Further Damage to the Barford Lane Cemetery Fencing

Some time ago the Parish Council had to repair damage caused to the boundary fence around the cemetery. It appears that a number of individuals are still accessing the fields around the cemetery, instead of using the designated foothpath, and are damaging the fencing.

Some residents have expressed the view that access to the fields around the cemetery is a right. However, the landowner, Longford Estates, via the Estate Manager, has made it very clear that there is no right of way to their land via the cemetery and that they have no intention of allowing such access. The right of way onto the land is via Doctor’s Alley nearby. For this reason and because, under a covenant placed on the cemetery by the grantor, the Parish Council is obliged to maintain the cemetery fencing.

The repairs undertaken by the Council, at public expense, have again suffered damage from those who believe they should be allowed to use the cemetery to access the fields – this is not acceptable. Even if you haven’t caused the damage to the fence, you must not access through the cemetery. To do so will be seen as tacit approval to criminal damage.

This current damage will now be reported to the Police.

New 3-Year Strategy

The Parish Council wants to ensure that we are working with the community and to help us plan to do this, we have updated our Strategy. We want anyone and everyone who is interested to be able to see the Strategy.

The plans for the next six months are partly about actions to find out more, consult and review but also include some positive actions that will make a difference to local people.

Longer term plans are more flexible and will be added to as we have funds, when we know more about what people want and can understand who is willing to work with us.

Copies of the plan are available on the Parish Council’s website, in the library and at the Downton Leisure Centre.

Please have a look!

 

Downton Parish Council

Welcome to the website for Downton Parish Council. On this site you will be able to find information about the activities and work of the Parish Council.  The Parish Council is the first tier of Local Government. The next tier of Government after Downton is the unitary authority of Wiltshire Council.

The civil parish of Downton straddles the Avon valley about 7 miles south of Salisbury and has a population of nearly 3,000.  The Parish Council represents the villages of Downton and Charlton All Saints and the hamlet of Standlynch.  For information on other events and activities in Downton, please visit the Downton village website, Downton Society website or have a look at Other Local Councils pages.

From our website you will be able to find out about the dates of our meetings and read copies of our agendas, minutes and policies.

Downton Parish Council is responsible for the following facilities in Downton:

• Playgrounds at the Memorial Gardens, the Moot Lane Recreation Ground, the Charlton All Saints Playground and the new playground at Wick Lane.
• Downton Memorial Centre which is primarily managed by a separate Board of Trustees
• Downton Cemetery in Barford Lane
• Allotments which are managed by the Downton Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Association
• Areas of public open space such as The Borough Greens
• The public toilets beside the Memorial Gardens.
• The minor repair and cleaning of some Bus Shelters and the emptying of defined litter bins.

All of these are shown on the Parish Map.

The Parish Council also looks after the interests of the parish where empowered to do so, bringing any other needs of the parish to the attention of the relevant authority.  It also responds to consultation documents and requests from a diverse range of other bodies and authorities.  See the Main Council page for more information about the role and responsibilities of a Parish Council.

To find out more about us and what we do, please explore our website.  The majority of the files on the web site are in the Adobe Reader PDF format.  You will need to download the Adobe Reader to view them.  .  This symbol on a web page or this symbol ⇗ in a menu means that the link accesses an external web site – Downton Parish Council has no control over its contents.

We would also welcome any feedback you may have.  If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact the Clerk.