Southern Wiltshire
Southern Wiltshire Area Joint Strategic Priorities
Southern Wiltshire Area Joint Strategic Assessment
Cllr Richard Briton
Chair of Southern Wiltshire 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.
Southern Wiltshire
Southern Wiltshire Community Area sits in the south east corner of Wiltshire where the chalk of the Salisbury Plain dips down to form the Hampshire Basin. The chalk downland scenery extends from Coombe Bissett east to Pepperbox Hill. The northerly part of the New Forest reaches into the community area to the south, with parts of Landford, Redlynch and Whiteparish in the New Forest National Park Area. East Winterslow offers the highest point at 162 metres.
The community area has 19 Sites of Specific Scientific Interest, including the River Avon valley which cuts south dividing the community area east from west. The wide flood plain offers a rich habitat for wildlife.
The area’s heritage is significant, with nationally famous Longford castle and the remains of Clarendon Palace found in the community area.
Major roads radiate from Salisbury, the A30 northeast to Andover, the A36 southeast to Southampton and A338 towards Bournemouth. The Hampshire towns of Fordingbridge, Ringwood and Romsey all add services for the rural population, with Salisbury remaining the main focus.
Our Community Area JSA for 2016
What we’ve changed since 2013/14
Children and Young People
To increase support for children and young people there has been development of voluntary led youth clubs across Winterslow, Whiteparish, Lover, Old Sarum, West Dean and play parks at Landford, Nomansland and West Dean have also been upgraded to improve facilities for children. Through a programme of procurement, funded by the Area Board, youth clubs are receiving regular sports, arts and cooking workshops.
Community Safety
To improve partnership working to inform, protect and support elderly and vulnerable people there has been active police participation at every area board meeting and local defibrillators have been made available.
Culture
To increase and promote community events local grant funding has been provided to drama, music and community groups. There was been good local engagement and involvement in the Magna Carta event, Clean for the Queen and 90th birthday events and an arts provider has been recruited to work with young people.
Economy
To maintain local services the area board provided funding towards the Lover School project group who are turning a disused school in village into a community hub.
Environment and Leisure
A volunteer-led footpath project was developed to improve paths and access and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. As a result over 60 kissing gates have been installed across the area, amounting to well over 600 volunteer hours. There has been continuing support for this group and investment in a volunteer coordinator. The area board has also invested in sport’s projects and play equipment.
Health & Wellbeing
To raise awareness of dementia the area board committed to train over 100 dementia friends and work with parishes and community groups to set up local steering groups and projects. A local toolkit is has been developed for parishes and community groups to set up their own dementia projects and local Health and Well-being groups. Downton’s H&WB group have set up Safe Places off of the back of this work.
Cllr Richard Briton
Chair of Southern Wiltshire 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 Southern Wiltshire Joint Strategic Assessment via the button below
To find out how Southern Wiltshire 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 Southern Wiltshire Your Community Data pack (click here to view the PDF)
Download the Southern Wiltshire Community Area Joint Strategic Priorities via the button below
At a Community Event in Southern Wiltshire, 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 Southern Wiltshire Community Area.