ABSOLUTELYFINALPLAN1stJune09 AW.pdf - Biddestone Village

Biddestone & Slaughterford TodayHealth and Social CareBiddestone Parish falls within Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.There are no medical facilities in the parish but there areseveral within 2 to 3 miles, which have the expectedintegrated health and social care teams. There is seriousconcern about the possible reduction in the number of beds inthe hospital at Chippenham to between ten and twenty.Weight limits have been introduced in both villages but thereis still concern about the number of heavy lorries on the smallcountry lanes. Slaughterford is also used as a “cut-through”and an increasing number of vehicles is being guided thoughthe villages by satellite navigation systems.There is a minor injury unit at Chippenham Hospital, whichalso provides after hours care. For Accident and Emergencyservices, parishioners have to attend the Royal UnitedHospital in Bath or The Great Western Hospital in Swindon.NHS funded dental services are few and very far between.Policing – Community Safety – RoadsThe parish seems to be a safe place in which to livealthough burglary is a problem from time to time. There is nowNeighbourhood Policing and Biddestone comes underChippenham Rural. Regular meetings with Community PoliceOfficers are currently being established to find out and targetconcerns. Recent changes to personnel are still beingclarified. A Neighbourhood Watch scheme exists in thecommunity.Biddestone village suffers because its roads provide a shortcut for vehicles travelling to or from Bristol and the M4. Fewof these appear to adhere to the 30 mile an hour speed limit.“The parish of Biddestone and Slaughterford is adelightful and vibrant place to live and the increasingnumber of young families moving into it bode well forthe future.”Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Plan14