Devizes
Devizes Area Joint Strategic Priorities
Devizes Area Joint Strategic Assessment
Cllr Simon Jacobs
Chair of Devizes 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.
Devizes
Devizes Community Area covers 18 parishes of mainly rural countryside in the middle of Wiltshire. The major settlement is the market town of Devizes. Although some of the villages surrounding it, such as the Lavingtons, are large enough to have their own secondary school and shops most of the area is rural, made up of small villages and farms.
Devizes has a thriving centre and is the main administrative centre for the Wiltshire Constabulary. The town itself has undergone some improvements around the market place to attract a growing number of visitors and distinctive shopping centre. The weekly market on Thursdays is a popular attraction and the Avon and Kennet canal cuts through the community area and has become a focal point for visitors.
Devizes has seen a lot of new housing in recent years and the town is within commuting distance of Chippenham, Bath, Salisbury and Swindon.
Our Community Area JSA for 2016
What we’ve changed since 2013/14
Children and Young People
The Local Youth Network has been a success in Devizes with lots of projects being supported to create opportunities for young people. Projects include a young person’s art competition and an opportunity for young people in Devizes to produce audio content and broadcast via their own popular podcast.
Community Safety
A well-attended community resilience workshop brought together most of the parishes and local agencies and work is underway to create a local resilience plan. Devizes has also established a Safe Places delivery group to provide places around the community area where vulnerable people who are disorientated or distressed can go and be helped when necessary.
Culture
Local people wanted to improve links between arts, culture, tourism and business need. The Area Board has supported the Devizes Eistedfodd, a local performing arts festival in which 500 children participated in 2015 (pictured). The area has also continued to support Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts and deliver events such as the Christmas Lantern Parade, the Devizes Food Festival and to support events held by other organisations such as the Wiltshire Museum.
Economy
Building upon the success of retail health and encouraging greater community participation from larger retailers was a community priority. Work has been done to improve communications with the local business community through the Chamber of Commerce and there are plans to get the business community involved in delivering the Safe Places project as well as helping to work towards Devizes becoming a Dementia Friendly community.
Environment
The community aimed to promote and, where possible enforce, carbon neutral development. The Area Board has supported key projects such as the Caen Hill Countryside Centre (pictured) through the Community Area Grants Scheme and there is support for the idea of Devizes Country Park.
Health & Wellbeing
Local people were concerned about access to health services in a rural area. The Area Board members have supported the planning stages behind a local urgent care centre which will be built in the town and CCG colleagues were invited to present at the Area Board meeting in January to inform local residents about the plans.
Dementia Friends sessions are now taking place throughout the community area and a steering group to coordinate achieving Dementia Friendly Community status is in its infancy. A Devizes Health and Wellbeing group has been set up, including an Older Person's and Carer's Champion, and had an inaugural meeting.
Leisure and Community
It was agreed that improving access to local services and activities should be a priority. The Area Board supported local sports clubs through the Community Area Grant Scheme, including cricket clubs, canoeing clubs and the Devizes Sports Club, which is home to rugby, cricket, tennis clubs. A local Boccia Club provides activities for people with disabilities.
Transport
The canal towpath has been re-laid supported by the Devizes Air Quality Group. This has been very well received by the local community and initial anecdotal evidence suggests it is being well used. Several other projects are planned including work to combat air quality ‘hot spots’.
Cllr Simon Jacobs
Chair of Devizes 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 Devizes Community Area Joint Strategic Assessment via the button below
To find out how Devizes 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 Devizes Your Community Data pack (click here to view the PDF)
Download the Devizes Community Area Joint Strategic Priorities via the button below
At a Community Event in Devizes, 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 Devizes Community Area.