Malmesbury
Malmesbury Area Joint Strategic Priorities
Malmesbury Area Joint Strategic Assessment
Cllr John Thompson
Chair of Malmesbury 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.
Malmesbury
Malmesbury Community Area covers 245km2 of mainly rural countryside in the north-west of Wiltshire. It is dominated by one major settlement, the ancient market town of Malmesbury.
Malmesbury as a town sits on an easily defended hill in a bend of the River Avon and can trace its civic status back to the days of King Alfred who is reported to have granted a charter for the town as early as 880. The town is characteristic of many market towns in Wiltshire which had their heyday during the 16th century with the booming woollen trade.
The surrounding area is one of small villages and farms and is very rural in nature. There are 20 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.
Today Malmesbury is a popular commuter town with easy access to Bristol, Bath, Swindon and Gloucester. Although the town provides a range of shops and facilities, the nearby towns of Chippenham and Cirencester provide local alternatives. Swindon with its large retail centre is only 35 minutes away by car.
Our Community Area JSA for 2016
What we’ve changed since 2013/14
Children and Young People
Local Youth Network (LYN) funded youth workers are delivering weekly sessions in Malmesbury and there are plans for provision in Oaksey. Mindrest workshops are improving mental health support for young people, while the area board has supported Malmesbury Scouts, Malmesbury preschool and Brinkworth recreation facilities and play park facilities in Oaksey, Sherston, Brinkworth and Dauntsey.
The LYN has also funded teen sports sessions running in every parish for the summer of 2016, culminating in a community sports day held in Malmesbury. The Network is continuing to fund a wide range of activities for young people including social, cultural, sports and wellbeing based projects.
Community Safety
People from across local parishes attended an emergency planning workshop and a local resilience plan has been developed in most parishes. The area was also a pilot for police community messaging.
Safe Places, In Case of Emergency cards, local dementia training and the health & wellbeing champion are providing community support for older and vulnerable people. A campaign was launched called ‘Know Your Neighbour’ which encourages residents to make connections with their neighbours and offer help and support in times of need.
There is now a ‘one stop shop’ advice and information drop-in at Malmesbury Library twice a month, attended by the Police, the health & wellbeing champion, health trainers, Alzheimer’s Society, Citizen’s Advice, and the warm and safe team.
Culture
The Health and Wellbeing Centre programme discussions have focused on increasing access to local events for those in rural communities who are socially isolated and the Community Area Partnership is working to engage the wider community in an activities and arts programmes.
Area board funding has supported local drama workshops, support to the local museum, and improvements to village hall facilities to ensure rural areas can continue to provide safe spaces for the community to come together.
Economy
The Malmesbury Town Team group was formed to enhance the town’s economy by supporting local businesses, implementing a town guide and a weekly farmers’ market. To encourage visitors and shoppers to visit Malmesbury two hours’ free parking has been introduced in the Station Road car park.
Environment and housing
The community wanted to ensure high environmental standards in new housing developments and surrounding green spaces. The Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan has now been approved at referendum reflecting local views and needs. Greensquare housing association has a presence in the community hub and provides housing advice and general support. Local housing providers are work closely with community representatives.
Health & Wellbeing
A Health Fair held in 2015 promoted better health and wellbeing and gave people the chance to attend a dementia awareness session. Thirty dementia friends were then signed up, local businesses encouraged to train staff and the town council started supporting monthly teas for carers and those with dementia.
The Big Get Together event was held at The Activity Zone in July 2016. Seventy local groups and organisations showcased what they had to offer, with free demonstrations and taster sessions. Over 200 people attended the event.
Smoke free signage is making play parks healthier and a food bank has been set up by the United Reform church with the Trussell Trust.
Leisure
The ‘Fun in the Sun’ initiative will again saw a rural sports outreach programme delivered during the 2016 summer holidays in Sherston, Crudwell and Minety. Fun in the Sun is delivered by Wiltshire Council in partnership with Wiltshire Cricket and the Bath Rugby Foundation providing free fun sports and games for 90 minutes per week for children aged 5 to 11.
The Our Community Matters website promotes local walking group activities and the area board funded Cowbridge Steering Group to help provide a safe, accessible walking route from the outskirts of Malmesbury into town.
Transport
An active and effective Community Area Transport Group (CATG) is run in Malmesbury and a Community Speedwatch (CSW) is in operation at 11 sites in 10 parishes. Working in partnership with Neighbourhood Policing Teams, CSW has set quarterly road safety and speeding priorities. 28 CATG issues were resolved in a year and CATG continues to invest in improving local road safety.
There are two very active LINK Schemes with over 80 volunteer drivers between them, and Malmesbury & District Community Transport whom operate daily transport for elderly residents. There is also the Cartmell Minibus available to hire for community use.
Community
The local community is working together to encourage more people to volunteer and community reporters are being trained. Our Community Matters helps event promotion and local news, reaching 620 people every week.
Malmesbury communities have come together to provide a wide range of events for residents, from community clean ups to street parties. People in the community have enjoyed Crudwell’s strawberry fair, Malmesbury Carnival and St Athelstan Fayre as well as more regular events like the local markets, lunch clubs, coffee mornings and community trips.
Cllr John Thompson
Chair of Malmesbury 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 Malmesbury Community Area Joint Strategic Assessment via the button below
To find out how Malmesbury 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 Malmesbury Your Community Data pack (click here to view the PDF)
Download the Malmesbury Community Area Joint Strategic Priorities via the button below
At a Community Event in Malmesbury, 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 Malmesbury Community Area.