A new war memorial plaque could be installed in Chippenham for civilians of the town who lost their lives during the Second World War.
Chippenham Town Council has submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council which requests permission to add a plaque to the war memorial in the Market Place.
The proposed plaque would sit on the east facing plinth and would contain the names and ages of 11 civilians killed during the Second World War in Chippenham.
It would also make reference to the animals who gave their lives in service during the conflict.
The memorial already has plaques dedicated to the names of local servicemen who lost their lives in the First World War and Second World War.
The application for the new plaque states: “The proposed plaque would enhance the historic significance of the War Memorial by providing details of those civilians of the town who lost their lives during the Second World War, where at present there is no public memorial for this.”
In other Chippenham planning news, the delayed decision on the conversion of the Sir Audley Arms pub has now been made.
The applicant, Cordage 20 Ltd, has been given the go-ahead to convert the “unviable” pub into multiple new homes.
The plans, which have been backed by town councillors despite the “regrettable” loss of the venue, will see the old pub transformed into two four-bedroom homes and one two-bedroom home.
An additional four-bedroom home will be constructed alongside the development, whilst the rear extension and outbuilding to the side will be demolished.
The decision was delayed by Wiltshire Council to allow a bat survey to be carried out.
According to the latest case officer report, this survey confirmed “the likely absence of roosting bats”.
Also approved this week, in Hullavington outside Chippenham, was the relocation of the only village pub into an adjacent building to make way for new homes.
The applicants, Jo and Matt Lumb, took over the Hullavington Arms in September 2017 and understood they were the 13th landlords in just 14 years.
They have been given permission to convert the existing single storey building to the south of the pub into a new modern pub.
This would allow an extra flat to be installed in the current Hullavington Arms, the conversion of the skittle alley into a new home, and the construction of another dwelling in the garden area.
Although the pub will be moved into a smaller building, it should be able to serve the same amount of customers, and it is proposed to create a community garden on the remaining paddock land.
The application had noted that the applicants had faced “the extreme pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic and now the increasing pressures of soaring energy prices and wholesale food prices coupled with customers facing declining disposable income.”
Although it means moving the business to a different building, the future of the 200-year-old pub is safe for now.
Down in Melksham, St Michael & All Angels Church has received permission to convert 11a Canon Square into a mix of community rooms, church administration and two apartments.
The building is Grade II listed and currently contains four one-bedroom flats.
It is located just opposite the church and Wiltshire Council has now approved that it be used for community activities.
The application had received over a dozen letters of support, with residents claiming the project would “rejuvenate” what had been an “eyesore” for the town.
Finally, nearby in Westbury, Wiltshire Council has given the go-ahead for the construction of three additional zero carbon dwellings, adjacent to the new development on land off Station Road.
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