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| Stone Formation Archive 1972 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on March 26, 1972 Villagers at Avebury want the return of the village policeman. This emerges from a survey the local Women's Institute has just completed. In the spring, Avebury WI members heard the county council was suggesting structure plans should be prepared for all Wiltshire villages. Local organisations, it was suggested, could help in finding out just what the villages' needs were. "We thought this was a good idea," said the Avebury WI president, Mrs June Lees, yesterday. "We thought this was a way in which we could help the councillors, parish and otherwise." A committee, with villagers of long standing and newcomers, compiled a questionnaire which was delivered to every house in Avebury, Winterbourne Monkton and Berwick Bassett. More than half the householders completed the forms and returned them. Now the WI has been able to furnish their parish council, district and county councils with a detailed list of changes the parishioners want, or do not want. Overwhelming support was given to the question "Would you like our own village policeman again?" Until two years ago Avebury had a village policeman; now the former police station is just a police house occupied by a policeman from Marlborough which is now the village's nearest police station. The villagers also want to see the return of the lengthsman, the roadman who swept the streets, trimmed the hedges and generally kept Avebury tidy. The last time the village had its own lengthsman, Mrs Lees recalled, was about 14 years ago. The parishioners have also been able to have their say about whether Avebury needs a bypass. There were 73 in favour and 49 against. Of the three alternative routes listed on the questionnaire, the most popular by far was the one from the A4 at West Kennet going behind the Dykes and crossing Green Street to rejoin the Swindon road. By a large majority the parishioners want only one car and coach park in the village, not several smaller ones as has been suggested. It is also agreed that more parking areas are needed at Avebury Trusloe. Other things villagers want are tennis courts, playground equipment, keep fit classes, Guides, Cubs and Scouts, and a pre-school playgroup. One thing the questionnaire did determine was that villagers do not want to see the stone circle restored to its original appearance it this means removing all the buildings inside. "People still want to retain the village inside the circle," explained Mrs Lees, who is also a parish councillor. Back to 1972 index |
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