We use cookies to collect information about how you use wiltshire.gov.uk. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services. The second phase of improvements to enhance public spaces and active travel routes along Roundstone Street in Trowbridge is progressing well. From 6 May 2025 through to 16 July 2025, improvement works will advance further along Roundstone Street, with the road closure shifting from the current location of Yerbury Street junction to Polebarn Road junction. Throughout these works, temporary traffic management measures will be in place 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of residents, road users and contractors. This scheme aims to improve pedestrian access by reviewing footpath widths, reinforcing the pedestrian route along Roundstone Street, and introducing formal crossings for pedestrians and cyclists to connect with Hilperton Road. The improvement works will be carried out between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Temporary access restrictions for residents and businesses may occur due to site operations, but businesses will be contacted in advance to limit any inconvenience. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and dedicated traffic management operatives will be present to assist motorists and pedestrians with access as required. Overnight road resurfacing will also be carried out at three points during the project, between 7pm and 11:59pm. Further information about traffic management and resurfacing details for subsequent phases will be shared nearer the time. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Joshua vanished from Trowbridge town centre but has links to Southampton I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Police have launched an appeal to help find a missing teenage boy who vanished from a town centre 48 hours ago. Joshua, 13, was last seen riding a blue mountain bike in Trowbridge on Thursday. He was described by police as wearing all black clothing - a hoodie, joggers, trainers and a black rucksack with a royal blue coloured medium size mountain bike. On Saturday, Trowbridge Police launched an appeal for the public’s help in finding the boy. A force spokesman said: “We are appealing for your help to find Joshua who is missing from Trowbridge. “Joshua, 13, was last seen in Trowbridge town centre on Thursday (10/04) and we are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare. “We believe Joshua is still in the Trowbridge area but he has links to Southampton.” A relative posted under the Facebook appeal urgently asking Josh to call them. One wrote: “Come home we are all worried about you love.” Anyone with information about Joshua's whereabouts is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 54250044122. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.625781,"label":"/style and fashion/clothing/hoodies"},{"score":0.596625,"label":"/family and parenting/parenting teens"},{"score":0.592706,"label":"/family and parenting/babies and toddlers/baby clothes"},{"score":0.573796,"label":"/law We use cookies to collect information about how you use wiltshire.gov.uk We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services Visitors to Trowbridge town centre will soon notice the installation of ten new large bench planters part of the public realm enhancements funded by the £16 million investment from the Future High Streets Fund Trowbridge Town Council will be planting cherry trees in the planters accompanied by various perennials at the base This will provide seasonal interest and attract pollinators throughout the year providing them with a continuous food source and habitat. The planters are designed to accommodate trees which will provide a canopy for shade as they grow who has worked on the planting for Castle Street will again add her distinctive skills with the plant choices Planting a variety of perennials that bloom at different times throughout the year can effectively attract pollinators said: These bench planters complement the benches and bins already installed throughout the town centre will develop a distinctive patina over time adding to the character of the town centre Wooden seating will be provided around the planters with some featuring seating halfway around and others offering seating all the way around New wayfinding finger posts and totems will be installed shortly Additionally four new bins will be placed alongside some of the bench planters in Fore Street replacing existing bins which will be slightly relocated The Future High Streets Fund projects focus on improving connections into the town centre; bringing vacant commercial units in the town centre back into use; refurbishing the Town Hall; enhancing the River Biss; and accelerating the development of key sites in the town centre Parvis Khansari added: These projects are designed to attract visitors and businesses to the heart of the town providing an economic boost to the local economy and protecting local jobs Wiltshire Council has confirmed its construction partner for the new Trowbridge leisure centre as work on the ground moves ever closer Pellikaan Construction will head up the construction of the new leisure centre in the county town The company also built the hugely impressive Melksham Community Campus Construction work is set to get underway this Spring.   The planning application for the new leisure centre in Trowbridge was approved by Wiltshire Council's Strategic Planning Committee on 11 December last year The new centre will be built on the council-owned East Wing site Longer term and in conjunction with the new project to support connectivity in this busy area the council is planning to refurbish the Longfield Gyratory and traffic signals at the Tesco access better street lighting and signalling access arrangements and will improve access to that area for motorists cyclists and pedestrians alike.   Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Health said: "Yet another milestone has been reached on this project which has significant momentum - demonstrating our desire and passion to deliver this brand-new leisure centre for Trowbridge and the wider area We're delighted to be working with Pellikaan Construction on another significant project They showed how professional and community-focussed they are with their work on the hugely popular Melksham Community Campus "The location of our new leisure centre in Trowbridge will provide quality health fitness and wellbeing facilities for our communities and unlock wider work in the area to complement our overall vision for Trowbridge and enhance connectivity The whole project team can't wait to see the vision take shape." In developing the leisure centre Wiltshire Council has worked with Alliance Leisure the delivery partner for the UK Leisure Framework (UKLF).  The partnership between the council Alliance Leisure and the UKLF provides an end-to-end solution that will scope design and build a sustainable leisure facility for local residents said: "With our extensive experience in developing over 280 leisure projects we are committed to leading a team of top-tier experts to create an exceptional new leisure facility for Trowbridge Our goal is to design a sustainable and inclusive leisure centre that caters to the needs of the local community fostering long-lasting improvements in physical and mental health and wellbeing."    the council has been working closely with internal and external colleagues with the shared goal of optimising the quality of the new leisure centre Roberts Limbrick Architects has led on the design with Hadron Consulting providing project management and Hydrock (now Stantec) as Engineer The leisure centre will be constructed using high-quality with glazed facades and a prominent entrance to welcome visitors The modern design will have a strong industrial aesthetic that reflects the heritage of Trowbridge accessibility has been put at the heart of the design plans  To support the council's target of being carbon neutral by 2030 the project has been designed with a fabric first approach to ensure it will be as energy efficient as possible Solar panels will be installed on available roof space helping to power the all-electric building.   This will be further supported by the external landscaping that will create a green island in Trowbridge with walking cycling and wheeling travel routes woven in The new facility will contain the following:     Following previous extensive consultation and a review of a wide range of evidence and data the new leisure centre facility does not include diving facilities It is anticipated that the dry side elements of Trowbridge Sports Centre (at Clarendon) would be retained there Wiltshire Council is in discussion with Acorn Education Trust regarding the existing facilities at Trowbridge Sports Centre More information about the plans can be found at New Trowbridge Leisure Centre The improvements have progressed over the past two years: will further improve the pedestrian experience across the town centre This is being funded by the public realm element of the Future High Streets Fund said: We are delighted these key pedestrian schemes have been completed and look forward to the Spring when the additional planting will start to bloom As well as the visible improvements on Manvers Street and Wicker Hill we've addressed longstanding issues like drainage and surfacing Utility companies also capitalised on this opportunity to carry out essential repairs Well-connected communities are a priority in our Business Plan and these completed schemes mark a significant step toward achieving that goal Residents and visitors alike have provided positive feedback especially mobility scooter users and pedestrians who have found a significant improvement in accessibility We appreciate the works have caused some disruption to local businesses and would like to thank them for their patience and understanding during this time Together with the other schemes supported by the Future High Streets Fund including the renovation of the Town Hall improvements to the River Biss corridor and the successful vacant commercial unit grant businesses will benefit from a vibrant more sustainable town centre "We had originally hoped to deliver five schemes using the funding from the Future High Streets Fund due to inflation and the cost of supplies and resources there is insufficient money to deliver the final scheme We have however secured Active Travel funding and redirected unallocated funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund so we will be able to start works on The Halve/Roundstone Street next month The proposals for this scheme include improved access for pedestrians by reviewing footpath widths reinforcing the pedestrian route along Roundstone Street and improving the link to Hilperton Road with formal crossing provision for pedestrians and cyclists This scheme will be split into three phases starting at The Halve in February 2025 lasting approximately seven weeks; then initial works on Roundstone Street from April until the end of July 2025; returning to complete the works from October 2025 to March 2026 More information will be provided nearer the time To find out more visit Future High Streets Fund Trowbridge by the Strategic Planning Committee on 11 December Now that planning permission has been granted a report will be presented to Cabinet early next year and they will be asked to consider the final plans Construction partners can then be confirmed and it is then expected that construction work will begin in 2025.   Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Health said: This is a significant moment for this project stakeholders and public for their hard work and diligence in getting us to this stage I'd also like to thank everyone who took the time to comment and respond to the survey or attend one of the drop-in sessions energy efficient facility that will have health and wellbeing right at its heart and play a key role in linking that area of Trowbridge to the centre of town improving what our county town has to offer We are looking forward to seeing that vision start to become a reality in 2025.   The successful planning process followed a period of engagement that saw several well attended drop-in sessions taking place for people to find out more information and a survey to provide feedback on the plans Around 700 people attended the drop-in sessions held throughout the town during June The scheme was independently reviewed by design and placemaking experts Design West which provided the council with valuable feedback and made suggestions for improvements To support the council's target of being carbon neutral by 2030 helping to power the all-electric building It is proposed that the new facility will contain the following:      Following previous extensive consultation and a review of a wide range of evidence and data More information about the plans can be found at https://new-trowbridge-leisure-centre.co.uk/ (opens new window) A replay of the Strategic Planning Committee can be found at Meeting - Democratic Services - Wiltshire Council (opens new window) The application has been recommended for approval by the planning officer and will be decided at Strategic Planning Committee from 10:30am on 11 December The committee will make the final decision the leisure centre will be built on the council's East Wing site in Trowbridge The planning application was submitted by Wiltshire Council in September 2024 and followed a period of engagement that saw several well attended drop-in sessions taking place for people to find out more information and 692 people fed back the survey.   The planning application reference number is PL/2024/08255 and can be found on the council's planning website at https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr/s/ (opens new window).  said: This exciting project is gathering momentum I'm pleased that following an intensive period of work and due diligence from everyone involved we are in the positive position of having the planning application considered this side of Christmas I'd like to thank everyone who has engaged in the planning process for this application so far.  Cabinet Member for Development Management and Strategic Planning said I am pleased that our planning service has been able to consider this planning application promptly and prepare a comprehensive report for consideration by Strategic Planning Committee for a decision this week The Committee will carefully consider the scheme before making a decision taking account of all comments that have been received.  The scheme was independently reviewed by design and placemaking experts by Design West who provide the council with valuable feedback and made suggestions for improvements.  The leisure centre would be constructed using high-quality The modern design would have a strong industrial aesthetic that reflects the heritage of Trowbridge accessibility has been put at the heart of the design plans.  To support the council's target of being carbon neutral by 2030 the project has been designed with a fabric first approach to ensure it would be as energy efficient as possible Solar panels would be installed on available roof space This would be further supported by the external landscaping that would create a green island in Trowbridge with walking cycling and wheeling travel routes woven in.  It is proposed that the new facility will contain the following:    the proposed new leisure centre facility does not include diving facilities a report will be presented to Cabinet early next year and they will be asked to consider final approval for the project More information about the plans, and a link to the planning application, can be found at https://new-trowbridge-leisure-centre.co.uk/ (opens new window).   The agenda and reports of the Strategic Planning Committee can be found at Meeting - Democratic Services - Wiltshire Council (opens new window)  The scheme aims to improve access for pedestrians by reviewing footpath widths reinforcing the pedestrian route along Roundstone Street and introducing formal crossings for pedestrians and cyclists linking to Hilperton Road The work will take place in three phases over a 12-month period The first phase will start at The Halve on 10 February and run until 25 March 2025 Phase two will focus on Roundstone Street from April through July 2025 with the final phase returning to complete the works from October 2025 to March 2026 The improvement works will be carried out between 7am and 7pm Temporary access restrictions for residents and businesses may occur due to site operations but businesses will be contacted in advance to limit any inconvenience Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and dedicated traffic management operatives will be present to assist motorists and pedestrians with access as required Temporary traffic management will be in operation 24 hours a day to ensure residents road users and contractors remain safe during the works For the first phase this means that from 10 February until 25 March 2025 The Halve will be closed from its mini roundabout junction with Duke Street to Hilperton Road Roundabout together with an outside lane closure on Hilperton Road roundabout Overnight road resurfacing will also be carried out at three points during the project Further information about traffic management and resurfacing details for subsequent phases will be shared nearer the time said: We understand these works will cause some disruption and we appreciate the patience and understanding of local businesses and residents These improvements align with our Business Plan priority of fostering well-connected communities and we're confident they will benefit both residents and visitors when complete Wiltshire Council is urging businesses to make sure that they legally dispose of their commercial waste after four Trowbridge businesses were issued fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for fly-tipping Following a report of fly-tipped waste in Fore Street the council's Environment Enforcement team visited the site to investigate the rubbish was identified as waste from four businesses in the town Each business was issued with a 14-day statutory notice requiring them to send waste transfer documents to evidence that they had lawful commercial waste management in place All four of the business owners admitted that they had no waste contracts in place and could not prove that their commercial waste had been disposed of legally Each business was issued with a £300 FPN for not having a waste contract in place and the failure to produce waste transfer documents Waste transfer notes are legal documents that prove a company has passed waste on to a business that has the appropriate licence to collect it These documents must be kept for a legal period of two years and the businesses have all since set up commercial waste contracts to have their waste collected lawfully Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene said: As part of our Business Plan pledge to tackle environmental crime and to keep Wiltshire beautiful our Stop at Source (SAS) campaign is about educating businesses and residents about correct waste management and reducing fly-tipping Any waste that is produced from a commercial activity is classed as commercial waste and businesses have an obligation to ensure that it is disposed of safely legally and responsibly - and this includes having the correct documentation This applies whether they take the rubbish away themselves or by a registered waste carrier Commercial waste collections are not included within business rates so all businesses no matter how big or small must also have a waste collection contract in place To find out more about how to correctly dispose of commercial waste To find out more about how the council is tackling fly-tipping in Wiltshire and how to report fly-tipping, people should visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping CloseSome new benches are attracting a lot of attention with some members of the public mistaking them for toppled bins Wiltshire Council has spent £55,000 of its £16m share of the Future High Streets Fund on the new street furniture in Trowbridge town centre The specific design was chosen by the town council after public engagement the council said: "We understand that new designs particularly those with a contemporary look the vibrant bench seats and planters complement other recent enhancements such as the colourful bus shelters and these have received positive feedback for transforming the appearance of the town centre." 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What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election Wiltshire Council has formally submitted a planning application to build a brand-new leisure centre for Trowbridge at its East Wing site - with a vision to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents with top class facilities while having a wider positive economic impact on the county town This follows a period of recent engagement which saw several well attended drop-in sessions taking place for people to find out more information The feedback for the survey and drop-in sessions was overwhelmingly positive about the project and proposals Wiltshire Council has been working closely with internal and external colleagues with the shared goal of optimising the quality of the centre this included an independent design review panel providing the council with valuable and constructive feedback through their breadth of knowledge and experience The proposed design will use high-quality robust materials glazed facades will showcase everything the site has to offer with a prominent entrance to welcome people in The modern design has a strong industrial aesthetic that reflects the heritage of Trowbridge accessibility has been put at the heart of the design To support the council's target of being carbon neutral by 2030 the project has taken a fabric first approach to the building design meaning the building will be as energy efficient as possible This will be further supported by the external landscaping that will create a green island in Trowbridge with active travel routes woven in it is proposed that the new facility will contain the following:   Following previous extensive consultation and a review of a wide range of evidence and data the new leisure centre facilities does not include diving facilities It is anticipated that the dry side elements of Trowbridge Sports Centre (at Clarendon) will be retained there Wiltshire Council is in discussion with Acorn Education Trust regarding the existing facilities at Trowbridge Sports Centre.  Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Health said: This is huge milestone for this project and I thank everyone for their recent feedback which has helped us to get to this stage and inform our plans I was at many of the recent drop-in sessions and the people I spoke to were very excited about our plans and vision for the overall project It was also very useful to get some constructive challenges on some of our proposals and where possible we've tried to address those as part of this planning application this will be a centre that will serve the whole community This investment will provide a modern impressive energy efficient facility that will have health and wellbeing right at its heart but will also play a key role in linking that area of Trowbridge to the centre of town improving the overall offer of our county town I'd encourage as many people as possible to take a look at the plans as this is another opportunity to provide feedback which will continue to help inform this important and exciting project