Chippenham
Chippenham Area Joint Strategic Priorities
Chippenham Area Joint Strategic Assessment
Cllr Howard Greenman
Chair of Chippenham Area Board
Since the last Community Area Joint Strategic Assessments (CA JSAs), we have worked to improve outcomes for our communities and there are many examples of great locally led projects that have made our community area a better place to live, work and visit. Through the Area Boards there is a growing level of community involvement in decision making and the information presented here will allow us to go further to ensuring that we focus on creating healthy and vibrant communities. As well as the challenges we face there are many opportunities for us to make our community stronger.
This new assessment allows us both to focus on the future and to reflect on all we have already achieved.
Chippenham
Chippenham Community Area covers 159km2 of countryside in the north west of Wiltshire. In terms of population, it is the largest community area in Wiltshire. It is dominated by the one major settlement, the historic market town of Chippenham.
The river Avon flows southwards in its broad valley through the claylands along the eastern edge of the Chippenham Community Area, and Chippenham itself was established in one of the river’s main meanders. The area surrounding Chippenham is one of small villages and farms and is very rural in nature. There are 16 parishes across the community area and no other towns. The countryside and its villages have many buildings built of the local limestone which gives the area its Cotswold character.
The population of the town has doubled since the 1960s, and is now the largest town in Wiltshire. Castle Combe, historically speaking, is an industrial medieval town, but its modern accolade of ‘the prettiest village in England’ has meant it is a tourist attraction. Elsewhere Sutton Benger, Christian Malford and Kington St Michael are medium sized villages with essential facilities. Although the town of Chippenham provides a range of shops and facilities, the nearby settlements of Bath, Bristol and Swindon provide local alternatives.
Our Community Area JSA for 2016
What we’ve changed since 2013/14
Children and Young People
Activities offered to children and young people in Chippenham include a ropes course, a youth café, parkour, canoeing taster sessions, a summer park programme and a girls group.
Riverbank Studios state of the art recording & rehearsal facilities available for bands and musicians aged 13-19, open Monday to Thursday, from 18:00-21:30.
Riverbank is committed to providing young musicians with an alternative to the ever-increasing rates of recording studios and rehearsal rooms.
A street dance group, world music workshops, mountain biking courses and outdoor youth groups also provided opportunities for young people to engage in positive, creative activities and a photography competition has taken place.
Community Safety
In 2013 the community agreed to try to improve communication and partnership working to reduce crime and associated anti-social behaviour (ASB). A mobile CCTV vehicle funded by the area board is now deployed and Chippenham has been awarded Purple Flag Status to mark high standard and safety of the town at night.
A No Cold Calling Zone was introduced and funded by the area board and well received by local residents. A Safe Places Scheme launched in 2015 and the In Case of Emergency Card (ICE) project launched in 2016. People can present the card when they use a Safe Place to get the support they need. A Safer & Supportive Communities (SASC) Group has now been formed and launched a project to form a Dementia Action Alliance for Chippenham.
Dedicated volunteers from Chippenham Street Pastors and St John’s Ambulance worked with the South West Ambulance Service to run a Helpzone on New Year’s Eve. For a second year in a row they helped keep people who are out for the evening safe. The scheme aims to reduce the number of people presenting to accident and emergency departments.
Culture and Environment
Local people worked together to make greater use of outside community spaces including the riverside area. Outdoor events included Dragonboats Racing, the ChippFest festival, Family Fun Daysand a community arts festival. Clean for the Queen events and youth activities also helped to get people outdoors and enjoying their local spaces. Facilities were improved at Chippenham Sailing and Canoeing Club and a skatepark project was submitted for planning permission.
The Ivy Partnership has created a community garden and carried out community clean up days. This communal green space provides a safe fenced off and clean play area for children on the estate who may live in flats with no gardens.
Economy
The agreed priority was to promote the town as an employment and retail centre and a business location of choice. By obtaining Business Improvement District (BID) status Chippenham town centre is now working together to invest in the community and enhance the trading environment. The town gaining Purple Flag Status and introducing the Safe Places Scheme has been positively covered in local media and helped to promote the town to a wider audience.
Health & Wellbeing
Two Older Peoples Champions have been appointed and a Health & Wellbeing Group has been formed to help improve local outcomes.
An event called the Big Get Together took place in October 2016, arranged by the champions in partnership with Age UK. The event was aimed at those over 55 and promoted local clubs and organisations, presented ideas for volunteering, fitness activities and social groups. The event provided information about local opportunities and attendees were invited to make suggestions regarding local opportunities they feel would benefit the area.
Leisure
The community wanted to improve sport and leisure facilities in Chippenham and area board funding has been helping to support local sports clubs and to run activities, including Moonraker Gymnastics, Christian Malford Cricket Club, Sutton Benger Rugby Club, the Sailing and Canoeing Club and Chippenham Games.
Community
A Community Area Transport Group (CATG), a Safer and Supportive Communities Group, a Health and Social Care Group, an Older People’s Forum, a Health and Wellbeing Group, Streetpastors, the Local Youth Network, Chippenham Children's and Youth Parliament, and an Arts, Culture and Events Group are all helping to improve engagement in local decision making.
Cllr Howard Greenman
Chair of Chippenham Area Board
Since the last Community Area Joint Strategic Assessments (CA JSAs), we have worked to improve outcomes for our communities and there are many examples of great locally led projects that have made our community area a better place to live, work and visit. Through the Area Boards there is a growing level of community involvement in decision making and the information presented here will allow us to go further to ensuring that we focus on creating healthy and vibrant communities. As well as the challenges we face there are many opportunities for us to make our community stronger.
This new assessment allows us both to focus on the future and to reflect on all we have already achieved.
Download the Chippenham Community Area Joint Strategic Assessment via the button below
To find out how Chippenham Community Area compares to other Community Areas on a specific theme please visit the relevant Key indicator page.
Additional population, deprivation and life expectancy data can be found in the Chippenham Your Community Data pack (click here to view the PDF).
Download the Chippenham Community Area Joint Strategic Priorities via the button below
At a Community Event in Chippenham, residents voted on which issues to prioritise locally. The full range of issues that could be voted on, as well as those selected as local priorities can be found on a summary slide, accessed by the button below. The items shown in red are those that have been selected by the local community as priorities in Chippenham Community Area.