prospective candidate you only have a week to get your papers in - full details at https://elections.wiltshire.gov.uk/Home/Division/8377
National Politics should (in my view) only have a limited bearing on who you (and I'm writing to voters here) choose as your councillor, and you should be very wary of selecting based on party. Across Melksham, we have some excellent councillors who have been elected on a party or co-operative group ticket, but who have also shown an independence in terms of voting for what they believe is best for their town rather than on party or group leader instruction. We also have others who have openly stated that they see these elections as practise for national polls to come next year, and others who have switched / joined parties to bolster their political prospects.
On one hand, I admire those working with a party because it shows a pragmatism to find an easier route to get elected and an ability to work as part of a team, On the other hand I fear that if we elect a party representative we run the risk of having national political views determining the future of the Assembly Hall, car parking matters, local playground provision and the like.
Let me raise another issue. "It's not possible to be elected as an independent" I am told. Hmmm - that comment defies the evidence, even here in Melksham South and from as recently as 2021. However, is it more likely you'll get in if you stand on a party or group ticket. I question, though, who your masters are if you you choose a rosette - be in red, yellow, blue, green, purple, orange or magenta.
New topic - it's hard work being a Town Councillor. I have spoken with several people who I think would add significantly to our experience mix, but that does not mean that I would encourage them to stand. Contrary to what I was told before I stood, the public are typically lovely - yes, people will grumble at times but if as a councillor I explain why things are "that way" and perhaps advise how things might be changed or how they people can overcome their frustrations, they are happy. Mind you, human nature is such that "thank you"s especially to general activities are quite rare, and even personal answers and follow ups often to unacknowledged. It has been suggested to me that this is because people think that your town councillor is paid - which (s)he is definitely not.
The hard work, then, relates to the volume of work involved if you're going to do a conscientious job, the poor tools you're provided with to do them, and the robust and sometimes difficult interfacing with other members of the team, and the plethora of rules, regulations and restrictions. Who on earth would want to take this on? In all seriousness, it can be worthwhile and rewarding but you should go into it, if you wish, with open eyes.
I have spoken with people (with differing degrees of seriousness) about standing. I've not been sugar coating the role. Colin, Carl and Louisa have all left after very serious consideration of their positions and for good reason that they have given and a number of those of us remaining understand the pressures the role brings. All were excellent and committed councillors and indeed continue to be supportive of Melksham, perhaps with better effect (and happier) than when seated in the Council Chamber.
* Elson, Gillian Heather - "Local Conservatives"
* Griffin, Andrew Shaun - "Liberal Democrats"
I look forward to working alongside whoever is selected next month for the good of Melksham and its electorate; I know both candidates - not closely but well enough to know that each has a background that could bring really useful extra experience to The Council.
Original Article - Are YOU a potential Town Councillor
A Notice of Election has been published for the South Ward of Melksham Town Council, for a new Melksham Town Councillor to take the place of Colin Goodhind who resigned from the role recently. Nominations close on Tuesday of next week (19th December) with an election taking place if more than one candidate is nominated on 18th January 2024. The new councillor will sit alongside Jacqui Crundell, Jon Hubbard and myself (Graham Ellis) representing the area show on the map - in summary, it's most of the Town Centre out as far as the Western Way (current bypass). Beyond Western Way is the neighbouring Parish of Melksham Without - not a part of the Town Council. To the east and north, the Town Council does include the wards of Melksham East, Melksham Forest and Melksham North and between all 15 councillors we work together (most of the time!) for the town. I look forward to working with whoever is elected. If you're a prospective candidate you only have a week to get your papers in - full details at https://elections.wiltshire.gov.uk/Home/Division/8377
National Politics should (in my view) only have a limited bearing on who you (and I'm writing to voters here) choose as your councillor, and you should be very wary of selecting based on party. Across Melksham, we have some excellent councillors who have been elected on a party or co-operative group ticket, but who have also shown an independence in terms of voting for what they believe is best for their town rather than on party or group leader instruction. We also have others who have openly stated that they see these elections as practise for national polls to come next year, and others who have switched / joined parties to bolster their political prospects.
On one hand, I admire those working with a party because it shows a pragmatism to find an easier route to get elected and an ability to work as part of a team, On the other hand I fear that if we elect a party representative we run the risk of having national political views determining the future of the Assembly Hall, car parking matters, local playground provision and the like.
Let me raise another issue. "It's not possible to be elected as an independent" I am told. Hmmm - that comment defies the evidence, even here in Melksham South and from as recently as 2021. However, is it more likely you'll get in if you stand on a party or group ticket. I question, though, who your masters are if you you choose a rosette - be in red, yellow, blue, green, purple, orange or magenta.
New topic - it's hard work being a Town Councillor. I have spoken with several people who I think would add significantly to our experience mix, but that does not mean that I would encourage them to stand. Contrary to what I was told before I stood, the public are typically lovely - yes, people will grumble at times but if as a councillor I explain why things are "that way" and perhaps advise how things might be changed or how they people can overcome their frustrations, they are happy. Mind you, human nature is such that "thank you"s especially to general activities are quite rare, and even personal answers and follow ups often to unacknowledged. It has been suggested to me that this is because people think that your town councillor is paid - which (s)he is definitely not.
The hard work, then, relates to the volume of work involved if you're going to do a conscientious job, the poor tools you're provided with to do them, and the robust and sometimes difficult interfacing with other members of the team, and the plethora of rules, regulations and restrictions. Who on earth would want to take this on? In all seriousness, it can be worthwhile and rewarding but you should go into it, if you wish, with open eyes.
I have spoken with people (with differing degrees of seriousness) about standing. I've not been sugar coating the role. Colin, Carl and Louisa have all left after very serious consideration of their positions and for good reason that they have given and a number of those of us remaining understand the pressures the role brings. All were excellent and committed councillors and indeed continue to be supportive of Melksham, perhaps with better effect (and happier) than when seated in the Council Chamber.
TransWilts Community Rail - 10 years on
It's ten years since the train service at Melksham stepped up from 2 trains each way per day to 8. Pictured here in 1994, a few years after it was re-opened and this summer (2023).
Melksham Passengers departing have risen from 4 a day before 2013 to an average of 104 in recent years with the new service in place an established, and journeys on the line (to, from, through) have risen from 18 thousand and quarter of a million.
As well as more service, the trains and platform are longer (and they need to be) and the service, though thin, now runs all day and every day, operated by a dedicated, professional and helpful staff to whom we say our thanks.
On the 10th Anniversary, let's remember local campaigners who are no longer with us - Gordon Dodge, John Money, and Peter and Margaret Blackburn, without whom we would not be where we are today. If they could look down, they will see a service and use proudly grown in line with their dreams, but still with a great deal to be done to bring it up from being a thin but appropriate service.
It would not have been possible without long term community campaigners such as :
Lee Fletcher, Phil McMullen and John Hamley who's dedication - well, I don't have the words to describe it. The Community Rail Partnership we formed has become the tool used by Paul Johnson who has tirelessly fought the unseen battle to get Wiltshire's rail service recognised and planned into the future of the area, and for towns such as Melksham the difference it's made is unmeasurable. And well set for the future with local plans. And a further shining light is Bob Morrison who transcends, with great tact and diplomacy, no little skill and a vast amount of time, often out on the line, with the day to day work of keeping the stations and line on track. A thank you too to county councillors such as Horace Prickett and Richard Gamble from various parts of Wiltshire who sit on the board, and to current Community Rail officer Sophie Martin who organises her teams to encourage newcomers to rail with schools, litter pickers, glee clubs, Christmas sales, days out by train and much more.
Without help over & above the call of duty from GWR management and Wilts Council officers, we would not be where we are today. Some wish to remain anonymous, others must, though on a day such as today may I pick out David Phillips and Jane Jones as representatives, in each case, of a whole army without whom this would not have been possible.
Politicians have played a key role too - especial thanks to Duncan Hames, Andrew Murrison, Michelle Donelan and Claire Perry, and those at National bodies such as ACoRP - Neil Buxton and Brian Barnsley. Stephen Joseph at the Campaign for Better Transport.
We have all crossed swords in our passion for the cause from time to time, yet the results are effective. When I interact with others in the UK, I come to realise how lucky we are here in Wiltshire.
A long list of names? Yes, a team effort by the area and the rail industry FOR the area. In local volunteers, I would also like to highlight Alan, Andrew, Anne, Bob, Brenda, Brendon, Bruce, Bryony, Carol, Catherine, Chris, Colin, Dan, David, Dawn, Duncan, Emma, Gail, Guy, Ian, James, Jane, Jenny, Joe, John, Judith, Justin, Kevin, Kulvinder, Lisa, Lucy, Marianne, Mark, MartyJon, Mary, Matt, Mike, Natacha, Neil, Nick, Nicki, Nigel, Nina, Peter, Phil, Reuben, Richard, Robin, Roger, Rosemary, Ruth, Sean, Sid, Simon, Sion, Stacey, Sylvia, Teresa, Tina, Tim, Tom, Tony, Tracey, Vicki, Wendy and William - over 60 names there, some shared and no doubt some overlooked. I don't have a master list but we heck of appreciate what you have done or do. any, many linked with the "Melksham Railway Development Group" which by virtue of success has been able to rename itself the USER group now that we have users!
Between us - if I may add my name into that illustrious mix - we have achieved a very great deal for the line and for the places it serves including Melksham. I would like to thank my local councils of Melksham Without, and Melksham Town for their support and indeed the mayor of Melksham has asked me to add his thanks and appreciation today too, and I am speaking on his behalf as well as my personal one.
So where are we now?
We are in the midst of a project. A massive amount has been achieved as we have move from moribund resource to a thin but useable (and used) provision. We have another decade of work to do. Perhaps in coming years - some of these things sooner rather than later - we will see:
* An appropriate train service - hourly rather than thin and infrequent
* Far better service reliability than we have seen of late, with the rail industry sorting out its problems with operation and governance, and better connections.
* Improved total journey connections - regular buses to and from the station in Melksham, and far more at Westbury and perhaps Chippenham.
* Better cycling and walking access to stations such as a northern entrance at Melksham reaching many residential areas without a long zigzag walk
* Housing, business and leisure facilities growing near the station. Planning has already passed for homes on the old up yard, and the Copper Tires site - 11 hectares which comes within 100 yards of the station - is cited for Brown Field development in the new Neighbourhood Plan. All of these plans, of course, protect the railway corridor to allow the line to redoubled when appropriate.
* Electrification of the line for heavy freight and passenger use, and continued adaption and adoption as we move forward in amongst the new world in which the climate emergency is at last being taken more seriously and will be ever more serious, but at the same time maintaining our mobility
* And finally a friendly face at the station with an encouragement to use the service rather than the sticks of penalty warning signs, an incomprehensible fare system, and a feeling at times of isolation that scare so many people away at the moment.
Ladies and Gentlemen, THANK YOU for what you have all done and I, and Melksham for whom I speak, look forward to working further with you in coming years. Personally in my role of running a business in Melksham, the railway made a massive difference once the service was improved in bringing our customers in and taking them home, and that's a difference far from unique to us. As the Transport Minister at the time - Derek Twigg - said to me on Radio 4 in the early days, "We can't run a service just for Mr Ellis". I agree - it's not just running for Mr Ellis - it's running for the businesses and residents of Melksham, and Trowbridge and Chippenham, and Westbury and Swindon. Now, and into the future.
Graham Ellis, 8th December 2023
graham@sn12.net or find me at http://www.passenger.chat or http://grahamellis.uk
This address, given at Westbury Station on 8th December 2023, is available as a .pdf file for download at http://grahamellis.uk/lib/tenyearson.pdf. I am very much around to help promote the appropriate provision and use of public transport from, to, in and through Melksham in the next decade as I have been in (and was before) the last decade.
Published Friday, 8th December 2023
TransWilts Community Rail - What now?
Last night, the Melksham Area Board of Wiltshire Council met at Semington Village Hall for a "Highways and Transport" special. A very, very rare opportunity to hear from the Director of Highways and Transport, and the council cabinet portfolio holder. Also from the chief of road maintenance and the representative of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Although the evening was largely concerned with (1) all about potholes, (2) speeding and enforcing speed limits and (3) the countryside outside of Melksham Town and was held in a village that meant that anyone attending had to come back by car, it was a useful evening. Public questions were dominated by questions from our Unitary councillors but not, thank goodness, to the exclusion of all others and written answers were promised to those of us who had put in formal written questions prior to the event.
It was an opportunity to meet the Director and explain worries about the future of the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That's the organisation that was set up by around a dozen of us here in Melksham around 12 years ago to encourage appropriate use and regrowth of passenger services on the Swindon to Westbury railway line.
From around 3,000 passenger journeys per year in 2011 (that an average of 4 people a day arriving here by train), passenger numbers rose to 75,000 journeys per year (that's over 100 arriving here by train) by 2018. And it's not just Melksham - passenger numbers to, from and through rose from under 50 per day to nearly 700. Much of that was thanks to funding that allowed for an increase from 2 trains each way to 8, with an additional single carriage train shuttling up and down. Journey numbers of a quarter of a million were impressive, with the single carriage full, standing, and almost leaving people behind it was so busy.
2018 was a turning point. The single carriage train was replaced by a 2 or at times 3 carriage train, and the platform at Melksham was lengthened to allow for passengers to use more than a single door. It was also the year that I left my part time role as the Community Rail Officer, not my choice and to my regret. So what has happened since?
We have had Covid that decimated public transport use, though it has recovered pretty well across much of the UK; the TransWilts line is rather behind that curve due to some extent to the nature of the traffic carried and social changes
The Community Rail Partnership, formed and directed by local community members in towns along the line, is now directed by Conservative Wiltshire Councillor (3 current, 1 retires, 1 wannabe) none of whom represent any station on the line, and two professional directors (one rail industry, one financial) who live outside the county. The Community Rail Officer who was recruited to replace me no longer lives on the line. The partnership is totally changed from its foundation - al originals are gone, and it's moved from being a community based organisation via "designation" with the Department for Transport to "Accredited" status which means a dozen policies and sets of rules and official lines to tow in return for funding; turnover up from a few thousand a year to (in some years) quarter of a million pounds, with projects such as the "White Horse Room" at Westbury Station and the Hub at Melksham Station, neither of which (in my reading of it) as made a significant difference to passenger numbers, but then perhaps that was not the intent. Community Rail (official) has move on from a primary motivation of increasing passenger numbers on thinly used lines to a social vehicle to use the railway to help people in our society who need help and engagement, and to do providing that help using the railway as a tool for doing so.
The new Community Rail Officer has, to the best of my knowledge, engaged with the people and groups in the new metric - I see her online from time to time in that new role. It's so different to what I was doing up to 2018 that I cannot really pass much comment on the outcome against the new objectives.
The former chair, who retired this summer, has done an excellent job of getting the line and service visible in future planning and on the radar, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for that. May be build on that - long work that's not necessarily appreciated at the time but sets us in good stead.
I also need, must and want - to add credit here to the "Friends Secretary" who has been doing so much for the immediate traffic and newsletters from his base in Swindon but present all along the line, to the friends of Chippenham Station, the Melksham Transport User Group and to the West Wiltshire Rail User Group for Trowbridge and Westbury support.
So where are we in 2023? After 5 years of growth from 2013 to 2018, passenger numbers have stagnated. After Community Rail being so visible on the trains in those 5 years, it's scarcely been seen and with the passing of the remaining active director in Melksham, and the retirement of the chair from Chippenham and his move away from the area, the question has be be asked "what next?" for the partnership. None of the seven directors appears to be dedicating the time that's needed to manage it in, and the question comes "is a major change needed". The CRP has been unable to find a new chair and (as I understand it) has looked internally, locally, and has been using an agency to help too. I have mirrored the job description - from May 2023 - at http://www.passenger.chat/CRP-Chairperson-Role-Description.pdf
I have no answers here; I am conscious that I have not personally been approached or invited to assist, and am probably not considered to fit the "Possess qualities of tact and diplomacy" requirement, having been very much more of a campaigner for all these years which at times has needed me to be a ***** nuisance. But I am available (and would like) to help.
Things have changed for me since 2018 too - I am now retired, I have more experience in public and local council affairs, and perhaps I have mellowed too and have more time. Some things have not changed; I remain committed to appropriate public transport provision and support in and beyond Wiltshire, and I retain an enthusiasm to help bolster its success. Whether the right tool for that is the Community Rail Partnership I was a founder member of is an open question at the moment.
Illustration - a train for Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury calls at Chippenham
Published Thursday, 7th December 2023
Updates on MTC projects
The Head of Operations provided verbal updates on various projects at the Assets and Amernities meeting of Melksham Town Council last night - from 38:20 ((here on Facebook)) ; this should stay online for at least 18 months under the new poicy adopted at last week's full council.* Recruitment for amenities team
* Assembly Hall Roof
* Work at the Pavillion
* Play area signage
* Assembly Hall short term staffing
* CCTV deployables and police meeting
* Dog park gate and agility equipment
* Melksham Makers Market
* Access control at Town Hall
* Hire of chipper
* Planting of trees
* Confirmation that Head of Ops has received Friends offer to help
Other topics covered at last night's meeting (elsewhere in the recording) included
* discussion if we were quorate and election of chair for the meeting
* sorting out problems letting guests in on Zoom
* Splashpad 2023 report and clarification of resurfacing
* Extension of Shambles Festival by one day
* Allotment Audit, and way forward
* Thank you to team for the excellent work done at the Christmas event
Whilst I am relieved that councillors were updated on the above and that it's available in the recording, I am disappointed that it's not simply readable as part of the Teams system instigated years ago and promoted by former Councillor Goodhind, nor available as instigated by Councillor Westbrook via Finance, Admin and Performance, nor even available to Assets and Amenities until a verbal gallop through so fast I found it hard to take in. Were I cynical, I would wonder if there was anything we missed; of course, I am not cynical and would suggest that a brief written report would help everyone feel more comfortable that they know what's going on.
Published Tuesday, 5th December 2023
CONSULTATION - Walking and Cycling routes in Melksham
Here's a consultation that's taken me by surprise on walking and cycling routes in Melksham (and Calne) and we only have three weeks left to respond (by 22nd December). I'm amazed at how surprised I am ... and that it doesn't seem to line up with the neighourhood plan (where I am deputy chair) nor the local plan - maps showing "Melksham Develoment sites" including area that are ruled out of both plans. Some interesting routes included which I would NOT, and some sad ommissions - which (I suppose) is the purpose of a consultation.
I quote from the consulaltion at https://calne-and-melksham-lcwip.commonplace.is:
| Melksham Proposals We have drafted new, aspirational walking and cycling route maps for Melksham. We’d like your comments on whether the routes we are suggesting are the right ones, or if not, what needs to change and why. Please leave your comments on the interactive map that can be found on the home page, or alternatively you can request a paper copy by contacting: transportplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk Below are the plans available for you to view in more detail. We have completed an initial prioritisation of routes which will be developed first. Once developed, the remaining routes will be developed. Priority routes can be identified by the orange route lines, whilst the secondary routes can be identified by the blue route lines. |
I asked for this to come before the Economic Developement and Planning Committee tomorrow night, and it WILL do so - however it strikes me that the associated inforation base and public visibility is sadly missing.
Published Monday, 4th December 2023
THANK YOU - Christmas light event
It was wonderful to see the light switch on and fireworks Melksham last night, enjoy the entertainment by local groups, take in the atmosphere of the fair and the smell of fairground food and to see the bustling stalls both inside the Assembly Hall and out. There are many pictures online already that are far better than mine, so I'm going to share just a couple of those and more of the team behind the event and – wow - what a team!
Almost all of the Town Council's staff were there - not just on duty on the day, but throwing themselves into the preparations way ahead (and probably still doing the tidy up today - Sunday - as I write). Make no mistake - we had an excellent team last year, but we've also got an excellent events and amenities team this year too. THANK YOU to them.
Volunteers and contractors played a massive part in the event too - the lights are fantastic ;-), the fireworks were a spectacle and the security team did a great job. Others I would describe as "general helpers" on the day included experiences old friends and enthusiastic newcomers without whom we might have struggled. And then Santa and his elves were able to make it and see so many of the Children, to their delight. THANK YOU to them.
Your Town Councillors are volunteers too (I am one of them) and it was good to see the majority of them there - either helping (in some cases all day) or in a more relaxed environment with friends and family. Thanks to all of my colleagues who were there in any capacity with especial thanks to those (you know who you are) who were there when I arrived and were still there when I left.
The fun, food and fairground attraction and the fair stalls make so much of this event, as do the entertainers. From music to Morris dancing to Mac and Cheese, from Burgers to Candy floss to hook a duck and trampolines. Thank you to all the providers - whether you were doing in as a pleasurable voluntary service or commercially.
The Town Council is in no doubt that holding events such as the Remembrance Parade and the Christmas Lights cause some disruption to the Town Centre - to residents, to businesses, to visitors who want to drive through or park, and to bus users looking to go about their normal journeys. A big thank you to all of those people who's routine was disturbed, including those of you I met at the Town Centre bus stops and redirected to the alternative stops. I don't think anyone will have missed the bus.
And finally - a big thank you to YOU - the residents of Melksham Town, of the surrounding areas, and visitors from far afield who came along. It's use presence, and clear enjoyment, that makes these evens so worthwhile!
Published Sunday, 3rd December 2023
Travelling home before Christmas
If you're out partying in the evening (or just having a quiet social with friends), remember the late night public transport back to Melksham Monday to Friday:
Train from Trowbridge at 21:22
Train from London (Paddington) change Swindon at 21:31
Train from Bristol (change Chippenham) at 22:00
Bus from Devizes at 22:10
Train from Swindon at 22:30 (earlier service at 20:13)
Train from Chippenham at 22:45 (earlier service at 20:29)
Bus from Bath at 23:15 (earlier service at 21:05)
On Saturday:
Train from London (Paddington) change Chippenham at 20:00
Train from Trowbridge at 20:15
Train from Swindon at 21:10
Train from Chippenham at 21:25
Bus from Bath at 23:15 (earlier service at 21:05)
Bus from Devizes at 00:25 (earlier service at 22:10)
On Sunday, the last bus services are much early evening:
Bus from Bath at 19:10
Bus from Devizes at 19:12 (does NOT pick up at intermediate stops)
Train from Trowbridge at 20:44
Train from Swindon at 21:34
Train from Chippenham at 21:49
Our local trains and buses run until 24th December as usual; London Padddington is, however closed after 23rd December (slower alternatives available). No public transport in this area on 25th or 26th - it restarts on 27th with Paddington re-opening on 28th.
Published Saturday, 2nd December 2023
Welcome to December 2023
Tomorrow, Santa is in town, and the Christmas lights will be switched on. The Christmas Market will be open from 2 p.m. in the Assembly Hall, there will we all sorts of things going on in the Market Place, and at 6 p.m. the lights will be switched on by the mayor. You'll find half a dozen of your Town Councillors out and about helping during the day, and almost all of the Town Council staff too - all arranged into rotas by our events and communications team.With the Town Centre closed to vehicular traffic from midday to 8 p.m., buses will be diverted and I'll be found for most of the afternoon at the (out of use) bus stops redirecting people to ...
* Bud's for the Bowerhill and Devizes service
* The Fire Station for Trowbridge and Frome services
* The Bear for services to Bath
* Old Broughton Road for services to Chippenham, Corsham, and Bradford-on-Avon
... and I'm hoping that all the signage and pre-publicity will have made my job easier. I'll be around the wider area in the morning putting up signs on other bus stops to alert people there to changes.
Please stop by the bus stop and say "Hi" on Saturday. Pick up new Assembly Hall leaflets for January to March 2024 which will first appear at the event, and also pick up new train timetables which will be valid from next weekend until 2nd June 2024. I will not be spending every minute re-directing people, so please feel free to talk about the Assembly Hall, the Dog Park, other Public Transport Issues, the town's notice boards, clearance of leaves, the Neighbourhood Plan or other topics.
Published Friday, 1st December 2023
I am still free to speak
The most enormous sigh of relief last night when the full Town Council refused to adopt the proposed "Social Media" policy which as written was a travesty of freedom of speech. If adopted and enforced (and I have legal questions as to whether it would have been enforceable) it could have spelled the end of my blog ...I wonder if that was the intent?An almost identical proposal had been brought to council in July, but timed out when the meeting had overrun. The following month, I had documented my concerns to the Town Clerk and spend considerable time in the Town Hall explaining my issues. I was livid that the proposal had come back with only 2 changes ("Twitter" to "X" and an extra sentence saying that concerns expressed in public on social media would be answered by private message rather than in public) and not even the courtesy of an explanation of why my concerns were rejected.
The vote to reject the proposal was unnanimous, with a group of three of us councillors who actually have experience of this sort of thing getting together to make proper suggestions for a social media policy, rather than a media suppression policy which was what we being asked to adopt without discussion. My comments on the original are ((here)) but I suspect we should start afresh.
* I am delighted that a motion requiring video recordings of public meetings to remain available for at least 18 months was passed. Legally, meeting minutes become the definitive record once approved - however it is useful to be able to look back and see in detail what was said as projects move on. It is very common for councils to leave recordings on line, and indeed it's only recently that Melksham's had been deleted once approved.
* My apologies to members of the Environment and Climate Working Group who I did less than justice to last night - I was so concerned at the threat to our local democracy that it rather took me over the last week.
* Last night, an emergency motion was proposed and passed to remove the dog agility equipment from the park pending resolution of safety issues. The Town Council is also investigating how we got into this situation. I have made little comment during this saga - plenty of other people have done so, and I had no new ground to add on a facility looked after by a working group I do not sit on, in a different ward to to the one I represent. Please be assured I would have spoken if I'd had anything useful to add.
* The staff team at the meeting last night was less than able to address questions on various questions such as the two mentioned above. Neither the Town Clerk nor the Locum were present, and we did not have a deputy Town Clerk at the moment. I find this an unsatisfactory state of affairs, and note that the staffing committee meets tonight.
Published Tuesday, 28th November 2023
Assembly Hall - Friends' offer of support
Those of you who were at the Quiz Night at the Assembly Hall last Thursday will know that one of our deputy Hall Managers, Kevin Farrow, is moving away from the area and will be leaving us in 2 weeks. Kevin has been one of the keys to the operation and support of the Assembly Hall since I became a councillor some two years ago, and will be sorely missed. I would like to thank Kevin for all the hard work he has done, and wish him well in his new location.We have some excellent staff - but we (as a Town Council) no longer have the multiple dedicated (to the role) team members we need to run the Assembly Hall every day. Kevin's departure will leave significant operational gaps in an already-stretched schedule, and holes in who's doing a number of the jobs behind the scenes that he has been undertaking, some of which have a significant influence on the future. Bearing these concerns and the longer term view in mind, key members of the Friends of Melksham Assembly Hall met last week, and this morning I have sent the following positive email to the Town Clerk and Head of Operations offering practical support to them and the team in the short, medium and long term.
The December QUIZ NIGHT takes place on Thursday, 14th December and I look forward to seeing lots of teams there with unpronounceable or innovative or festive names. If you are NOT part of a team, come along anyways - we make up scratch teams along the way, and it's often these teams with a mixture of interests that do the best. Hall and bar open from 18:30, quiz starts 19:30.
Dear Linda and Hugh,
Key active members of the Friends of Melksham Assembly Hall met last week to consider short, medium and long term issues and support for the Assembly Hall and adjoining properties. I am charged by the group to offer you our ongoing support, including significant skilled volunteer help, through and beyond changes. The Friends have a wide variety of experience which many of us are committed to bringing to bear for the future of public provision in Melksham.
1. We understand that one of our deputy hall managers (Kevin) is leaving in the coming weeks, and that for the time being we will be short of dedicated staff to open, close and run the physical hall on a day to day basis. The Friends would like to offer volunteer support to you and the wider team to help overcome the gap Kevin's departure will leave; there is a great deal of knowledge with Kevin and whilst Bruce and others who help are aware of a great deal, they cannot easily provide the availability to staff the hall on a daily basis.
2. We are also offering to help address maintaining future bookings and publicity. Whilst the Assembly Hall has a variety of events booked over coming months, there is a need to continue to encourage bookings by both those running things in the hall, and those attending, for the provision to continue as the currently booked events and attendees come and pass.
3. The direction of the Assembly Hall, and how the provision is improved for the future with the potential extension of the Blue Pool, is very much something we need to focus on too. Needs surveys for the Assembly Hall and Cluster 1, and other requests asking people to come forward and tell us what they want and would use, have informed us well and it's now the time to move on and actually develop ideas as to how we can practically best meet the needs, then go ahead and do so. This is a major project beyond the staffing resources we currently have in place, and The Friends offer both our support and our members expertise in helping you ensure that an excellent team is in place and assisted as we move forward.
4. Finally, we are minded of the longer term future of the hall and provision for Melksham with a similar time frame to that of the neighbourhood plan. That includes operational, structural and financial elements of a business model which need strategic consideration. Once again, we have members of the friends who offer help and indeed may take key roles over the coming decade. We note and learn from other models and experienced in Frome, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Devizes, for example.
Linda and Hugh, the short term offer is very much to keep The Hall rolling into 2024, with reliable volunteers able to step up to tasks short term. Please call on us for that. Then there is very much a need for the booking, marketing and management to be done by someone who has the time, the motivation, and the skill to do so. Please do make use of these offers to help over coming weeks and months.
Graham
for Paul, Geoff, Terri, Howard, Clive, Pat and myself who were at last week's meeting, representing the much wider team of Friends of Melksham Assembly Hall
Graham Ellis
Melksham Town Council, South Ward
Blog at http://grahamellis.uk/perm.html
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Email: graham.ellis@melksham-tc.gov.uk or graham@sn12.net
Phone: 01225 708225 / 0797 4 925 928
Home: 48 Spa Road, Melksham, SN12 7NY
Published Monday, 27th November 2023