Communities, recreation and culture
Culture, heritage and leisure are embedded in our daily lives and play a vital role in supporting good mental and physical wellbeing. These sectors play a hugely beneficial role within our local communities as they provide significant opportunities for recreation, learning, physical activity and social connection.
This section of the Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment provides information on the number of cultural venues in Wiltshire, on engagement with libraries and the activities they offer, as well as on our vital green spaces, leisure facilities and assets of community value. It also provides information on section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.
The CAJSNA information is primarily shown in interactive charts. These allow the user to hover over them and show extra detail within a tooltip, as well as the ability to remove indicators by deselecting them from the legend.
Number of libraries, museums and other cultural venues
Cultural sectors such as the arts, heritage and leisure are key to supporting good mental and physical wellbeing. They provide vital opportunities for diverse communities to come together and share unique experiences that build community identity. They also contribute to significantly to the local economy and provide life-long learning opportunities.
Wiltshire has a wealth of cultural assets that nurture creativity, learning and community cohesion.
The below table shows the number of libraries, museums and other cultural venues in Wiltshire's community areas, current as at November 2023.
Definition: The number of libraries, museums and other cultural venues by Wiltshire community area as at November 2023.
Libraries are Wiltshire Council libraries. Museums include accredited and non accredited museums, heritage centres and historic houses that hold collections. Cultural venues include theatres, arts venues (including arts centres), galleries, music studios, civic centres, town halls, community centres and village halls, arts trails and outdoor festivals.
Data source and time period: Heritage Services, Wiltshire Council. November 2023.
Persons with a Wiltshire Council library membership
Anyone of any age can join a library and membership is free. Library membership cards can be used at any Wiltshire Council library (including mobile libraries) to borrow books (including audio books), use library computers and also access a wealth of other online resources.
In 2022/23, approximately a quarter of the population of Wiltshire were members of a library. The chart below shows the proportion of persons who were members of a library by Wiltshire community area in 2022/23.
Definition: The percentage of the population with a Wiltshire Council library membership by community area in 2022/23 (using ONS 2021 Census population figures).
This data includes persons with library cards that are used to borrow books and other available resources and/or use public IT resources in a Wiltshire Council library. It does not include memberships of mobile libraries (of which there were the region of a further 2,500 in 2022/23). Other library services can also be accessed without the need for membership.
Data source and time period: Library Services, Wiltshire Council. 2022/23.
Persons with a Wiltshire Council library membership by age band
Anyone of any age can join a library and membership is free. Library membership cards can be used at any Wiltshire Council library (including mobile libraries) to borrow books (including audio books), use library computers and scanners, and also access a wealth of other online resources including ebooks.
The chart below shows a breakdown, by age band, of the proportions of Wiltshire's community area populations that had Wiltshire Council library memberships in 2022/23. Across the county during this time, the largest proportions of memberships were in 0-14 year olds (37.7%), 25-44 year olds (28.3%) and persons aged 65 years and over (21.4%).
Definition: The percentage of the population with a Wiltshire Council library membership by aggregated age band and community area in 2022/23 (using ONS 2021 Census population figures).
This data includes persons with library cards that are used to borrow books and other available resources and/or use public IT resources in a Wiltshire Council library. It does not include memberships of mobile libraries (of which there were in the region of a further 2,500 in 2022/23). Other library services can also be accessed without the need for membership.
Data source and time period: Library Services, Wiltshire Council. 2022/23.
Community support sessions and events hosted at Wiltshire Council libraries
Libraries are not solely repositories for borrowing books. They are important community hubs that can foster social connection, support good health and wellbeing, provide access to new cultural experiences and provide a warm, safe, space to access a wealth of help and advice. Wiltshire Council libraries are no exception.
Libraries across the county are host to a number of community activities including health and wellbeing and cultural events as well as digital support sessions.
Examples of health and wellbeing events include drop-in or support sessions relating to specific topics such as hearing and vision, caring, health improvement and other initiatives such as warm spaces activities.
Cultural events encompass rhyme and story times for children and young people, (shared) reading groups, talks and various other cultural performances.
Digital support sessions, meanwhile, are free sessions provided by library staff and volunteers for anyone wishing to improve their IT skills.
The chart below shows the number of health and wellbeing events, cultural events and digital support sessions hosted at Wiltshire Council libraries by Wiltshire community area in 2022/23.
Definition: The number of health and wellbeing events, cultural events and digital support sessions hosted at Wiltshire Council libraries by Wiltshire community area in 2022/23.
Health and wellbeing events include baby clinics, celebrating age events and health drop-in/support sessions relating to hearing and vision, Alzheimer's, carers, public health and health improvement as well as warm spaces activities (including the provision of energy advice)
Cultural events include rhyme and story times for children and young people, (shared) reading groups, talks and various theatre, arts or music performance events.
Digital support sessions are free sessions provided by library staff and volunteers for anyone wishing to improve their IT skills and learn more about using smart phones, tablets, laptops as well as library computers.
Data source and time period: Library Services, Wiltshire Council. 2022/23.
Stops made by Wiltshire Council mobile library services
In addition to Wiltshire's library buildings, Wiltshire Council also has two mobile libraries that serve residents living in rural areas where it may be more difficult to access a branch library. This service helps to improve accessibility as well as social connection and operates six days a week (Monday - Saturday). The mobile libraries stop on a four weekly timetable in both the north and south of the county.
As well as providing books, the service also offers literacy support and reading sessions to help relieve stress and anxiety. It also provides support to access help and advice, including signposting to other relevant Council services.
The homes mobile library is another initiative that provides access to library services to persons living in care homes and sheltered accommodation across Wiltshire. Not only does this serve to provide resources, help and advice but it also helps to further foster community engagement and bolster social contact.
The chart below shows the number of stops made by the Wiltshire Council mobile library and homes mobile library services across Wiltshire's community areas in 2022/23.
Definition: The number of stops made by the Wiltshire Council mobile library and homes mobile library services across Wiltshire's community areas in 2022/23.
Data source and time period: Library Services, Wiltshire Council. 2022/23.
Open green spaces
Having access to green spaces is vital to our physical and mental wellbeing as they offer a wide range of health benefits including increased opportunities for physical activity, social interaction and stress reduction. They also help to mitigate air pollution, heat and noise levels as well as provide an impetus for increased environmental awareness and learning.
The significance of green spaces was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic where going for a refreshing walk in natural surroundings proved to be beneficial for many.
The chart below shows the number of open green spaces in Wiltshire's community areas. These cover a range of green spaces in urban and rural areas including sporting areas, public parks and gardens, playing fields and play spaces, religious grounds and cemeteries as well as allotments and community growing spaces.
Definition: The number of open green spaces in Wiltshire's community areas, including sporting areas, public parks and gardens, playing fields and play spaces, religious grounds and cemeteries as well as allotments and community growing spaces.
Data source and time period: Ordnance Survey, OS Open Greenspace | OS Data downloads | OS Data Hub. August 2023.
Visits to Wiltshire Council owned leisure facilities
There were almost 1,618,000 visits to a Wiltshire Council owned leisure centre during 2022/23. The greatest proportion of visits over this time were to facilities in Salisbury community area, accounting for 15% of total visits, followed by Corsham, at 11%.
This data relates to visits to leisure facilities that are owned by Wiltshire Council only. It does not include data relating to 'community managed' leisure facilities in Southern Wiltshire community area (Downtown Leisure Centre) and Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade community area (Cricklade Leisure Centre). Community managed leisure facilities provide a service to Wiltshire residents but are not owned or managed by Wiltshire Council.
Definition: The number of visits to Wiltshire Council owned leisure facilities including leisure centres, swimming pools, community campuses and health and wellbeing centres. It should be noted that this excludes 'community managed' leisure facilities in Southern Wiltshire community area (Downtown Leisure Centre) and Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade community area (Cricklade Leisure Centre). Community managed leisure facilities provide a service to Wiltshire residents but are not owned or managed by Wiltshire Council.
Data source and time period: Leisure Services, Wiltshire Council. 2022/23.
'Active Health' leisure memberships at Wiltshire Council owned leisure facilities
An Active Health membership is an exercise programme in Wiltshire that GPs or healthcare professionals can refer people on to in order to help them become more active.
This type of membership is offered at a concessionary rate and involves the design of suitable bespoke activity programmes by a trained exercise professional. Progress is reviewed at 6 and 12 weeks and can include a range of activities such as gym sessions, swimming, walking groups, or specialist exercise groups and classes.
As at October 2023, there were almost 3,000 Active Health memberships at Wiltshire Council owned leisure facilities. The highest numbers of this type of leisure membership across Wiltshire were at facilities located in Salisbury (15.7% of the total memberships), Devizes (13.1%) and Melksham (10.8%) community areas.
Definition: The number of total 'Active Health' leisure memberships at Wiltshire Council owned leisure facilities. Leisure facilities include leisure centres, swimming pools, community campuses and health and wellbeing centres. It should be noted that this excludes 'community managed' leisure facilities in Southern Wiltshire community area (Downtown Leisure Centre) and Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade community area (Cricklade Leisure Centre). Community managed leisure facilities provide a service to Wiltshire residents but are not owned or managed by Wiltshire Council.
Data source and time period: Leisure Services, Wiltshire Council. 16th October 2023.
Assets of community value
Rights contained in the 2011 Localism Act mean that communities can ask the local authority to list certain assets as being of community value. Once approved and listed, the rights give local interest groups a total of six months to put together a bid to purchase it should the asset be put up for sale.
Owners of listed assets cannot dispose of them without notifying the local authority of their intention to sell. They are further required to observe a six month 'moratorium' period should the local authority receive a request from a community interest group wishing to be treated as a potential bidder. Whilst there is no obligation for the owner to sell to such groups, these rights effectively give local communities an increased chance to save much loved shops, pubs or other local facilities.
Parish councils or local community groups can nominate both publicly- and privately-owned assets to be listed as being of community value if current, recent or future use of them furthers the social well-being of the local area or neighbourhood. Further information on how to do this can be found on Wiltshire Council's website: Right to bid for assets of community value.
The chart below shows the number of approved, listed assets of community value by Wiltshire community area current as at December 2023.
Definition: The number of approved assets of community value by Wiltshire community area.
Data source and time period: Wiltshire Council, Right to bid for assets of community value. 5th December 2023.
Total contributions received as a result of Section 106 planning obligations
Section 106 agreements, also known as 'planning obligations', are legal agreements made between local authorities and developers.
When a planning application is submitted to the Local Authority, the application is assessed to determine how the development impacts the local area. Where applicable, Section 106 agreements are activated to include any obligations required to counterbalance any significant effects of a proposed development.
Section 106 contributions are financial contributions payable by the developer (again, where applicable) that are then used to fund measures necessary to mitigate the impact of the development within its vicinity. These can include the provision of essential services, affordable housing, transport infrastructure and green spaces.
In 2021/22, Wiltshire Council received just over £12 million in Section 106 financial contributions. The chart above shows a breakdown by community area of where this money was reinvested to offset the impacts of applicable developments.
Definition: Total (financial) contributions received as a result of Section 106 planning obligations.
Data source and time period: Economic Development and Planning, Wiltshire Council, Infrastructure Funding Statement 2022 Appendix A Section 106. 2021/22.
Total amount generated from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) devolved to town/parish councils in Wiltshire
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that can be applied by local authorities on new developments within their jurisdiction. The amount is based on the size of a development and can vary according to type (e.g. residential or retail) as well as the location within the county. The money generated through the levy is then used to contribute towards the funding of county wide local infrastructure to support growth.
Wiltshire Council must pass at least 15% of the Community Infrastructure Levy to the town/parish council in whose area the development takes place. This rises to 25% in areas covered by a neighbourhood plan.
In 2021/22, over £1.6 million from the Community Infrastructure Levy collected in the year was devolved to town/parish councils where relevant developments had taken place. A breakdown of this by community area is shown in the chart below.
Definition: Total amount generated from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) devolved to town/parish councils in Wiltshire.
Data source and time period: Economic Development and Planning, Wiltshire Council, Infrastructure Funding Statement 2022 Appendix B Community Infrastructure Levy. 2021/22.