Local area priorities consultation

Wiltshire Council are gathering information about what local people feel are the important themes and priorities for their area. The short survey asks people to choose their key themes and then, for their top three, tell us further detail about those issues. It shouldn't take any longer than 10 minutes to complete. It's available for the next two weeks and will close on 7th May.

Here's the link: https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/s/ad7x4r

Roadworks 23 Apr 19:00 - 26 Apr 07:00

B4192 Whittonditch Crossroads South East To Crossroads To Eastridge & Newtown

INFORMATION FOR ROAD USERS
Affected roads
B4192 Whittonditch Crossroads South East To Crossroads To Eastridge And Newtown
From B4192 Northeast To Eastridge Farm
Closure in force All the time

Name: RT0715 B4192, Whittonditch -2023 shot programme

Kiely Bros shot blasting / retexturing programme. Carriageway retexturing and other associated works. Works to be completed consecutively to RT0679 and RT0677 (same crews)

News about the Wheatsheaf

Dear friends, fellow villagers and members of the community.

We write to provide an update concerning our plans for the Wheatsheaf Inn in 2024.

Planning:
We have read and listened to everyone's comments, and would like to respond proactively by making a new planning application early in the New Year with a more holistic approach in mind. Hopefully, this will be our last.

Notably, we shall be reducing the number of guest bedrooms from 16 to 11 rooms en-suite rooms. We sincerely hope this will be well received.

Additionally, we shall be making an application for change of use of 4 of the bedrooms to 4 rural office spaces in the car park to the consented new build annexe.

Lastly, we shall be seeking approval for an orangery extension at ground floor level between the garden and the back door.

This will have an open pass kitchen for theatre, glazed roof lights for added natural light, and sliding folding doors for open air alfresco style dining on summer days.

We envisage this space being used for breakfasts, brunch culture and juices in the mornings, lunch and evening dinner. It is anticipated that this will provide us with an additional 20 covers which is needed if we are to retain the bar area as a traditional bar for enjoying a drink instead of becoming a restaurant once guests are occupying the overnight accommodation.

All the above is in response to everyone's constructive comments over the past 6 months and we hope that it shows you that we are listening and that we are committed to delivering a community asset that is for the benefit of every resident of the village to enjoy.

Whilst we accept that it is impossible to please everyone, please understand that we have inherited disjointed legacy planning applications from previous owners and we now feel that it is an appropriate time to bring this all together in a more balanced and harmonious way.

Construction:
We really appreciate all of your support during phases of refurbishment and apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause from time to time.

The alternative is to close completely for a period of time but we are mindful of the implications this may have on our people and hope that we can navigate through this with your support and leniency towards minor disruption. I think it is fair to say that the worst is behind us now that the new loos are up and running. We hope you agree that these are a huge transformation from what they were previously.

It is our intention to continue this refurbishment with changes being made to the main bar area in the coming weeks.

We have received comments concerning the gap in the fence to the car park. Sadly, our health and safety advisors requested that pedestrian traffic is minimised whilst construction is taking place. Please kindly respect the need for health and safety whilst we complete construction works.

People & Management:
It is with sadness that we confirm the departure of Thomas Frake, Executive Chef & Landlord from The Wheatsheaf. We wish him well and are sure that he will prosper in whatever he decides to progress. Thomas will leave on 14th January, 2024.

We are delighted and excited to announce the arrival of Chef Director Leigh Evans, and Head Chef Benjamin Tuff. We hope that you will join us in making these two new arrivals feel welcome. General Manager Alex Jordan will be promoted to accept the responsibility of Landlady.

We hope that this communication is both useful and informative. We also hope that it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring the pubs viability for the long term. Two pubs close daily across England and Wales according to the Independent Newspaper. Great Shefford and Ramsbury have both seen pub closures in recent months and we need to be dynamic and innovative to ensure that Chilton Foliat does not contribute towards these statistics.

We hope that you will embrace the above changes and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families all the very best for 2024 and beyond.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Without you, we would not have a village pub!

Kind regards,
Gott and Hambro Families
Team Wheatsheaf

Post Collection Times

The post collection times at The Square have altered to:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am
Saturday 7:00 am
There is a later collection from Hungerford 5.30 pm

Click here for an update (26th April) of Wiltshire Council News