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Westbury - White Horse News White Horse News is a FREE fortnightly newspaper distributed to 10,000 homes in Westbury, Wiltshire and the surrounding villages www.whitehorsenews.co.uk

14/02/2025

Charity shop is latest target of out-of-town shoplifters

Thieves are targeting shops in Westbury as they see rural town centres as ‘easy pickings.’
What they don’t realise is that CCTV is often capturing their every movement.

Around midday on 27th January, a North Face jacket was taken from a charity shop in Westbury. Mark Chalmers, who runs the town’s CCTV hub, has helped to track the suspect’s movements.

“It’s disappointing but it doesn’t surprise me,” Mark said. “You get professional shoplifting gangs who think towns like Westbury are easy pickings. People will come to places like here or Warminster to steal, it’s people who have come out of town rather than locals.

“Shoplifting in charity shops does happen. I think people forget that charity shops are like a normal shop, they’ve still got to pay staff and electricity bills."

Read more here: https://buff.ly/3Qhliso

Pictured: Mark Chalmers at the town’s CCTV hub

14/02/2025

This issue's things to do and places to go list from the White Horse News

You can also see more in our digital edition: https://buff.ly/3ASMzgT

13/02/2025

The latest issue of the White Horse News is out now.

The digital edition is available to view on our website.

Read our full paper here: https://buff.ly/3ASMzgT

12/02/2025

New orchard planted in tribute to the King

A new orchard has been planted in Grassacres Park as a tribute to the King’s Coronation, with Westbury Town Council leading the project to enhance the park’s beauty and biodiversity.

The orchard features a mix of fruit and blossom trees, including plum, cherry, medlar, and mulberry.

As the trees mature, they will provide fresh fruit for the community while promoting sustainable produce sourcing.

Pictured: Community Ranger at Westbury Town Council, David Krzyzosiak

Read more here: https://buff.ly/4hOJUof

12/02/2025

Westbury’s new community cinema off to a blockbuster start

Film fans in Westbury were ‘blown away’ by the successful launch of the town’s community cinema on 31st January.

The Laverton’s main hall was packed for a screening of Twisters (2024), starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

A popcorn machine was wheeled out for the occasion as Westbury locals were transported to windy Oklahoma for the night.

Patrick McGowan, Westbury Town Council’s buildings and facilities manager, hopes the new cinema will save residents from having to travel to Trowbridge, Bath, or Frome to enjoy the big-screen experience.

“We hope to do at least one screening a month,” Patrick said. “During half-term, we’ll have Despicable Me 4 and Top Gun: Maverick. Going forward, we hope to show Gladiator 2 and the latest Paddington movie. We had great feedback for Twisters, and people seemed to really enjoy themselves. I also kept an eye on the car park, and it looked like the vast majority of people walked rather than drove.”

Read more here: https://buff.ly/4hJFQ8Y

11/02/2025

Westbury United fans rally to raise £36,000 and bring club home

A passionate group of Westbury United supporters has launched a fundraising campaign to raise £36,000 and help the club overcome its financial crisis.

The club is battling severe financial difficulties that have left it unable to pay its players or coaching staff and forced them to play home games in Frome.

The club’s financial troubles arose after negotiations with a housing developer failed to materialise, leaving them unable to cover the £36,000 outstanding electricity bill at its home ground, Platinum Hyundai Park. As a result, Westbury United was forced into a ground-share arrangement with Frome Town FC while their own stadium remains in the dark.

To contact or donate to the Supporters Trust Fund, email [email protected] or visit: https://buff.ly/4hoElNv

Pictured: Mark Nickels, Phil Alford and Keith Harvey

Read more here: https://buff.ly/3QbqMF8

10/02/2025

Applications open for this year’s White Horse Soapbox Derby

Applications are now open for this year’s White Horse Soapbox Derby, with organisers promising a day of creativity, community spirit and adrenaline-fuelled fun.

The annual event, organised by Westbury Town Council event in partnership with Landmarc Solutions, is set to take place on 17th May. Event organisers are encouraging those interested in participating as racers, sponsors or stallholders to apply soon.

“Applications are filling up fast,” said Ryan Child, event manager for Westbury Town Council. “If you’ve been dreaming of showcasing your engineering genius or selling your goods to an enthusiastic crowd, now is the time to act!”

Applications can be submitted at https://buff.ly/4geLq1T.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/4heZVnF

09/02/2025

Westbury Churches Together

Choices New
With the end of January 2025, and although the year is established, it is a good time to review life and make good choices and goals.

In the UK today, many aspects of our way of life have been under threat for a while. Once a tolerant nation, we have been invaded by intolerance.

Once prospering and leading the way in innovation and entrepreneurship, our education and apprenticeship have been weakened by removing moral principles of integrity and hard work, with erosion of history and identity.

The bedrock of society, the nuclear family, has been sidelined so much it is difficult to have any influence on the generations of the future.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/3Cs57FA

08/02/2025

Plans for a new community orchard in Dilton Marsh take root

A new community orchard and enhanced green spaces are being planned for Dilton Marsh. Dilton Marsh Parish Council is making strides to enhance the village’s green spaces which include plans for a community Orchard at Penknapp Road and improvements to existing pollinator corridors.

These initiatives follow the council’s ongoing negotiations with Wiltshire Council regarding the transfer of land and assets, including the potential acquisition of the ‘green’ at Lansdowne Close and Boyers Green triangle near the railway bridge.

At a recent meeting, the Parish Council resolved to proceed with the transfer of the Penknapp Road land.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/42yKT7y

07/02/2025

Westbury Area Network thanks local community for overwhelming support

The Westbury Area Network, which provides the town’s vital food bank, has thanked the local community for its fantastic ongoing support. The food bank’s services were in higher demand than ever in 2024 with 1,890 food parcels being distributed throughout the year - a 30% increase from 2023 and a 50% increase from 2022.

“We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity from the local community - local firms, supermarkets, schools and churches and many local people who donate to us, either by way of food or cash donations,” said Janet Gray, a volunteer with WAN.

“We received donated groceries as well as financial donations that enabled us to purchase much-needed items to help struggling families.

“We are especially grateful as so many have kindly donated despite these difficult financial times. WAN, which won White Horse News Group of the Year last year, emphasised that their ability to meet the growing demand depends entirely on the community’s generosity.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/4aKdmcH

06/02/2025

Edington’s wassail keeps village tradition alive

Around 70 villagers gathered in Edington recently to take part in the annual wassail tradition, aimed at waking up the apple trees for a fruitful year ahead. The community enjoyed mulled wine and apple cake while being entertained by Edington Brass and the White Horse Morris dancers.

“The ceremony began with toast being placed in the apple tree to feed the birds, particularly the robin, which is traditionally regarded as the guardian of the orchard,” said resident Liz Pike.

“This was followed by the symbolic awakening of the tree, which involved giving it a good beating and a drink of cider made from the previous year’s crop.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/4jydIXP

Pictured: Villagers trying their hand at Morris dancing, Beating the tree, Edington Brass performing

05/02/2025

Community gathers for wassailing celebration in Bratton

The evil spirits in Bratton’s Reeve’s Orchard were given a very thorough scare last month when over 200 people gathered to bang pots and pans, ring bells and blow hunting horns in the village’s wassailing event.

The wassailing event, organised by Dan and Anya Loughran, was about more than just making a lot of noise, however, because the gathering was accompanied by local folk musicians who provided both the background music to the downing of cider punch (made from the apples from Bratton’s orchard) and apple cake made by local villagers. There was also Morris dancing from Dan’s old group, who travelled from Bristol to take part in the event.

“Dan and Anya’s children were the wassail king and queen and, being only tiny, were able to sit on the orchard’s biggest and oldest tree,” said orchard volunteer Karen Lewis-Jones. “Their heads encircled by crowns of twigs and moss, while it was serenaded with songs before cider was poured around its roots.”

Read more here; https://buff.ly/42zDOnf

Pictured: Town crier Ray Davis, Wassailing bowls filled with cider being ceremoniously presented, Local folk musicians, Anya Harvey-Loughran with the wassailing king and queen

04/02/2025

“Swimming keeps me young!” Vera celebrates her 100th birthday with her weekly swim

The secret to a long life? A weekly swim! That’s the view of Westbury resident Vera Bishop who celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this month.

Vera still swims regularly at Westbury pool, something she’s been doing since she was a child. “I still go once a week to the pool and I’ll carry on as long as I can!” she said. “We all learnt to swim at Westbury pool as kids, teaching ourselves in those days, and I’ve been swimming ever since. I go to an over-50s session now, and it’s funny to think I’m twice their age!

Read more here; https://buff.ly/3PT7aFE

03/02/2025

Matravers students step back to the 80s in sell-out show

Matravers School was transformed into a sea of fluorescent leg warmers, crimped hair, letterman jackets and bold make-up as students brought the 1980s to life in their sell-out production of ‘Back to the 80s.’

The performances, which ran from Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th January, featured the school’s largest cast to date, with 65 students taking to the stage and three students performing in a live band.

The community resp-onse was overwhelmingly positive, praising the excellence of all the young performers on stage, the live band and the creative team.

Pictures by Emma Ball

Read more here; https://buff.ly/4aF8aXn

02/02/2025

Council urges care after cygnet dies at Vivash Park

In December, the young swan was found injured and entangled in fishing line. Despite the intervention of Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital, the cygnet had ingested the line, and its injuries were so severe that it had to be euthanised.

A council spokesperson said, “Westbury Town Council is deeply upset and dismayed to report yet another tragic incident involving a cygnet being caught in discarded fishing line at Vivash Park. The incident happened in December, and Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital was called to assist the injured bird, but sadly, due to the severity of its injuries and the fact that it had ingested fishing line, the decision was made to euthanise the cygnet.”

Read more here; https://buff.ly/4hAHUjf

01/02/2025

Bratton farmer convicted of animal welfare offences

A farmer from Bratton has been sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to animal welfare offences.

Daniel Hayward, 33, was sentenced on Monday 20th January at Swindon Crown Court.

He was also banned from keeping all animals except cattle, cats, and dogs for five years.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/3EfHvo1

31/01/2025

Westbury United go down to ten-man Bashley

Saturday. 25th January - Southern League Division One South - Bashley 2-0 Westbury United

Westbury United went down 2-0 in a hard-fought game at Bashley on Saturday. A goal in each half meant the White Horse Men returned from the New Forest with nothing to show for their efforts, despite Bashley being reduced to ten-men in the first half after the dismissal of centre-half Steve Walker.

The defeat leaves United in 12th place on 35 points from 25 games.

Read more here; https://buff.ly/4jvhmBX

Pictured: Joint manager Ricky Hulbert receiving the Division One South team of the month award for December. It’s the first time the United have won the award since being in the Southern League. Ricky is pictured with David Knight of the Southern League. The award, sponsored by PST Sport, followed four wins from five games in December including a 2-0 win at promotion-chasing Mousehole and a 5-0 thumping of Cribbs.

31/01/2025

Westbury community cinema set to open today!

The magic of the movies in coming to Westbury as the town’s much-anticipated community cinema launches this Friday, 31st January, at the Laverton.

The opening night will feature the blockbuster Twisters, a 2024 hit starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos, which made waves as the highest-grossing disaster movie on its opening weekend.

“We’re very excited about bringing Westbury Community Cinema to the town,” said Patrick McGowan from the organisers, Westbury Town Council. “Plans are going really well and feedback on social media and in person has been very positive; it’s clear people are looking forward to having a cinema in Westbury.”

Read more here: https://buff.ly/42xTvvn

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MP for Westbury questions new PM over waste incinerator In today’s Prime Minister’s Questions MP for Westbury, Dr Andrew Murrison MP, put forward a question to the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, about waste incinerators. Dr Andrew Murrison MP said, “One of the burning questions in my constituency is the proposed waste incinerator at Westbury. With the government rightly reviewing its air quality targets, can I ask my Right Honourable Friend to signal his intent to continue promoting public health net zero and the environment by placing a moratorium on any more unwanted unnecessary toxic waste burners.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “I can tell my Honourable Friend I know who’s been a vociferous campaigner on this issue as I learnt in the summer, that he’ll know local authorities determine these issues but also to reassure him that all large incinerators in England must comply with strict emission limits and only receive permit if plants do not cause damage to human health and hopefully that is reassuring for him.”

Protesters make their opinion clear before today's incinerator descision #Westbury #IncineratorDecisionLive

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