The creation of a new City Council for Salisbury is one step closer.  The item will be fully discussed on Tuesday 21st October at the City Area Committee at 6pm, in the City Hall.  The discussion will include what assets will be transferred to the new authority and its council tax base.  Residents are very welcome to attend the meeting.

For further details, please click here for the reports and the Agenda: http://www.salisbury.gov.uk/council/committees/city-area-community-committee/meeting.htm?date=2008-10-21

The annual October Charter Fair returns to the Market Square on October 20th for the 781st time, but is with us for four days this year.

The Charter Fair, one of the oldest in the Country still held in a City Centre, was granted in 1227 to the Bishop of Salisbury by King Henry III.  The Charter granted permission that a Fair will be held on the third Monday of each October for three days.  The same Charter also granted the City permission to hold a Market each Tuesday, which still applies today.

2008 sees the Fair here for an extra day.  Salisbury District Council applied for and granted this as a “Thank you” to the Showmen.  The Council oversees the smooth running of the Fair and has done so since its inception in 1974.  This task will be the responsibility of the new City Council, when it is set up in April next year.

The Fair was originally held in the Cathedral Close, but was also held in Salt Lane during WWII.  It is now held of course in the Market Square and has been for many years.

John Craven, of BBC1 Countryfile (i remember him in Newsround!), has been in Salisbury.  The show to be screened on 12th October, will feature (i’m advised!):

• The Great Bustard – around Stonehenge
• Salisbury Cathedral, celebrating 750 years
• Harnham Water Meadows!

Set the Video!

The last ever state of the District debate takes place this evening at 6pm in the City Hall.  Residents are very welcome to attend.

Councillors are able to speak about problems in their own wards at this meeting.

Salisbury District Council is abolished on 1st April next year and will be replaced by a Trowbridge-based Unitary council, covering the whole of Wiltshire.

Please use the straw poll on the LHS of the website.

All Residents are welcome to the Harnham Neighbourhood Association AGM on Wednesday 24th September.  For details please click:  http://www.southwilts.com/site/Harnham-Neighbourhood-Association/index.htm

An interesting law about to come into force.  Please click for further information:  http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pavingfrontgardens

Well I have just returned from four nice days in sunny Bournemouth at our annual conference, where I had a long chat with a member of the Boundary Committee about the Harnham Boundary issue.  They had a stand there at the exhibition stands. 

I was advised that their team had in fact visited Harnham after the public consultation ended, due to the volume of objections received!  As they are still finalising their report, this was all that the gentleman alluded to, which i thought was quite ecouraging!  I also pointed out to him (as i did in my objection letter) that one of the proposed “Draft” divisions in the City was above their permitted criteria.  

They are to make their “Final Recommendations” public on October 31st, so please look at their website for an update then.

A big thank you to all Harnham and non-Harnham Residents that turned out at the very informative meeting at the Rose & Crown.  The only hitch to the meeting was the Fire Alarm going off during our meeting! 

Thankfully this was only a false alarm, but the Fire Brigade did arrive very quickly.

Please do get your comment forms into the Council during this public consultation period.  We are your voice for Harnham and can then argue your points later.

THe last date to which Residents can object to the ludicrous WCC Boundary proposal for Harnham is 25th August. 

This date is fast approaching, so get yours in now!