East Wiltshire Lib Dems

19/08/2026

Free local bus travel is a vital lifeline for many disabled people.

After an almost two-year campaign the Government has finally listened to Liberal Democrat calls to stop restrictions to disabled bus passes.

Disabilities don’t start at 9.30am. Neither should disabled bus passes.

17/08/2026

A hosepipe ban is now in place for the whole of East Wiltshire. Wessex Water has announced one from midnight tonight so starting at 00.01 on Tuesday 18 August.

💧 HOSEPIPE BAN FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

Attached info from Wessex Water

Wessex Water has announced that a hosepipe ban will come into force from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 August, covering its customers across our area.

After more than 40 days of record-breaking demand, our region has now formally been declared in drought. Water use has consistently been around 30% higher than normal, following months of exceptionally dry and hot weather.

From Tuesday, hosepipes must not be used for activities including:

🌱 Watering gardens
🚗 Washing cars
🏡 Cleaning patios, paths and driveways
🪟 Cleaning windows
💦 Filling swimming or paddling pools

Wessex Water says we are not running out of water for essential use, but the prolonged dry weather and exceptionally high demand are putting significant pressure on the network and water resources

You can find full details of the restrictions, including exemptions, on Wessex Water’s website - www.wessexwater.co.uk

10/08/2026

Many people in East Wiltshire are supplied by Wessex Water - please read.

07/08/2026

Good to see there is second screening of ‘Jo in the Water’ on Sunday 9 August at 1.15 pm.

Let's hope they get a full house again.

https://marlborough.news/news/our-river-kennet-how-can-we-keep-it-clean-second-screening/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTirCpwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7cfQGsPfL6Ps1Lt8zZI9vYQnoSMNaew9QwJSDie_gYiZXSLG2Ja9Th3UlV2A_aem_JSIRCqSnyUAImpSwHwI1Dw

02/08/2026

Great to have Wiltshire Councillor - Kym-Marie Cleasby Summer 2026 Focus back from the printers. This weekend our volunteers will be starting to deliver them.

Find out what Councillor Kym-Marie has been doing these last few months.

Thank you for everyone who helped Kym-Marie put this together and all our delivers.

29/07/2026

Swindon Borough Council Climate Change

The new minority Conservative administration at Swindon Borough Council is watering down the Council’s previous commitments to address climate change and progress towards net zero. We know that the Conservative Party nationally wishes to repeal the 2008 Climate Change Act and continue drilling in the North Sea. You can hear excerpts from several interviews of Kemi Badenoch via a Facebook search for: Kemi Badenoch and climate change.

A cross-party consensus under the leadership of the previous Labour administration led to the development of the “Build a greener Swindon” programme. This was overseen by a Policy & Performance Committee. The new administration is getting rid of this committee.

Conservative Cllr Jake Chandler holds the portfolio for “Green Infrastructure”. He stated in an email to me: Environmental scrutiny will sit within the Communities and Place Committee, and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Depending the environmental issues, its possible for a number of other committees to be involved in scrutinising our performance as a Council.

Liberal Democrats locally are concerned that these arrangements will be weak and will result in progress on the green agenda stalling. Our local campaigning demonstrates that climate change is a real concern for people and most support a fair transition to green energy which can improve energy security and reduce prices for consumers. LibDem Cllr Martin Barrett for Wroughton & Wichelstowe said “I’m extremely concerned that the new administration will allow Climate Change to slip down the agenda. This is bad news for the health and well-being of our residents."
The next full council meeting is 6th August 7pm at the Council Offices. There is no agenda currently available. The public can attend and may ask questions.

Ex-council Leader, Labour’s Jim Robbins has started a petition for residents to sign.

In the midst of an unprecedented series of heatwaves with energy costs rising and energy security threatened by geo-political crises, LibDems are standing up for the green agenda.

Act Now!!

Sign the petition:
https://ww5.swindon.gov.uk/moderngov/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=80&RPID=189260819&HPID=189260819
Attend the Council Meeting at the Council Offices, Euclid Street on 6th August at 7pm.

26/07/2026

Thank you to all our volunteers who have been out and about these last few weeks delivering our Thank you Focus leaflets to Wroughton & Witchelstowe and Cheseldon & Ridgeway. This is the first Focus for our new Swindon Borough Councillor Martin Barrett Wroughton & Wichelstow.

The next Focus leaflets for our two Wiltshire Councillors are due to go to print this week.

Thank you again to all our volunteers for delivering.

20/07/2026

Great to Danny Chambers MP, Lib Dem MP for Wi******er, nominated for an animal welfare award again this year! Our MPs are busy making a difference.

19/07/2026

Swindon Borough Councillor Martin Barrett Wroughton & Wichelstow. is settling in to his new role as Lib Dem councillor on Swindon Borough Council.

There are fun bits to being a councillor. A few weeks ago Martin was involved in judging at the Wroughton Carnival.

Councillor Martin Barrett judging at the Wroughton carnival