Graham Ellis - my blog
Trains to Felletin - a lesson Melksham must not miss
Barring a miracle, today (written 31.8.2025) is the last day of train service to Aubesson and Felletin in France. I went there a couple of months ago and travelled on one of the two daily trains to look, to learn. I arrived at Felletin on a near-empty train, with more staff than passengers, and had enough hours there to take a good look around the town. It was a Saturday, as on other days of the week the service was even less appropriately timed. In Felletin, I saw a bustling little town that has much to offer the visitor, and at the same time an economy that's not brilliant. And I saw streets clogged with private cars and a history that's not made the best of. There is potential, but "they" have made a decision to not exploit that potential.I think back to Melksham's train service and the period from 2006 to 2013 when we, too, had just 2 trains a day with the "too early, too late" 'joke' that was no joke. 3,000 passenger journeys a year sounded a lot - until you worked out that it was 1 or 2 people getting on or off each train - similar to I saw in Felletin.
Thank goodness that the potential was seen in Melksham and some sense came - an increase from 2 to 9 trains per day has increased the journeys to 63,000 per year. It should be more - with a reliable hourly train service, which equates to 16 trains a day, journeys should be at least 350,000. Thank goodness we have not, like Felletin does today, lost our service. But we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that under the big changes underway on public transport admin and politics and political expediency, we don't stagnate or slip back. In my view, there remains a need for the community, the users, the local government planners and the local politicians to advocate for and support their local service to ensure it's not swept under the carpet and starved of staff or development at the altar of efficiently saving operating costs.
Since 2013, we have come so far forward, but we have faded back on unreliability (as I write, another of today's trains in cancelled through lack of staff) and we must ensure that for the future of our town we move forward - as Corby, or Ebbw Vale, or Tweedbank, Leven, Alloa or Ashingdon have done and that we don't fall back from our "halfway there" position and find ourselves loosing again as Felletin and Aubesson do today.
Wonderful friends
It is wonderful to have friends. Not necessarily people you see every day, but people you engage with from time to time and even after gaps of months or years, it's as if time didn't matter when you have even the shortest of interactions with them again. Delighted to catch up with a couple of people yesterday at the River and Food Festival, and online / overnight with others too. It's a bright, sunny morning and I'll probably wander into the park again today to have a further look around, perhaps catch up with a few other people, and bring home a lunch that's a little different to our normal fayre. If you see me in the distance, I may or may not wave. I have a huge respect for those running the event and helping in a huge number of ways, and that's your main purpose being there - not chatting to an old fogie looking to press his point of view or muse at length over old times. But, please, do tap into me as needed for knowledge, background, thoughts I have come across over 70+ years as / when / if they can help the town, or indeed wider area, into the future.
I suggested earlier this month that we should elect a new councillor to fill the South Ward vacancy already created. I don't have what I consider the qualification to happily fill the role; it has in my view two key elements; and I fall at the first hurdle.
• Have time, ability and plan to fill the role through to May 2029 for the people of Melksham.
• Live in or close to the ward, being available to engaged with residents, keeping informed and keeping them informed on what's going on now and for the next years.
Your enthusiasm and engagement for the town matter; your politics don't really matter too much at the Parish level, provided that those politics and personal empowerment and gain doesn't drown out doing what's right by the town.
I have 101 things to write ... a lovely sunny morning and I need to post while it's still the morning.
Published Sunday, 31st August 2025
Melksham Cycle signage - a plea to fill gaps already identified
Next Tuesday (2nd September 2025), the Economic Developement and Planning Committee includes the following at Agenda item 8:Provision of Wayfinding Signs
Email from Wiltshire Council
We currently have around £13k in Section 106 monies for cycle and pedestrian signing in and around the town. The monies expire on 01/11/26 and issue has been knocking around for some time.
I think we’ll be hard pressed to send £13k on cycle signing in the town as most is not that old.
Mark Stansby has suggested we could look at some new / upgraded wayfinding signs such as ornamental finger posts etc.
Is there anything the town council would like to see?
For discussion and decision.
It is my personal view that signage improvements should be made in line with research already done jointly with Wiltshire Council and Melksham Without looking forward at the future of cycling and walking in Melksham, such as the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LWCIP). That way, improvements considered for the medium and longer term and which are already identified will be made, making the best of the fund available. I was disappointed not to see previous work such ss the LWCIP not even mentioned in the agenda item, and I would ask whether the Town Council will take such work into account as they reach their decision.
Pictured - an example of an already-identified location where signage should be improved. Cyclists (and walkers) comibg from the Town Centre onto Snowberry Lane and pointed left for the football and rugby clubs, and right for the oak and bowerhill. Absent is a finger board pointing into Daisy Close for the Town Centre for cyclists and walkers on Snowberry Lane from those other loctions and headed into town - "You have to know ...".
I have a clash of meetings on Tuesday evening - I have aleady submitted my question ahead of time to the CEO for section 3 of the agenda where a public question is allowed, but I won't be there in person or online. A substantial update on upcoming travel and transport issues at MEG Committee (Campus, from 18:30) is my priority over a couple of minutes to ask a question at the start of "EcDev". I am aware that just commenting on social media / my blog is not sufficinet to reach councillors. I look forward to hearing if and how my question is addressed and also outcomes / decisions made by councillors in section 8.
Published Thursday, 28th August 2025
Where have I been? A to Z.
I am just back [in Melksham life] for the autumn, having taken a deliberate break after leaving the Town Council on 1st May."A change is as good as a rest" and three months spent travelling around Europe on an Interrail pass, ranging as from Å in the Lofoten islands above the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway to Zilina in Slovakia brought me home in early August, having been via places from Angers to Vilnius on the way - Lisa joining me for some of those less extreme locations.
A week of rest and recuperation was always planned, but that's been extended unplanned as both Lisa and I tested positive for Covid 10 days ago and have been isolating, and suffering somewhat for a fortnight. Lisa had it far worse that I but we're both getting past it; I would describe mine more as "brainfog" that is - slowly - reducing.
Yesterday I took my first walk our around Melksham in the open air - delighted to be back, and happy to be in conversation in the park, in the nature reserve, and roadside with various groups on Spa Road. Love the community and people here in Melksham.
And so - what now? That delicate balance having - of personal necessity - stepped down but yet still being interested and helpful and having some knoweldge which could and perhaps should be useful to help the new team. To make that available, to not hide area in which I can help such as transport, splash pad operation, social media and web work, business operation but yet not to do anything that will force people to feel they should listen.
There are probably more retired that active councillors, more departed than current staff, around. The best approach - at least the approach I am taking - is to be available to help, quiety, as best I can where I have a (and it will fade) knoweledge but not to push that unwanted onto people.
Published Monday, 25th August 2025
Not standing again for Town Council. Here is why.
I wrote in to ask for a bye-election in Melksham South Ward for a new Town Councillor to replace Jon Hubbard who resigned the role 3 months "in". I pointed out to others that they could write in too, and explaining why I thought it was a good idea in my blog. I have no idea how many (other than it was 10 or more) wrote in, and no idea whether or not that number would have been reached if I had not let people know it was available without me telling them.
Enough people wrote in for an election to be called - nominations in early September and a vote if there are multiple candidates in early October. And considering that there were five people willing to be Town Councillors who were rejected by the incumbents a couple of months ago, it's clear to me that there are people who would be more than willing to take on the role, even if they are not to the taste of the incumbents.
I have been asked by friends, by people I know in the South Ward, and indeed by a number of people who interact closely with Town Councillors, whether I will be standing to represent the South Ward on the Town Council again, and I promised to reconsider doing so. There was no great rush over this while I was away - and indeed the final decision needed to be made at home and with family support.
Decision made - I will NOT be offering myself for election to Melksham Town Council at the by-election in early October.
Reasons:
1. There was a resounding silence and lack of sharing from current councillors to the publicity for the option to hold an election. Since it has been called there has been strong negative feedback on the whole idea, with no sign that the "powers that be" would welcome me back. I note that other experienced ex-councillors were unanimously rejected in their co-option process a couple of months back. And so I conclude that Melksham Town will be best served for the next four years by someone who's accepted onto the Town Council apart from the actual process of calling for a vote.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. - All the other reasons previously given for me not standing in May! I still recon I can be happier, and do better, away from Melksham Town Council. And as appropriate and if wanted I can help them anyway.
For the record - 2. What I felt to be disrespect and bullying that lost you so many good councillors and staff as well as me. 3. The need to be physically in the council chamber to vote - not required at the time of my 2021 election. 4. The desire to specialise more deeply and effectively in a narrower range of topics rather than being relatively ineffective over a wider range. 5. Limitations that come with age - in particular loss of stamina, balance and directional hearing. 6. Concern at committing (and it is a commitment) to a further 4 years. 7. Effect on family, friends and self.
Illustration - from my recent visit to Denmark, Trains and buses connection at Skaerbaek - a dream for Melksham.
Published Tuesday, 12th August 2025
Been touring - wondering if this would work in Melksham
I have been touring Europe these last months - relieved of the responsibility of being a Town Councillor with the need to be in the Council Chamber perhaps 2 Mondays a month, and one Tuesday in three to phyically vote, and on other occassions for confidential working groups. It has been a huge relief personally not to have schedule things around often tense meetings, and especially frustrating when meetings have been cancelled, added or moved at late notice.Water under the bridge - I am no longer a Town Councillor. And yet - once an advocate for my home town, always an advocate for my home town. And I saw so many things that I ask myself "would this work in Melksham" and "what lessons are there for home". Other posts will follow with public transport specific elements across a wider area - but here are some more general things that have me wondering "why not at home". Of course, I have stepped away from being on The Council and whilst in some ways it lessens my position, it also frees me up to think the unthinkable and make the silliest suggestions, and some of them may tread on toes or be here already. If just one of these 20 inspires or helps something be taken forward, I'll be delighted and be happy to be laughed at for some of the others.
Dry, secure storage for bicycles at the points / places where local cycling journeys connect with longer distance ones by public transport. In Melksham you can take your cycle on the train - but NOT on the bus (why not?)
Public open green spaces are much bigger in some of the places I visited and in several places including here in Mosjeon in Norway they are kept mowed by robot machines such as this one. Could such things be an efficient way of keeping our grass in check in Melksham parks and open spaces?
Clear but subtle marking and segregation of cycle lanes - helping people know where to walk, where to cycle - and reducing (as far as I could see) frictions and collisions between the various groupings on the street.
Recently planted trees fitted with water bags (and, yes, I saw the council filling them). There will always be some loss of newly planted trees that don't 'take' - that's nature, but could that loss be efficiently reduced in Melksham and in the UK by the use of further aids to survival such as these during early months or years?
We have some blue plaques on historic sites around the Town Centre - could we have more interprettation boards and could we have electonic links from them such as QR codes to help people learn a bit about the area they are in ... and while we are at it link to dynamic content about what's going on around there in events, planning applications, etc - and to reporting and direction information too?
Waiting for public transport with the children? Provide them with an educational environment at the bus stop or railway station - these could and should be so much friendlier places.
It's estimated that the new station at Okehampton with a single platform is to cost £15 million - and such pricing rules out the case for many smaller stations. This is in Sweden - one of many seen there but not unique to that country. Like buses, some of the trains has a button to request the train to stop, and if you're standing on the platform as the train comes through, it will stop for you. This example is small in the extreme - perhaps just a couple of dozen passengers on and off each day - so not for Melksham Central. But how about Lacock, Beanacre, Holt and Staverton?
A museum, even in the most out of the way places, showing the history of the area and also the flora, fauna, and what makes the place tick to this day too.
Zebra crossings make sense. Why is it in Melksham that they are required to have yellow flashing beacons on them, putting up the installation and running costs. Would not more crossings at a lower cost each help people move around? 
Eating out in front of restaurants and bars in an area of the town and city centres where traffic is banned or reduced. I am not suggesting a statue of Elvis on a balcony above, but you never know
High chairs for adults and teenagers in the park - watch what's going on and provide variety too.
Flood gates which can be closed when waters rise and there's a risk of water damage to properties.
Sheltered seating in the park or on the beach to extend the season in which people can come out and enjoy the park.
Water feature running in the park at all times
Free to ride electric buses running around (this example, not unique, Colmar) from where people arrive in the town to the various attracitons and businesses within the town. Frequent and fast because there's no messing about with fare collection and ticket checking, and the vehicles are small with good doors so no long queuing at stops.
Music in the street
Duckfood dispenser - selling food that's good for the wildlife from a machine near the river. "Feed the birds - 2 euros a bag" according to Mary Poppins
And linked to the museum, why not offer an opportunity to guests and visitors to try out some of the old and long lost skills - in this case driving a railroad spike.
A map showing where the various routes go, and connections, at main bus stops
Heritage public transport also providing the regular daily services on a daily basis to the mutual benefit of traffic on bothIf you click on any images and open them in a separate frame or window, you'll see them in more detail. And please feel free to ask me questions on any of them.
Published Monday, 11th August 2025
Happyness in retirement - how does Melksham fare?
There are 58 constituencies in the South West of England, and I came across a happiness report from Legal and General rating them on factors like health and nature. Interesting to see Melksham and Devizes highly ranked on their nature pillar. I would love to have seen transport and environment pillars too, but perhaps work remains to be done in getting those to be mainstream topics for our happiness in our retired years?Published Saturday, 2nd August 2025
Melksham Neighborhood Plan - Referendum result, 31.7.2025
Thank you to everyone who voted yesterday (31st July 2025) in the Referendum for the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan. The count was late last night, and the referendum was passed by 1903 votes to 239 votes (with 7 spoiled papers) - a turnout of 10.79%. So that's 88.8% of those who voted in favour, and 11.2% against. A big "thank you" as well to the whole team who put so much work into the plan, and to their families and friends - especially to those of community volunteers, and of staff who members have worked way beyond what would be expected, for their support and understanding.
The old neighbourhood plan, which was becoming out of date and would have expired completely by the end of the year is now replaced by the new one which will remain valid until 2038. Under normal circumstances, I might write "I hope this report does not just sit and gather dust on a shelf" but in this case I know it won't.
The previous plan has been used right up until the other week to provide evidence and guidance to planning applications as the town changes and grows, helping to steer us in a direction that mean that all the various pieces will join up making a town that's a pleasure to live, work and relax in, and to get around in and to have access to services that are provided by other teams beyond the plan. And I'm sure the new plan will be used, hand in hand with Wiltshire’s local plan and the national policy and planning framework (NPPF) for the bright future direction of our town.
The new Neighbourhood Plan can be found (here) and you are encouraged to read it and welcome to ask me any questions on it. The illustrating picture on this post is the official picture taken of the steering group members at their final meeting when they formally sent the plan to referendum.
Published Friday, 1st August 2025
Consideration - rejoining the (Melksham) Town Council
A good friend asked me yesterday if I would think about rejoining Melksham Town Council - "standing in the seat vacated by Jon Hubbard". Yes, I have been thinking about it. Which is a very different answer to "yes, I will stand". My decision not to stand in May was made well in advance and there were a number of key factors . The approach of others (councillors and staff) which I felt bullying, and I know other who have left felt the same too. The expectation and need to be physically present for votes which was not the case when I was elected in May 2021. And my ongoing hearing and other issues which made it quite tough in a competitive chamber situation. With those issues impinging on my personal life (I am not a hard-nosed politician) it was the right decision to not stand again, and I am thoroughly enjoying myself seeing the countries and countries around with and without Lisa, who has been and remains my rock.
Things have changed - or should I say "progressed". There will always be people who come across to be as bullies or manipulative - perhaps unintentional through their own overenthusiasm to have things there way. We have shed a number of the people at MTC I felt threatened by - the final two this year and, maybe, we have a better balance now. Were I to stand, then it would be stating the rough with the smooth. Expect me at 60% not 80% of meetings in person - no longer a diary and personal life planned second to MTC. The ongoing hearing and balance issues will not get better, but they're only important in an adversarial environment and not one where everyone partners. Were I to stand, I would look to take on fewer things but better, and I would also look that much more at family support. I am in the window between retirement and being unable to do things and go places, and want to make the best use of that window - would that be partly in a role as a Melksham Town Councillor, or would I be wasting my time / still bashing my head against a brick wall. Thing have changed - have they changed enough? Would I want to risk taking on another miserable 4 years and the sacrifieces for me and family to find out?
I have written in to ask for an election to be held in the South Ward. I don't know yet if I would stand if enough people write in to ask, but I would welcome a vote. The Town Council has co-opted two new members already and indications are they are excellent, but a full and varied team is needed and I am conscious that they unanimously rejected two other candidates (in spite of still having a vacancy) who were previous councillors and would have brought both breadth and expertise in. So I know that if the seat is perhaps to be filled by co-option, the people with prior experience and diverse views - the very people we need to make for a rounded council - will be rejected. So I want an election - I want a wider representation in addition to the good people we have.
And ... were I to stand ... many of you know me. If you don't, I am very clear on my limitations. I have a track record. I live in the South Ward. I publish my address and phone number. And I would commit to being your Town Councillor until May 2029. Let's see what the next three weeks shall bring; I doubt very much you’ll find me in the role by mid October, but as the original questioner asked - yes, I am thinking about it. I love Melksham and that can make for some interesting decisions.
Illustration - Mosjoen in Norway, where I am taking a three day break from travelling to catch up on paperwork and thoughts and sleep. Yet even here, I look and I learn the good and the bad, the practical and the impractical in what we might do or not do in the UK - learning from others. Their riverside walk, within the town though you might not think so from the picture. Mosjoen has about half the population of Melksham, though it is the centre for a far wider rural area.
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ADDITION - 1st August 2025 in response to feedback
I promised a more complete answer yesterday, now back at my keyboard and also after the vote in the Neighbourhood Plan has closed. Original post (link) This is what I am answering:
"I was very disappointed when you felt the need to step down. I don’t understand a great deal about the whys and wherefore of town politics, but I did feel you gave a balanced idea of what was going on, both good and bad. It seemed like you ‘unlocked’ the door to enable us to see what was happening in the room, and gave us a bigger understanding of the politics going on. I for one would be very happy to see you batting for us again. Only you know if it will be worth spending your valuable time on matters which affect us all. Thank you for enlightening us." - Tracy Wright
My answer from last night:
"It was a tough call. So much taken out of me emotionally (that's why you lost so many other good councillors and staff) and not by the public who were and are lovely. People may disagree with me at times but it triggers discussions, better understanding and a respect for many views. I will follow up further - seated in a restaurant at present and fuller answers take time (and I will be kicked off this table soon)."
My answer from this morning:
"Openness" as I describe it as one of my three key elements is to be encouraged, but at the same time it needs to be tempered with the need to get on this the job. There are times that kites need to be flown, and individual's privacy respected, and commercial data and even available budgets kept secret BUT I felt that we went too far with that at Melksham Town, and I was regarded as a bit of a maverick in pointing you at things like line items in 200 page agenda packs that gave interesting insights, or court documents that were public if you knew where to look.
Interesting, my concern at the Town Council being too secretive is shared by others. No fewer than five former councillors attended the meeting on 30th June to speak out against the plan to replace the Zoom and Facebook live feeds with a Teams session and then posting an edited version for people to look back through. All perfectly legal as the only rights you have for the public meeting and see it in full is to actually be there in the Council Chamber.
Because checking and publication takes time, and extra questions come up as a result, openness tends to hold things up and it's sometimes easier just to get on with things in "working groups" or "task and finish groups" or in party meetings where the nuisance can be avoided by having the discussion behind closed doors and then just bringing the result to council. In the right circumstances this works, overused it becomes abused.
Changing to another element of your comment:
You talked about "my valuable time" ... flattery, and a matter of opinion too. MTC has traditionally (IMHO) not valued volunteers - and that include councillors who are not paid (even expenses in most circumstances) as it should. There are exceptions but there are a lot who end up feeling 'used', disrespected and abandoned after putting in a great deal to help. Not as much as a "Thank you but we have moved on" or keeping people informed. But yet it's not a question of my time, but my ability to be effective and bring my knowledge and skills to the table.
I ran a business in Melksham, successfully, for two decades. We employed local residents - not many in number because those we took on stayed with us for a very long time. I taught / trained people on IT topics including the programming power behind the internet and were I to start name dropping you might be amazed at the number of big organisations - private and public - who sent delegates to us. We (that's I, Lisa and our staff) ran a hotel that was rated number 1 in Melksham on Trip Advisor - that takes some real customer support to achieve. And I helped in the campaigns to improve public transport in Melksham. And - foolish me - I thought that my experience of things like staffing, customer service, web sites and information access might be helpful. And I'm webmaster at an online social media forum with 1000 posts a month and connected sights and felt I could be helpful there.
I was disappointed - I have no problem doing the graft but I would have hoped and planned to have had some input at the council with staffing, with web site, and more. We ran the hotel, and yes I served breakfast, changed the rooms and cleaned the loos on my shifts - I know graft. Other councillors took on those roles and/or paid staff to do inefficient and controlling admin - yes - I WILL criticise them, not for their enthusiasm which excluded experience, but for not even listening. Volunteers who are capable of much more relegated to drudge tasks if used at all. I look at expenditure over my four years of between quarter and half a million pounds - conservative figures - and think that might have been saved "if only they had listened". Water under the bridge, though, and a danger in repeatedly bringing it up of "queering the pitch" for those who are new.
My time is, perhaps, not or no longer valuable. My emotional wellbeing is of value to me, as is making the most effective results for Melksham. I have utterly enjoyed the Neighbourhood Plan involvement where we have brought together real community views and skills, and where the public consultation sessions and the explaining online too have been a pleasure.
My conclusion:
I don't know if 10 people will write in and ask for an election in the South Ward; I have put the option out there to help people be informed of the opportunity. And if you do write in, I don't know whether I would stand. I do know that on past record, including recent past record, Melksham Town Council would be likely were it to be co-opting to only consider safe candidates (and, yes, we need them too) but I would be unlikely to be considered safe if I chose to put my name forward as available.
Here - for the record - two responses on Facebook to that. Things I would not say myself, but "thank you" to those who have done, in public. Added, 1.8.2025, 18:00
Lisa Ellis
Graham added a followup to his original blog that needs to be highlighted in case you hadn't found it: https://grahamellis.uk/blog1673.html#junction
Having been married to him for 27 years, I have gotten to know him rather well. To my frustration, he tends to be very modest about his accomplishments -- is the first to credit the team who've been a vital support and tends to leave out just how influential he's personally been in some of the things that are taken for granted nowadays.
But this additional text speaks more of his honest true feelings and shouldn't be ignored.
He's away for a few more days and it's difficult to have a discussion about a serious decision like whether he'd put himself up for Town Council again, even though we Messenger/chat every day during his time away. But he told me he wouldn't consider it unless he had at least a 95% backing from me.
And this is where I have to be honest. For the first 3.5 years he served on the council he was ignored primarily because he wasn't part of a party, a group, a clique. He was warned not to respond in public through social media, he was instructed to watch his moral compass, he was cautioned by a councillor to other councillors that he was "dangerous". Any proposals he made were ignored, but then when the same was raised by someone else, that other councillor was praised. He was wrongly accused of "leaking". He was accused of running meetings in his bedroom.
Do I want him to return to that? Do I want him to return to meetings that are no longer shared transparently on social media? Do I want to see him deflated after each and every council meeting? I have to take these things into account.
Graham is a good man. As honest and as moral as they come. He genuinely wants good for the community, even if it means it doesn't benefit him directly. He won't peacock about his accomplishments, but rather just get on with it. He gives freely of his time and responds to emails and tries to help. He shares pertinent information with the community. He works well with and respects the Town Council staff.
Damn right this makes him a great councillor!
It's just a shame the community does see it, but other councillors don't. So ask them why. I'd love to know the answers.
Donna Wood
Lisa Ellis well said Lisa. He truly is a selfless , kind and sharing man. He explains things to me the Joe public in simple terms that helps me ( and others understand). He is inclusive, thoughtful, i know i don't need to tell you that as his wife but it is totally apparent what kinda fella he is in his interactions with others. The council woukd be so much richer having him. I can understand though from your point of view and agree it is totally something you both have to agree on. Graham from my thoughts has always given 100%. You are both a lovely couple with passion for our town.
Published Thursday, 31st July 2025
Help strengthen your town council
HeadlineWe have a vacancy on Melksham Town Council and can vote for a new councillor if we ask for an election. It is my view that we should ask for such an election. This will help ensure the wider choice of a new councillor, and the transparecy and extra authority that councillor will have from a public vote. I have written in to request a vote and ask you to do the same in the next 10 days.
Detail
With the decision by Jon Hubbard to leave Melksham Town Council, we now have a vacancy in the South Ward. If 10 (or more) electors write in to ask for an election, one will be called - otherwise the 13 current councillors will have the opportunity to co-opt someone. The official notice is on display on the Town Hall door and online at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-councillor-vacancies.
I would love to see an election and I believe it would be in the best interests of Melksham to have a new councillor selected by the wider populace and not by the current councillors - only two of whom are there because of a public vote. Reasons:
* A Town or Parish Council is stronger for having a wide variety of members, and that is best achieved by having a wide electorate rather than selection by the incumbent group, which may not welcome views different to theirs or the searching questions of a newcomer.
* Two months ago, seven candidates put themselves forward for co-option, and only two of those were accepted; unlike at the time of the May elections, there are clearly people willing to volunteer for the role.
* The councillors with the most moral authority are those who were selected by a vote of the public and there are two of those as well. Those who were co-opted by a vote of councillors have some moral authority too, and there are two of those. The other 10 are good people for the most part, but (through no fault of their own) lack democratic authority. How better to improve the moral authority of the councillors as a whole by a public election.
If there were elections due in the next year, or even two, I would think "fair enough - go head and co-opt". But it's nearly four years to go, and I believe we will far a far better and stronger council if we add another elected councillor. I have written in to ask for a vote, in spite of the cost; it's an investment.
Here is the text of my letter should you wish to copy and paste. I belive it does need to be posted or hand delivered to Trowbridge - nothing as convenient as a Melksham drop off,
To: Lucy Townsend Returning Officer Electoral Services, Wiltshire Council County Hall Bythesea Road Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 8JN 20th July 2025 Dear Ms Townsend Notice of Vacancy - Town Councillor, Melksham South Ward I am an elector in Melksham South Ward and requesting you to call an election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Jon Hubbard, as per your notice of 18th July 2025 Yours sincerely [My name clearly printed] [My address to confirm that I really do live in the South Ward] |
I am not speculating as to who might stand - there were five people who wanted to be councillors a few weeks ago and were not co-opted, including several who had prior council experience. Some, perhaps, would not want to represent the South Ward, but then other candidates could come forward in the light of changes they see in the last few weeks.
Published Wednesday, 23rd July 2025