The end of the year is drawing to an end and this is normally a time to reflect and to look forward with hope for the year coming. However, this year was like no other and its repercussions for families and the economy will last for years. I am sure we all hope the vaccines will roll out quickly and prove successful so that we can get back to some normality during the course of 2021.
Tidworth Town Council had to cancel all of its community events this year due to COVID-19 but we did manage to fit a new event, a successful open air cinema. We hope we can do this again next year and we are also planning to hold the Tidworth Town Festival in July – let’s keep our fingers crossed that we can go ahead! Our Christmas tree and lights are up and look great. The tree will be a listening tree this year where we have worked with schools and nurseries for the children to write what they have done this year or what they hope to do next year. We also hope to have a surprise during December for the children, so keep an eye out for posts on social media from the Town Council and its Councillors!
There will be a public consultation on the Civic Centre and Community Policing Team hub in December – all socially distanced of course! Letters will be delivered to near neighbours, plus the Town Council’s website and social media will publicise the consultation on 14 and 15 December. Zoom calls will be arranged for 16 and 17 December in which the architect will run through the plans and seek comments from those taking part.
We hope to have boards in a prominent location in the town showing the plans and details of how to make any comments. The Headteacher of Clarendon Primary and Infants schools and Aster as local neighbours are also being consulted with.
I hope you are as excited as we are about the project. We are building a facility, not only for you now but for the future of Tidworth. We have grown significantly in recent years and the community centre is no longer viable in terms of its age and usage for town and its residents. We need a modern and flexible building that can cater for voluntary and commercial organisations, and of course, all of us residents. We are intending to submit the planning application to Wiltshire Council by the end of January.
Mark Connolly
Mayor and Wiltshire Councillor
For Tidworth