The prospects for local Broadband throughout the Dun Valley.

Robert Key M.P. initiated a presentation about Broadband in Salisbury Guildhall on Friday, 31st October. Those attending learnt that although a large amount of public money is being invested in the UK to encourage the take-up of Broadband, less than 7% of those who have access are currently making use of it. A survey in 2002 revealed that the French Government was spending five times more public money than the UK.

The UK Government's policy is that competitive forces will deliver broadband for Britain from over 300 Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Prices in the UK are amongst the cheapest in the world.

Apart from the speed, the other main advantage of Broadband is the ability to use the same telephone line to talk and browse the Internet simultaneously. It is anticipated that eventually 90% of the UK will be within reach of a Broadband enabled telephone exchange and the remaining 10% will depend on Wireless and/or Satellite technology.

Log on to www.Community-Web.co.uk for the latest news of Broadband availability in the Dun Valley and phone Richard Parsons on 01794 341405 to record your interest in improved communication services throughout the Dun Valley.

Parish Council Meetings

The next meeting of Grimstead Parish Council is scheduled for Monday, 1st December in West Grimstead Village Hall. The Agenda will be posted on the notice boards and at www.sp5.org/gpc no later than 27th November.

The next meeting of West Dean Parish Council is scheduled for Tuesday, 2nd December in King George's Hall. The Agenda will be posted on the notice boards and at www.sp5.org/wdpc no later than 28th November.

The following article was prepared for publication in the November 2003 edition of the Dun Valley News.

Broadband...! What's all the fuss about?

Robert Key M.P. invites YOU to find out........
On Friday, 31st October, 10:00 - 12:00 in the Salisbury Guildhall

Broadband has the potential for improving all channels of communication. In rural areas Wireless Broadband can deliver a similar level of connectivity to that achievable in urban areas. The Dun Valley could easily be serviced by a microwave link between the Dean Hill MoD mast and the centre of Southampton. Installation could be effected within three months of a decision to proceed.

Why is broadband so important? Because it dramatically increases the speed at which digital data can be transmitted, making sound and visual images comparable in quality to television broadcasting.

Telephony over the Internet becomes a practical alternative to mobile phone technology. Those who have experienced a Broadband connection will be reluctant to return to the old analogue phone line. And yet take up has been disappointing. A BT source has implied that, although 80% of the UK that has been enabled for Broadband, less than 10% of those enabled are actually subscribing to this relatively new technology. BT is regularly criticised for being unprepared to enable rural exchanges unless there is proven demand.

The Lockerley exchange is expected to be enabled in December and Alderbury is due in January but neither Whiteparish nor Winterslow have been considered by BT to have a large enough number of potential users to make broadband a viable proposition. Are there actually enough people anywhere in this area that are sufficiently dissatisfied with their ability to communicate with existing services to join the small number of determined enthusiasts in their quest?

No doubt the turnout at Robert Key's meeting on 31st October will reveal the extent of the numbers requiring upgraded communication services in this area. Telephone 01722 323050 for details.

Log on to www.Community-Web.co.uk for the latest news of Broadband availability in the Dun Valley and phone Richard Parsons on 01794 341405 to record your interest in improved communication services throughout the Dun Valley.

The following article was prepared for publication in the September 2003 edition of the Dun Valley News.

Communications throughout the Dun Valley

There is considerable debate about poor communications throughout the Dun Valley. Reception for mobile telephones is abysmal and broadband Internet access by fixed landline is unlikely to ever reach remote areas. On 27th July the Communication Act 2003 received Royal Assent and this sets out the framework that should lead to improved communications for all. Particularly significant for us in the Dun Valley was the Government auction of the 3.4 GHz licence that concluded in June. See www.PublicHub.com for details of the potential to Dun Valley residents that this frequency has to offer.

South Wiltshire Business Expo 2003

South Wiltshire is gearing itself up for the Business Expo 2003 event in the City Hall on 10th September. The ten-week marketing campaign in the Salisbury Journal and on Spire FM is underway and the signs are that this will be an event not to be missed.
Expect to see a Webpage at www.sp5.org/expo in the not too distant future that will contain information relevant to the Dun Valley.

Grimstead Parish Council

The next meeting of Grimstead Parish Council is scheduled for Monday, 15th September in West Grimstead Village Hall. The Agenda will be posted on the Village notice boards and at www.sp5.org/gpc no later than 11th September.

West Dean Parish Council

The next meeting of West Dean Parish Council is scheduled for Tuesday, 9th September in King George's Hall. The Agenda will be posted on the Village notice board and at www.sp5.org/wdpc no later than 5th September.

The following article was prepared for publication in the June 2003 edition of the Dun Valley News.

The Parish Meeting

Under the Local Government Act 1972, every English Parish must have an Annual Parish meeting between 1st March and 1st June. Six local government electors for the area, giving seven days notice, can call a Parish meeting at any time. A Parish meeting may, by law, discuss all parish affairs and pass resolutions about them. In most cases, a resolution so passed is persuasive only and may be legally disregarded by the Parish Council.
The Annual Parish meeting could be the opportunity for the whole community to inform residents of all that is going on in the area and could become the focal point of the year in a thriving community.
The West Dean Annual Parish meeting is on 27th May and readers may be able to find out what, if any, resolutions were passed by logging on to www.sp5.org/apm

West Dean Village Fête on Saturday 14th June

WANTED: Home-made and home-grown produce - Jam, Honey, Preserves, Fruit, Vegetables, Cut Flowers, Bread, Biscuits, Pies, etc.

Will collect on the morning of the Fête OR please leave at Heron Cottage on the day. Please contact Gill Parsons on 01794 341405 or Marlene Trott on 01722 712685. Thank you for your help.

Parish Council Meetings

The next meeting of Grimstead Parish Council is scheduled for Monday, 23rd June in West Grimstead Village Hall. The Agenda will be posted on the notice boards and at www.sp5.org/gpc no later than 19th June.

The next meeting of West Dean Parish Council is scheduled for Tuesday, 1st July in King George's Hall. The Agenda will be posted on the notice boards and at www.sp5.org/wdpc no later than 27th June.

The following article was prepared for publication in the March 2003 edition of Horizon, the Parish Magazine for Bramshaw and Landford with Plaitford Churches.

The Parish of Landford in the County of Wiltshire

I've acted as the Landford Parish Council Clerk since September 2002. The retiring Clerk had run a 'tight ship' for over seven years and one of the legacies is a 25 year loan taken from the Public Works Loan Board to fund the provision of facilities on the recreation ground. Wiltshire Football Association is keen to encourage this team sport and has pledged support for future development including a grant towards new goalposts.
Compared to other tiers of Local Government, Parish and Town Councils have wide ranging powers but few obligations. Members, who must be over 21, are elected from the local community for a four year term and are required to attend at least one PC meeting every six months.
The Internet and Information Technology is becoming a vital element for dealing with the day to day mechanism for resolving local issues. An increasing amount of Central Government information needs to be reviewed for relevancy and the local planning office will soon have all planning applications online. The next four years will be challenging and interesting for those who win the popular vote from their communities. Above all, a Parish Council thrives on voluntary service and its principle role is to act as a catalyst for community development. Created by Gladstone's reforming Government through the LG Act of 1894, they ended the Church's formal participation in Local Government and although not popular at first, have, over the years had their powers increased by various Acts of Parliament. Much of the reorganisation leading to the LG Act of 1972 is still pertinent today.

As Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Barry Bennett will chair a Parish Meeting at 6:00pm on Wednesday, 12th March to discuss the Drainage Problems at Beech Grange. The Regional Sewerage Engineer for Southern Water will make a presentation and hopefully provide answers to questions raised. The Annual Parish meeting will follow at about 7:00pm for the presentation of Parish Council Reports and to encourage discussion about any other Parish matter. The evening will conclude with what will probably be the final Parish Council meeting of the present administration.

Candidates for the Local Government elections on May 1st must submit nominations to SDC by midday on 1st April.

Details from the Parish Council Clerk, Tel: 01794 341405 and details of meetings etc. at: www.sp5.org/lpc

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