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**Media call. Friday 11 April, 4.30pm, Downton Sports Centre, Wick Lane, Downton. See note to editors for details**

Salisbury District Council has increased its grant to the Brian Whitehead Sports Centre Association (BWSCA) by an extra £26,000 to assist it with financing Downton sports centre for 2008/9.

The award brings the district council grant to the sports centre to £48,800 for this year.

For some time, the BWSCA has been seeking to secure additional funding to help with running the sports centre. Working with local community representatives, they approached the district council requesting help.

In addition to this grant, the district council is encouraging them to bid for finance that may be available from other local authority sources, such as the new General Community Fund.

Cllr Paul Sample, Leader of the Council, said; “We were impressed with the long-term strategy that BWSCA, Trafalgar School and the Downton community is developing to address the problems that have beset the sports centre for some time now.

“The search for a way to secure the future of sports facilities in the town comes at the same time as Trafalgar School is planning to build a new sports hall on their site. The Association is in discussion with Wiltshire County Council, and the head teacher and governors of the Trafalgar School, about the possibility of joining forces and developing a bigger, shared community sports facility on the school site.

“This seems to represent good joined-up thinking and, on this basis, we were happy to provide interim financial support to help to keep the centre open.

“It is clear to me that the best outcome would be for everyone to join forces and create a new purpose built sports facility for all local residents to use on the Trafalgar School site.”

Cllr Steve Fear, Deputy Leader of the Council said; “Subject to negotiations with other parties, it looks as if the local Downton community could have a workable solution to their problem. In the circumstances, it would be a tragedy if they were unable to complete those negotiations through lack of short term funding to get them through the next few months.

“Given the importance that the council places on health and leisure, and the soundness of the strategy put forward by the community, we are happy to do all that is possible to support them at this time.”

Dr Tony Howgrave-Graham, Chairman of the Brian Whitehead Sports Association, said; “We are all delighted that the district council has made the effort to come and see a presentation of our proposals and is supporting our efforts to keep the existing centre running whilst we explore the proposed long term solution. Our thanks to all those concerned.

“A professionally run feasibility study into the exciting proposed developments is currently being commissioned."

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council’s press office 01722 434561/434603.

Note to editors: You are very welcome to send a reporter/photographer/film crew to Downton Sports Centre to interview and take photos of council and sports centre representatives. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Salisbury District Council’s press office on 01722 434561/434603.

Salisbury District Council, the City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club and Race for Life have joined forces to get more local women running.

Three new running groups for women will be launched later this month to offer 10 weeks of support in advance of this year’s Race for Life. They will be run by five enthusiastic individuals who have recently attended the Women's Running Network, Leadership Courses. The running groups have been designed to help beginners to start running in a fun environment. They will also help women who are taking part in Race for Life who may feel self conscious and not confident about starting to jog and run. The groups ensure a gradual build up in fitness for the big event.

So if you are taking part in Race for Life on Sunday 29June then get running now. There are three groups to choose from

            Group 1:         Mondays, 6.30pm—7.30pm
                                    Starting Monday, 21st April, 2008
            Group 2:         Fridays, 1.30pm—2.30pm
                                    Starting Friday, 25th April, 2008
            Group 3:         Sundays, 10am—11am
                                    Starting, Sunday, 27th April, 2008
            Venue:           Five Rivers Leisure Centre, Salisbury
            Cost:               £35 for a 10 week course (includes a T-shirt, water bottle and membership to the Women’s Running Network)

Groups 1 and 2 are suitable for women aged 16+ Group 3 is suitable for women and girls

Louise Cary, Principal Sports Development Officer at Salisbury District Council said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for more women to get physically active in a supportive environment. The courses will give women the confidence to take up activity and start running. This is great preparation for Race for Life, but we also hope that many women will carry on running after the event, as it is an extremely beneficial form of exercise, costs very little and can be done at any time, or anywhere.”

For more information and to book your place (places are limited) contact:
Trish Cowie, Sports and Community Officer, Salisbury District Council - Tel: 07887 538512
Email: tcowie@salisbury.gov.uk

For more information contact Trish Cowie, Sports and Community Officer, Salisbury District Council, on 01722 434568, or Karlene Jammeh, Sports and Community Officer, Salisbury District Council, on 01722 434437

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council’s press office on 01722 434561/434603.

Local community and voluntary organisations are being invited to apply for funding from a new £130,000 General Community Fund set up by Salisbury District Council.

The new fund is designed to support community-led projects that improve the quality of life and wellbeing of the residents of south Wiltshire.

Projects should support the council’s corporate objectives for local communities. Specifically, they should support disadvantaged and socially excluded groups in the district and represent value for money.

The minimum grant award will normally be £5,000 and no maximum has been set. However, at least 10% of the project costs must be raised locally by the applicant.

Awards will be made in two rounds. Applications for the first round close on 30 May with the deadline for the second round being 30 September.

The fund is in addition to existing funding agreements with individual organisations and other schemes such as the South Wiltshire Area Grants. The new fund brings the total amount of financial support provided by the district council to the community and voluntary sector to almost £1m.

Cllr Brian Dalton, Portfolio Holder for Community Initiatives, said; “I’m delighted that we have been able to find the funds to boost the support we offer to community and voluntary organisations by setting up this new General Fund.

“Voluntary and community bodies are at the heart of the life of our local towns and villages and it is important that we do all we can to support the vital work that many of them do, particularly those that work with the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

“I hope that this new money will help to support some of the priorities and activities that have been included in parish, town, ward and community plans and I look forward to being able to help some innovative schemes in south Wiltshire.”

Cllr Steve Fear, Deputy Leader of the Council, said; “The new General Community Fund is a significant contribution to one of our key priorities - improving the wellbeing of local people.

“This money is in addition to the one-off £50,000 we have recently distributed to projects specifically aimed at young people and an indication of our commitment to working in partnership with others for the benefit of all local people .I’d like to encourage as many organisations, from all corners of the community, to come forward with applications.”.

All voluntary and community organisations on the district council’s database are being sent details of the scheme. Full criteria and application details are available on the council’s website at www.salisbury.gov.uk/community-fund or from

Tamzin Ewers, Salisbury District Council, PO Box 2117, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 2DS
Tel 01722 434223
Email: tewers@salisbury.gov.uk

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council press office 01722 434561 / 434603.

Salisbury District Council is seeking the views of thousands of school children, parents and local residents on the quality of play facilities within the city of Salisbury.

The council is looking to create a management plan that will oversee the running of, and help improve, the city’s play areas, skateparks, sportswalls and kickabout areas.

But before it can do this, the council wants to know what local people think about these facilities – what they like about them and what they think can be improved.

Every primary school in the city is receiving a questionnaire so up to 2,500 children can have their say.

The council is also urging parents, residents that live near play facilities, and anyone else who has an interest in play facilities, to have their say.

Salisbury District Council’s portfolio holder for the Community, Cllr Brian Dalton, said: “The council is committed to improving the play facilities.

“We recognise how important play is to the development of children and the benefits it brings to the wider community.

“That’s why we would like as many people as possible, children and adults, to have their say on the future management of these facilities within the city.”

Cllr Mike Osment, Chair of the City Area (Community) Committee, said; “In order to get a comprehensive management plan in place it is important to have the views of the young people who use the play facilities, and those of their parents.

“This is a prime opportunity for children to contribute to the improvement of play areas across the city and I look forward to hearing from as many of them as possible.”

People can take part in the survey by going to www.salisbury.gov.uk/play-area-questionnaire where they can complete a questionnaire online. Alternatively, people can call or email the council and request a copy of the questionnaire: Email parks@salisbury.gov.uk or call 01722 434389.

For more information, please contact Annie Scadden on 01722 434389
For interview, please contact:
Cllr Brian Dalton, Portfolio Holder for Community 01722 323801
Cllr Mike Osment, Chair City Area Community 01722 328532
Cllr Cheryl Hill, Vice Chair 01722 503170
Cllr Kevin Cardy, Conservative representative 01722 339791

DISTRICT COUNCIL AWARDS £50,000 TO NINE YOUTH PROJECTS
3 APRIL 2008

Nine projects for children and young people in south Wiltshire have been granted a total of £50,000 by Salisbury District Council.

The awards, ranging from £2,000 to £10,500, were made from a one-off community fund set up by the council to help to provide accessible activities for young people in deprived and rural parts of the district.

A cross-party panel of councillors assessed sixteen applications. Each was judged on the basis that they should stimulate and involve young people, make a real difference to their lives, and make a significant impact on deprived rural and/or urban areas.

The fund was established in October 2007 at the same time that the council restored a planned £50,000 reduction in funding for local arts organisations.

Circular Arts: £7,500 for Lanterns for Salisbury 2008 youth workshops.
Figheldean Youth Club: £2,000 for activities for club members.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: £8,500 to improve the use of green spaces and family play opportunities at the Folly at Bemerton Heath.
Durrington Rangers Football Club: £2,500 towards construction of an entrance to new football pitches.
Bemerton Heath After School & Summer Holiday Drop-in Club: £5,000 to fund a once a week drop-in club for 13–16 year olds.
St Osmunds Pre-School: £5,000 towards the cost of surfacing an all weather outdoor play and learning area adjacent to the classrooms.
Avon Valley College: £5,000 towards a programme of activities for young people in the Durrington and Amesbury areas to over school holidays.
Art Care: £10,500 towards ‘No worries kids’, a colour and inspiration project for children staying at Salisbury District Hospital and local school children to design a new unit at the hospital.
Victoria Park Community Tennis Centre: £4,000 towards a community tennis project for children with disabilities and those from deprived areas.

Cllr Paul Sample, Leader of the Council said; “We received a brilliant range of applications for some really exciting projects for young people in deprived and rural parts of the district.

“Our aim is to make arts and other activities available to as many young people as possible this year.

“Deciding which ones deserved our support was incredibly difficult, We chose these nine projects because we felt that they best matched the criteria and offered the widest benefits to young people in the district.

“Improving the wellbeing of local people of all ages is a key priority for the council. I’m delighted that we have been able to support these schemes and I wish all of the organisations well with their projects.”

Cllr Steve Fear, Deputy Leader, said; “The creation of this fund is one of a range of measures we have taken to increase the support we give to local community organisations.

“In addition to these grants, and the restoration of arts funding, we have introduced a General Community Fund of £130,000 for which organisations can submit bids. These innovations come on top of the well-established South Wiltshire Area Grants scheme administered via the area committees, and individual funding agreements with voluntary and community organisations. This brings the total amount of the council’s financial support to community organisations to around £1m during this financial year.”

For more information on the successful projects, please contact:
Circular Arts - Mr Alex Grant 01722 324111
Figheldean Youth Club - Miss L Sleeman (work no.) 01980 845442
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust - Ms Felicity Harris - 01380 725670
Durrington Rangers Football Club - Ms Judi Thompson - 01980 654 867
Bemerton Heath After School Club - Mark Annetts (SDC) 416 885
St Osmunds Pre School - Ms Jane Morgan - 07988 574206
Avon valley College - Sam Abbott - 01980 652467
Art Care - P Ursem - 01722 336262 ext: 4517
Victoria Park Tennis Centre - Mr Ian Jerrard - 01722 415089

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council press office 01722 434561 / 434603.

Urgent and essential maintenance work will necessitate the closure of Durrington Swimming and Fitness Centre for two days on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 April.

Work on the hot water system and improvements to changing facilities cannot be completed while the centre is open. However, the work has been timed to ensure that young people can still benefit from the half-term free swimming concession that runs until 20 April.

Cllr Brian Dalton, portfolio holder for Community Initiatives, said; “I apologise for the inconvenience that this will undoubtedly cause to regular users of the Durrington centre. “It is regrettable that we have to close completely while this work is completed, but, in the interest of public safety we really have no alternative.”

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council press office 01722 434561 / 434603

BUS PASS HOLDERS REASSURED
2 APRIL 2008

Holders of bus passes and concessionary travel cards who have yet to receive their new, 2008 cards, have been reassured that they will continue to be able to use their 2007 cards until the new one arrives.

Salisbury District Council issued this reassuring message following a national delay in the issuing of new plastic concessionary bus passes. The passes are being produced by a company called Euclid, under the direction of the central government’s Department of Transport.

These new passes, which replace those previously issued by the district council, were due to be sent out by Euclid by the end of March. However, delays in distribution meant that some have yet to arrive.

As soon as Salisbury District Council was made aware of this delay, it made arrangements with the two local bus companies which serve south Wiltshire, Wilts and Dorset and Stagecoach that they will continue to accept existing district council passes until 30 April.

For customers with passes that expired before 31 March, Wilts and Dorset and Stagecoach will now accept old passes on their services.

Salisbury District Council has also arranged with Euclid that the council receive 1,000 temporary national travel passes. These will be made available for people in the district who have pre-arranged national journeys.

To obtain this pass, the customer should, in the first instance, call 01722 434662, to see if the temporary passes have arrived. Once they have arrived, people can obtain the passes by going to the council's office in Pennyfarthing Street. They will need to produce their existing bus pass as proof that they are entitled to free travel and details of the journey they are making.

As the council will only have a limited number of temporary passes it can only issue to them for people who have pre-arranged journeys. People who do have pre-arranged journeys need to contact the council at least 10 days in advance of their journey. This is just a temporary measure as it is anticipated that people will receive their permanent travel pass from Euclid during this period.

Note to editors: There are 17,500 people in south Wiltshire eligible for concessionary bus passes. As the passes are being issued by Euclid and not the council, Salisbury District Council does not know how many people are yet to receive their bus pass.

Statement issued by Salisbury District Council Press Office 01722 434561 / 434603

A man who fraudulently claimed housing and council tax benefits has been ordered to repay all the money he owes Salisbury District Council.

Jon William Denton, 32, previously of St Martins Church Street, Salisbury, was sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates yesterday (Monday 31 March), following a charge of fraud brought against him by Salisbury District Council.

He has also been sentenced to 105 hours community service and ordered to pay £250 in costs.

It is the first time the council has prosecuted somebody under the new Fraud Act 2006.

A self-employed physiotherapist, Mr Denton claimed £3,778.19 worth of housing and council tax benefit from April to November 2007 for the property he was renting in Salisbury. He was eligible for the benefit as he claimed he received a low income from his work.

However, unbeknown to the council, Mr Denton owned a property in Winchester for which he was receiving rent from his tenants.

When this information came to the attention of the council a thorough investigation was conducted and, subsequently, a charge was brought against Mr Denton.

Mr Denton pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to declare to the council that he owned a property.

The Magistrates told Mr Denton that this was a deliberate act to obtain benefit for himself and that he had acted dishonestly in doing so.

Salisbury District Council’s portfolio holder for housing, Cllr Ian Tomes, said: “Salisbury District Council is constantly striving to ensure that cases of fraud within the housing and council tax benefit system are stopped.

“We hope successful prosecutions like this one send out a strong message to offenders that we will not tolerate benefit fraud and will crackdown on anyone found to be committing benefit fraud.”

Members of the public who suspect a case of benefit fraud can report it to the council’s 24 hour fraud hotline on 01722 434360. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

For more information on benefit fraud investigations, please contact Zoe Green on 01722 434271 or David Webb on 01722 434360.

For more information on the Fraud Act 2007, please contact Laura James on 01722 434227.

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council press office 01722 434561/434603.

Hundreds of primary school children competed in the annual Salisbury Primary Tag Rugby Festival on Wednesday 26 March.

The festival took place at Salisbury City Football Club with 32 schools taking part, including St Mark’s, Broadchalke, Woodlands, Larkhill, Wardour and Idmiston, to name but a few.

Organised by Salisbury District Council with support from the Salisbury and Avon Valley School Sports Partnerships and Wilts and Dorset RFU, the festival was a culmination of local primary school teachers receiving training in tag rugby to deliver the sport to their pupils.

Salisbury District Council’s Sports and Community Officer, Karlene Jammeh, said: “This is one of the biggest festivals that we have organised in Salisbury District for local primary schools. It was absolutely fantastic to see over 300 young people competing and enjoying tag rugby. We were impressed by the skill level and enthusiasm of all those taking part.

“The aim of the project was to encourage more primary schools to teach tag rugby. Tag rugby enables both boys and girls to develop basic rugby skill, to compete on even terms and to work as a team.

“It’s a great sport for young people, it enables them to achieve success, which is important when introducing anything new, particularly sport.”

The festival kicked off with a general round robin event consisting of eight groups of four teams, with the winners and runners up from each group going on to compete for the top trophy in a further round robin. The third and fourth placed teams from each group went onto play in the plate competition.

Nomansland, Downton, Great Wishford and Woodford Valley made it into the finals to decide the top placings.

Woodford Valley and Downton competed for third and fourth placings, with Downton winning 5-4. Nomansland and Great Wishford were pitted against each other to decide the winner. After a brave performance and close game, Nomansland ran out festival winners with a 7-6 victory.

In the Plate Competition, Woodlands, Pitton, Wardour and Idmiston A team were left to battle it out with each other. The top two teams to play for the Plate competition were Idmiston A and Wardour. Idmiston A finally clinched the title over Wardour, with a 5:4 score. Pitton school were third.
The referees were then tasked to vote for the Fair Play Award, with several schools being nominated. The award went to Woodford Valley. Certificates were also given to all participants.

Nomansland, Great Wishford, Downton and Woodford valley will now go onto represent Salisbury District at the County Event at Wootton Bassett on May 1.

The Festival would not have been a success without the help of Salisbury City Football Club for the use of their facilities, the Avon Valley, St Edmund’s, Wyvern and Trafalgar students who helped to run the pitches and look after the schools during the afternoon, and also the referees that had travelled from as far as Frome to help with the festival.

For more information please contact Karlene Jammeh, Sports and Community Officer, Salisbury District Council, on 01722 434437.

	FINAL - TROPHY

1^ST	Nomansland
2^ND	Great Wishford
3^RD	Downton
4^TH	Woodford Valley

	FINAL - PLATE

1^ST	Idmiston A
2^ND	Wardour
3^RD	Pitton
4^TH	Woodlands

Fair Play	Woodford Valley

A fantastic time was had by all at the Salisbury Girls’ Tag Rugby Festival on Thursday 27 March at Salisbury Rugby Club.

For three hours during the afternoon, 14 teams from 6 local schools competed in the event, organised by Salisbury District Council with support from the Salisbury and Avon Valley School Sports Partnerships, Salisbury Rugby Club and Wiltshire and Dorset RFU.

Taking part were; St Edmunds, South Wilts Grammar School, Trafalgar School, Avon Valley, Stonehenge and St Joseph’s and the girls were from two age groups, years 7/8 and years 9/10. The festival marked the end of the Districts’ Girls’ Tag Rugby League, an ongoing event that most of the schools had been involved in.

Great skill and enthusiasm was shown by all the girls throughout the afternoon. In the Year 7/8 event, Trafalgar team finished third, St Edmund’s coming second, and the winners of the festival were South Wilts A team.

The year 9/10 festival was a close fought event. South Wilts A finished third, South Wilts B coming second and Trafalgar becoming proud winners of the festival.

In the year 7/8 league, the top two places were extremely close, with Trafalgar School being awarded winners of the league, with the player of the league being awarded to Bryony Yalden from Trafalgar School, who was nominated three out of four matches.

Trafalgar were also crowned champions of the year 9/10 league, with players of the league awards given to Hannah Hayward of Trafalgar School, Katherine Hoare of South Wilts, Callie Chant of Salisbury High and Bey Lam Chan of St Edmund’s all being nominated for two matches.

Karlene Jammeh, Sports and Community Officer said: “The Tag Rugby programme enables the girls to gain experience of this sport and develop their skills. The festival gives them a chance to compete against other schools in the district and encourages teamwork, skill, fitness and spatial awareness. Most importantly, the girls can have an afternoon of fun.”

“The skill and determination on display during the festival was absolutely fantastic, resulting in some extremely close results.”

For more information please contact Karlene Jammeh, Sports and Community Officer, Salisbury District Council on 01722 434437.

GROUP POSITION	SCHOOL	SCORE

Year 7/8 festival
1^st	South Wilts A	24
2^nd	St Edmund’s	22 (+9)
3^rd	Trafalgar	22 (+2)
4^th	St Joseph’s	18
5^th	Avon Valley	16 (-1)
6^th	South Wilts B	16 (-4)
7^th	Stonehenge	8

Year 9/10 festival
1^st	Trafalgar

DISTRICT COUNCIL AWARDS £50,000 TO NINE YOUTH PROJECTS 3 APRIL 2008

BUS PASS HOLDERS REASSURED 2 APRIL 2008

FINAL - TROPHY

1ST

Nomansland

2ND

Great Wishford

3RD

Downton

4TH

Woodford Valley

FINAL - PLATE

1ST

Idmiston A

2ND

Wardour

3RD

Pitton

4TH

Woodlands

Fair Play

Woodford Valley

GROUP POSITION

SCHOOL

SCORE

Year 7/8 festival

1st

South Wilts A

24

2nd

St Edmund’s

22 (+9)

3rd

Trafalgar

22 (+2)

4th

St Joseph’s

18

5th

Avon Valley

16 (-1)

6th

South Wilts B

16 (-4)

7th

Stonehenge

8

Year 9/10 festival

1st

Trafalgar

DISTRICT COUNCIL AWARDS £50,000 TO NINE YOUTH PROJECTS
3 APRIL 2008

BUS PASS HOLDERS REASSURED
2 APRIL 2008

1^ST

2^ND

3^RD

4^TH

1^ST

2^ND

3^RD

4^TH

1^st

2^nd

3^rd

4^th

5^th

6^th

7^th

1^st