Ollie Westbury and Dan Stacey gave their verdict following the 3-2 win over Halesowen Town  Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 a developer and operator of retirement communities has completed a £500,000 refurbishment of Chantry Court The renovations significantly upgraded the Wi Fi infrastructure care assist systems and a completely updated reception officially marked the completion of the refurbishment at Chantry Court Chantry Court had been operating as a retirement community in Westbury for more than a decade before Untold Living acquired the site in 2022 with the aim of substantially investing in the estate to improve its facilities and operations along with highlights of the latest sector news and more from The Carer delivered directly to your inbox twice a week The Carer is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Contributions are welcome for consideration no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised Never see this message again. Train services through Westbury in Wiltshire have returned to normal today following four weeks of round-the-clock track and signalling upgrades The railway junction to the south of Westbury station has been fully replaced enabling the continued safe and reliable running of the railway for years to come The teams laid 212 new pieces of track and replaced 1,700 tonnes of ballast (track stone) rain and snow​.With Westbury station closed since Christmas Eve, Network Rail also took the opportunity to repair the storm-damaged platform canopy roof while Great Western Railway completed refurbishments to the station waiting rooms, toilets and staff accommodation Further south, teams successfully completed strengthening work on Sherrington viaduct Passengers are advised to check before they travel when planned follow-up work takes place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February This includes minor work on the junction to the north of Westbury as well as track replacement at nearby Hawkeridge Network Rail programme director Ross Mahoney said: “Four weeks is a long time to have the railway out of action but we have completed an extensive overhaul of this critical junction This work will improve reliability and reduce delays for passenger and freight services "The scale of the job we’ve completed is not to be underestimated With up to 150 people out working on it through all kinds of weather – including over the Christmas period – I’d like to personally thank everyone who has made this important renewal such a success.” GWR station manager Jordan Welsby said: "This vitally important work will ensure the continued safe and reliable use of this key part of our network for years to come "As well as the maintenance of the infrastructure which Network Rail provide to us we have also taken the opportunity to make some station improvements and we are really grateful for customers' patience during this period." For more information about the work completed, see Network Rail’s dedicated web page: www.networkrail.co.uk/westbury to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years 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 transfer of services will commence in January and will see Westbury Town Council assuming responsibility for litter collection grounds maintenance and streetscene services in the town as well as the management of all future markets the town's open cemetery and parts of amenity land The agreement grants the town council autonomy to manage these services and facilities as it sees fit giving it an opportunity to focus on local priorities without any input from Wiltshire Council said: We are pleased to collaborate with Westbury Town Council and transfer these local services to enable local people to have a greater say on how grounds maintenance and streetscene services are run in the town we are increasingly focusing on strategic areas such as adult care services and other county-wide responsibilities.  One of the key priorities in our Business Plan is to create vibrant communities we are focused on supporting town councils to take on more ownership of their local environment including transferring assets where appropriate to ensure towns can enhance services and better meet the needs of their residents Chair of Service Devolution and Asset Transfer Working Group said: Westbury Town Council is pleased to take on more responsibility for managing services that benefit our local community While we know it won't be without its challenges we are confident that our systems and team are ready to provide a great service We understand the increasing pressures on Unitary authorities and believe that managing services locally is better for democracy and accountability We are excited to take on this opportunity and look forward to serving our community in this new way Westbury Town Council is added to the growing list of town councils who have already taken on more local services and has joined Chippenham Pewsey and Trowbridge in taking on grounds maintenance services and community assets in their towns Wiltshire Council has also supported its town centres and high streets through the Wiltshire Towns Westbury’s long-awaited new banking hub is now open for business offering local residents a facility for in-person banking services following the closure of the town’s last bank in 2018 The hub has been temporarily set up in The Reading Room at The Laverton but it is expected to be relocated to a permanent home later this year who was part of the campaign for the banking hub Sheila Kimmins and Val Jarvis have been instrumental in making this happen for the town “I’ve been using online banking for about 20 years and sometimes you really need to talk to someone face to face It’s crucial that people in the town have a physical place they can go to and Westbury Town Council is delighted to be able to help Cash Access UK with this.” Westbury has been without a bank since 2018 when the last remaining branches The banking hub’s arrival follows a petition launched by local resident Val Jarvis which garnered 600 signatures in support of the project where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash and carry out regular banking transactions it will have staff from different banks available on rotating days Cash Access UK has been working alongside Westbury Town Council to find a more permanent home for the banking hub While the current location at The Laverton is temporary plans are in place for a permanent site at a different “I want to stress that the location of the banking hub is temporary and there will be a more accessible location for the banking hub once the other property is ready.” “I think this shows enormous goodwill on the part of Cash Access UK to spend money on the temporary hub so people in Westbury have something in the interim.” For people seeking to visit the temporary banking hub there is no access through the front door of The Laverton – visitors need to follow the signs to The Reading Room entrance a community banker from Natwest will be at the hub on Tuesdays and a Barclays representative on Thursdays HSBC and Halifax representatives will be in place in the near future as well said the first few days had seen a steady stream of customers pop in “We want to encourage people in the local community to come and visit the hub We’ve had people come in and think they can only do cash transactions on certain days when their community bank representative is in you can come by any day to make a cash transaction Zoe and Tarnia here at the hub to help you when we can.” who lives in Westbury and works at the banking hub said the town centre location of the temporary banking hub had been praised by customers We’ve been out with flyers to let people know we’re here “Now it needs support and for people to use it.” “I’m happy to announce that we have opened the new banking hub in Westbury giving local residents renewed access to cash and in-person banking services “The hub is available for everyday banking transactions every day of the week and for more specific or complex enquiries a community banker will be on-site to assist on designated days.” visit https://www.cashaccess.co.uk/hubs/westbury-wiltshire/ Pictured: Banking hub manager Mittal Soni with cashiers Anne Local adventurers are being invited to take part in a life-changing expedition to the Himalayas A Second community fridge is set to open in Westbury helping to provide free food to even more residents across.. A Westbury man has completed an extraordinary 151-mile swimming challenge clocking up miles for over a year to raise money.. A Westbury woman has visited the Houses of Parliament to campaign for better funding for brain tumour research after her.. © 2024 White Horse News | Wiltshire Publications Ltd SN12 6ES Registered in England & Wales | 02627096 Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2024 White Horse News | Web Design & SEO by YOW Internet When the curtain comes down on Shrewsbury's League One season this weekend focus will immediately switch to what they can achieve next campaign Salop have a lot of things to iron out over the next seven days They need to decide on their head coach - are they going to give Michael Appleton the job And then they need to announce their released and retained list as they start to build their team for the next challenge What players in the current Shrewsbury squad would be suited to their fourth-tier campaign Our Shrewsbury Town reporter Ollie Westbury has picked four The 32-year-old is under contract at the Croud Meadow but clubs find a way to negotiate around that if they want to move players on If that were to happen it would come as a shock as Marquis has had a relatively successful season from a personal point of view Passengers are being reminded to prepare for a four-week period of railway upgrade work in and around Westbury station that will improve performance of train services and ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway for years to come Once the last train is clear of Westbury station on Christmas Eve Network Rail engineers will start work on the replacement of Westbury South junction a crucial section of track that allows trains to change from one line to another on the way to and from the station’s platforms The team will be working 24/7 from Christmas Eve until the early hours of Friday 24 January The work involves fully replacing the track and ballast stone to update worn components They will also be fine tuning signalling in the area and making adjustments to the platform edge stones at the station further south along the line towards Salisbury another team will be carrying out strengthening work on Sherrington Viaduct Making the most of the opportunity while Westbury station is out of action Great Western Railway will also be carrying out minor refurbishments at the station itself from Friday 27 December to Thursday 23 January no trains will run through or stop at Westbury Passengers are reminded to allow extra time for their journey and to check before they travel during these dates. To check your journey, go to www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.GWR.com/upgrade the railway line between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington will be closed for Network Rail said: “Westbury South junction is a vital piece of infrastructure that allows passenger and freight services to switch between lines on this very busy section of the route “Replacing it is a huge job but doing so now will safeguard train operations in this area for years to come We’d like to thank residents and passenger for their patience while this work is completed this winter.” said: “This work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance helping to ensure we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services “Some trains will use an alternative route not stopping at Westbury with rail replacement services provided for customers between Westbury and Frome valid rail tickets can also be used to travel on local buses in the area “It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer Network Rail and GWR have been holding community drop-in sessions about the work during November with two more to follow in December as below: engagement and development officer at Westbury Town Council with town councillor Mark Bailey at the rotunda in Westbury Westbury should be a place where “new businesses have the confidence to open,” a town councillor has said as part of plans to boost footfall in the town centre aim to transform how both residents and visitors interact with the town centre The state of the High Street is a common concern raised to local councillors chair of the Town Council’s Vision for Westbury Committee “People see it as being in decline and ask why the town council doesn’t ‘do something.’ The reality is that we have limited powers “We’d all love to have a High Street full of busy shops and cafés but the council has no powers over which businesses move in “The way people use high streets has changed and it’s not going to go backwards High streets are constantly undergoing change providing more services and experiences rather than traditional retail outlets “We aim to help this by making it a more pleasant place to spend time.” Following a Full Council meeting earlier this year where a member of the public asked about the number of shops in the High Street residents were urged to spend their money locally to entice more businesses to the area Cllr Bailey also encouraged people to engage with the Vision for Westbury Committee the committee explores ways the town can be developed and acts as a ‘blueprint for the future of the whole town.’ Its members look at ‘quick wins’ like installing planters refurbishing street furniture and putting up banners to promote the High Street and show that the area is cared for The Vision for Westbury Committee also oversees several longer-term projects such as the rotunda redevelopment which hopes to regenerate the High Street Town engagement officer Ben Griffiths also works to build dedicated relationships with local businesses and landlords “The new rotunda redevelopment will provide a new focus for the High Street It will be user-friendly and inviting — a space that people can use to rest and enjoy a coffee We hope to encourage buskers and other entertainers in summer and “All of these things will increase footfall along with the new post office and the banking hub moving to the town centre and increased footfall will allow new businesses to have the confidence to open.” There are also further projects in the works awaiting funding opportunities These include plans to redevelop the area surrounding Westbury’s library Cllr Bailey said the Vision for Westbury Committee will strive to put residents first with any future proposals for the town “We want Westbury to have its own identity many local towns look to us as an example with our amazing events — the Soapbox Derby our Sunday Brunches and Christmas Lights Switch-On “We have a lot to celebrate in our own right.” You can pick up a Vision for Westbury guide at town council events or read it online at the Westbury Town Council website Westbury's first Sunday Brunch event of the year proved to be a big success A new accountancy training centre has been launched in Wiltshire to help businesses and individuals perfect their bookkeeping software skills... Volunteers are needed to help run the Dilton Memorial Hall Polling station sign for UK general elections Residents in the Westbury area are preparing to head to the polls on Thursday 1st May as local elections take place across Wiltshire This year’s Wiltshire Council elections are expected to be hotly contested with four seats up for grabs in the Westbury area Candidates are standing from the Conservative Party Wiltshire Council is responsible for key services such as planning The elections come at a time when local issues such as investment in fixing roads and potholes and funding for local services are high on the agenda an election will only take place in the North ward where the number of candidates has exceeded the number of available seats the number of candidates did not exceed the available seats so those candidates will be elected unopposed Voting in local elections will have an impact on who makes the decisions that will affect people’s day-to-day lives.” Residents are reminded that voter ID is now a legal requirement driving licence or a Voter Authority Certificate voters will not be allowed to cast their ballot With women holding 93% of administrative roles Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase’s New York district is bucking trends and seeing impressive results Tahira DuPree Chase is superintendent of Westbury Union Free School District In New York and a member of the Institute for Education Innovation Rising through the ranks to a school leadership role can be an arduous journey for even the most qualified female educators We often face challenges our male counterparts never experience Only 30% of superintendents in the U.S. are female, and less than 1.5% are Black women. Across the country, female school leaders are targeted by unwarranted criticism and receive less coaching and support than their male colleagues We’re also a powerful force to be reckoned with — fierce committed and experienced — and when united we are reshaping education to better fit our students’ diverse needs female leaders must find their own tribe of like-minded women who sit in a similar seat both in the education field and outside of it and local support systems composed of incredible individuals who understand one another’s struggles Here in Long Island’s Westbury Union Free School District that collective commitment on a local level is powering our schools forward Under the leadership of “The Women of Westbury,” otherwise known as “WOW,” the district’s graduation rate has skyrocketed to 90% in a district where nearly 70% of children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch We have implemented top-tier security measures to better protect our students and done it all while successfully managing our schools’ finances Building this team of professionals and helping them thrive hasn’t been without its challenges but by aligning our recruitment and retention strategies with three critical guidelines we’ve reached this incredible time in Westbury’s history we knew we needed to diversify our leadership but the goal did not dictate our hiring process and it just so happened that female applicants rose to the top The individuals we’ve hired are credentialed These aren’t so-called “DEI hires”; they are common-sense hires because they believe men have an advantage or assume they lack the experience to meet every vague qualification listed in the job announcement It has been disheartening to watch other women struggle with similar challenges and become disenchanted with the entire education system That’s why Westbury has strived to create a more equitable space where all individuals are encouraged to take the next step in their careers Superintendents are expected to shoulder a heavy load in their role, but for female leaders, the stress can feel overwhelming. Ninety-five percent of female administrators said they struggled to find a healthy work-life balance and were forced to make personal and professional sacrifices their male colleagues did not we stress the importance of self-care for all educators and administrators in the district by hosting wellness fairs and offering a mental health day focused solely on our team’s well-being A board-certified psychotherapist is on staff to provide social-emotional support on both a group and individual level we help school leaders develop their own professional support system that includes not just their fellow women but male allies who have their best interests at heart We have found that when we provide educators the space to find that self-care sweet spot our schools become centers of innovation where we are improving our students' academic experience we have an obligation to empower the next generation of women Becoming a mentor to future leaders and watching them thrive is one of the greatest honors we can experience in our leadership roles When someone trusts me to be their sounding board and values my insights to offer their expertise to female colleagues nationwide This professional community is incredibly powerful. Research has found that women who have a close inner circle of female colleagues are more likely to secure leadership positions there is no link for men’s success in terms of the gender composition of their networks the “Women of Westbury” have encountered their fair share of detours roadblocks and bumps to get to a place where their talents and expertise are celebrated we’re not just a support system for each other we are paving the way for the women coming up behind us to receive the roles they rightly deserve We recognized that diversifying our administration is one of the best things we can do for students ensuring they see themselves reflected in their leaders and understand there is no limit to what they can achieve in their future careers Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts While gains have come for inclusion of students with disabilities underfunding and teacher shortages remain struggles Illustration: Ivan Haidutski for Industry Dive These exemplary administrators are excelling on school culture Subscribe to the K-12 Dive free daily newsletter The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines helping to provide free food to even more residents across the town fruit and vegetables to anyone who needs it no referral is required – people can simply drop in and take what they need a brand-new community fridge will soon be created at Leigh Park Community Centre says there has been a clear rise in demand over the last six months He hopes a new site will help reach more people we open the community fridge on Eden Vale Road on Monday but we’ve found it is people local to that specific area who make use of it “A second community fridge at the Leigh Park Community Centre means we can bring support to a wider range of people and I have been talking about this idea for a while and what it could mean to have this kind of support in another area of the town.” The community fridge at Leigh Park Community Centre will operate from a purpose-built shelter adjacent to the car park area It will be equipped with two under-counter fridges and shelving to store surplus food collected from local outlets All staff and volunteers handling food will complete a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate It is hoped the new community fridge will be able to operate five days a week “The intention would be to open for longer We are still in the process of sourcing the shelter itself and the fridges but we are working hard to make this happen as soon as we can WAN has worked with Westbury Town Council and Leigh Park Community Centre to make the second community fridge a reality councillors agreed to cover set-up costs of £3,199 for the community fridge and running costs of up to £1,000 a year Councillors and staff praised the wider work of the community fridge and WAN volunteers with town councillor Gordon King adding that the venture was “very important” for the town Westbury's long-awaited new banking hub is now open for business offering local residents a facility for in-person banking services following.. George Daniel who completed his fundraising challenge at Westbury Swimming Pool clocking up miles for over a year to raise money for charity covering lengths at every council-run pool in Wiltshire He took on the challenge to support Dogs Trust and Cancer Research UK finishing his final mile at Westbury Swimming Pool recently “I wanted to try and do something for a good cause and thought this could be a new challenge There were two charities which I raised money for I chose ones which needed the most support “It was February last year when I started the challenge I’m not actually exhausted after all the miles who has autism and lives in a care home in Westbury hopes his achievement will inspire others with additional needs to take on their own challenges “Am I an inspiration to people with autism and I hope others see that anything is possible “I would like to say thank you very much to everyone who has given me support and donated money to the two charities I picked Long may they both continue to do great work.” George documented each swim with photos at different pools “George is a human dynamo when it comes to physical challenges This fundraiser has taken incredible focus and effort and we are all so proud of his determination and kindness.” Those wishing to support George’s chosen charities can donate directly to Dogs Trust or Cancer Research UK 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 Westbury United was forced into a ground-share arrangement with Frome Town FC while their own stadium remains in the dark a new Supporters Trust Fund has been set up by fans which aims to raise enough money to clear the club’s debts and bring Westbury United back home businesses and football lovers to join the Supporters Trust by emailing supporterstrust@westburyunited.co.uk who will then reply with details on how to donate It is hoped any donations made through the Supporters Trust Fund could be refunded if an agreement is made with a developer in the future They are also setting up a JustGiving page for anyone who does not want to join the Supporters Trust but want to help with a donation three of the key figures behind the campaign said the supporters couldn’t stand by and watch their club suffer “Westbury United is the heart of our community and we simply cannot allow this club to struggle alone,” they said “It’s devastating to see the team playing away from home and our squad of players and management team have shown incredible loyalty by continuing to play without pay or travelling expenses we need to do our bit and get them back where they belong.” It’s in its third season in the Southern League playing at the highest level in its history but if everyone who cares about this club chips in what they can “Westbury United has given us so many great memories – now it’s time for us to give something back “We have a home game against Melksham Town on 21st April and it would be amazing if we could raise the money by then and play that game at Meadow Lane in front of a bumper crowd.” Westbury United’s joint managers Ricky Hulbert and Lewis Porter have expressed their gratitude for the fans’ efforts calling it a testament to the club’s strong community spirit “The support from the fans means the world to us,” Ricky said “The players and staff are doing everything we can to keep fighting for this club and knowing the fans are fighting alongside us gives us even more motivation This club has a special bond with its supporters To contact or donate to the Supporters Trust Fund email supporterstrust@westburyunited.co.uk or visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wufc-supporters Poster from Westbury Urban District Council in 1945 advertising a meeting to plan for VE Day celebrations Westbury will come together to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day next month with a series of community events celebrating the end of World War II in Europe Westbury will come together on Thursday 8th May to mark Victory in Europe (VE) Day with events taking place at both the War Memorial and Bratton Camp The day will begin at 9am with the raising of the VE Day flag at the War Memorial The mayor will deliver a formal proclamation to honour those who served and sacrificed during the war The Town Council would like to invite any members of the public who own WWII-era vehicles to get in touch as they are aiming to create a special display at Soisy Gardens for everyone to enjoy If you have a vehicle that you would be happy to have on display The day of reflection and celebration will conclude with a special beacon lighting ceremony at Winkland Down All Saints Church will host a social afternoon on Tuesday 6th May from 3pm to 4pm Children and vulnerable adults must be accompanied by a parent people are invited to drop in for tea and cake and for children to make peace lanterns and medals local historians David Jenkins and Julie Davis will be at the library on Tuesday 13th May between 2pm and 4pm to share and discuss wartime memories The Hollies Inn and Laura Raisey will host a ‘Brew & Bake’ fundraiser for veterans’ charity Combat Stress on Thursday 8th May from 10am to 4pm to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day Bratton will join communities across the UK in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day 9am: Raising of the official VE Day 80 Flag on the flagpole at The Duke 10am: VE Day Coffee Morning at the Bratton Church Institute and a specially baked commemorative cake provided by the Women’s Institute 11.45am: Formal act of remembrance at the War Memorial 6.30pm: Bells of St James’s Church will ring out for the ‘Ringing Out for Peace’ initiative 7pm: VE Day themed fish and chip supper at The Duke featuring 1940s music recreating the atmosphere of street parties held across Britain in May 1945 jazz singer Sandy Ince will perform at the Dilton Marsh Memorial Hall on Sunday 18th May from 2.30pm to 4.30pm Tickets cost £12.50 and include afternoon tea There will also be a prize for the best outfit contact Kathy on 01373 301656 or 07708 351323 Plans to create more new homes are set to progress on a Lambeth Council estate where 64 new affordable homes at social rent have already been built to house local people in need The council is seeking a Development Partner to deliver additional new homes at the Westbury Estate off Wandsworth Road under its refreshed New Homes Programme which has been designed to help tackle Lambeth’s acute shortage of social housing the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Housing said: “There is a desperate need in Lambeth for more affordable homes We have 4,600 homeless households in temporary accommodation every night and thousands more on our housing waiting list “We are determined to press on with our plans to do what we can as a council to address this while working with the government to address the housing crisis “So I’m really pleased we’ve now reached this important stage at Westbury Estate as we progress our ambitious targets to build more affordable homes in the borough for local people “Working with a Development Partner is the quickest way we can get these new affordable homes on the estate built and we will continue to work with current residents on the estate to make sure this process works for everyone.” The Council expects the following to be met: The development partner procurement process for the Westbury Estate will also help the Council to meet priority one of the  Lambeth Housing Strategy 2023-30 and support the delivery of more than 500 much needed new affordable homes by 2030  The future new homes at Westbury will help to maximise the number of new homes at Social Rent built at pace to overall create more affordable homes Get email updates about things happening in Lambeth Explore our topics and pick the ones that matter to you Find local events and sign up to join the fun at your local library updates and opportunities and stay updated on what's happening in Lambeth Having undergone a recent €8m refurbishment this Doyle Collection hotel is more befitting of its A-list clientele than ever Travel Taylor Swift. Audrey Hepburn. Marlon Brando. Pavarotti. Pele. David Bowie. Bob Dylan. What do these icons all have in common? Not much. Except that they have all, at some point or another, stayed at The Westbury Hotel in Dublin Situated in prime position for shopping and sightseeing — yet tucked away from the main tourist street — The Westbury has a grandeur to it that makes it feel much older than it actually is With a relatively short life of just 40 years marking Pascal Vincent Doyle’s second hotel opening in Dublin You may recognise the hotelier’s name from The Doyle Collection’s London outposts: The Marylebone A 1980s baby it may be, but there’s nothing retro about The Westbury. Its elegance aligns it more closely with the storied 1800s hotels that occupy space in Mayfair and Regent Street But there’s one thing that makes it even better: it’s Irish There aren’t many places where you can walk around five Guinnesses deep and still feel like royalty, but The Westbury is one of them. And with Taylor Swift booking out an entire floor for her and her entourage during the European leg of the Eras tour in 2024 The Westbury is smack bang in the middle of things while being simultaneously nestled on a quiet side street almost as if a protective arm is tucking it slightly away from the thoroughfare which adjoins the key shopping area of Grafton Street and also handily straddles the space between Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green — some of Dublin’s most obligatory sightseeing spots with the option of a quick 10-minute stroll down to the “buzzy” (touristy) area of Temple Bar should you wish to get the obligatory red pub with fairy lights Insta post The Westbury may look a little different to when the likes of Dylan and Hepburn stayed in it. It recently underwent a €8m refurbishment, leaving it even more stunning than when it was first founded. This place is all about the classical, luxury hotel experience: marble bathrooms Its restaurants and lobby are equally gilded with soft light emanating from its ornate light fixtures and bouncing onto blush-coloured lounge chairs The Westbury’s recent renovation was largely focused around the hotel’s fifth and sixth floors This new collection of suites now includes The PV Doyle Suite which features 15 outstanding artworks by Ireland’s most renowned artists as well as Louis Le Brocquy’s Sol Y Sombra tapestry and Angelo Mangiarotti’s sculptural marble table The two newly renovated floors are also flooded with natural light (though well equipped with blackout curtains) and provide an excellent view across Dublin The city is remarkably flat compared to London due to its building regulations If you want some of the best cold water seafood of your life Eyes will widen at the taste of impeccable smoked salmon on Guinness bread; jaws will drop over Kilkeel scallops with pork belly; and of course All paired perfectly with sommelier-selected wines The hotel also offers an extensive cocktail menu (plus the opportunity to go fully off-menu) at The Sidecar and more brasserie-style bites at Balfes as well as the traditional afternoon tea at WILDE So believe me when I tell you this one is a banger I take my pubs as seriously as my Full Englishes so hear me when I say that Toner’s is one of the best pubs I’ve visited on a global scale Enter via the front on Baggot Street and be prepared to be surprised Also good are: O’Donoghues (which has an occasional live band) and Searsons get the main sightseeing spots out of the way (Trinity St Stephen’s Green and Guinness Experience are all worth it) and spend a beach day in Howth which is just an hour away on the DART and has a gorgeous coastal walk I still miss that salmon and Guinness bread Rates from €370 per night on a B&B basis, doylecollection.com The White Lotus Thailand hotels you can actually stay at Crete: Is this the chicest adult-only hotel on the Greek isles Chelsea's naughtiest night club is back at 151 King's Road The Westbury to Everest Challenge from 2017 led by Westbury resident and serving army officer Rab is organising a once-in-a-lifetime trek to Nepal in May 2026 The trip will culminate in a climb to the iconic Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,598ft) and Kalapattar (5,555m/18,225ft) where participants will watch the sun rise over the world’s highest peak This won’t be Rab’s first time tackling the Himalayas he successfully led a group of 29 adventurers from Westbury and the surrounding area to Everest Base Camp – with 22 reaching their goal “This will be my eighth expedition to the Everest and Annapurna regions of Nepal,” said Rab “Following the success of ‘Westbury to Everest I’ in 2017 so many people have asked if I’d ever lead another trip – and that was an easy one to answer this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and no amount of words can do justice to what you will experience and see to say you’ve sat and watched the sun rise over Everest will be mind-blowing Flying into what’s known as the world’s most dangerous airport at Lukla trekking among seven of the world’s highest mountains meeting new friends and experiencing new cultures will create memories you’ll cherish forever.” and be ready for a serious physical challenge “Everest Base Camp isn’t ‘just Base Camp’ – think of stacking Ben Nevis on top of itself four times then taking away half the oxygen,” Rab said we’ll prepare very well – and ultimately succeed.” starting with time in Kathmandu for kit checks and cultural experiences before heading to the mountains The cost is estimated at £1,395 (excluding international flights and spending money) which Rab says is significantly lower than most commercial trekking packages The expedition will also mark a personal milestone for Rab who plans to complete the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon on 29th May 2026 celebrating the anniversary of the first summit of Everest in 1953 where he raised thousands for breast cancer awareness and scaled Lobuche East (6,119m) – all while wearing a kilt and both novices and experienced trekkers are welcome to apply Rab will host two or three information presentations at The Hollies Inn in Westbury with the kind support of landlord Charlie Dale-Staples “These presentations are a great way to see what you’re getting into and to ask questions,” said Rab “If you’ve ever dreamt of doing something extraordinary – whether for charity or a personal goal – come along Rab will again be working with his trusted contact Ashok who runs Adventure Tansen Trek PVT in Nepal providing a first-class service from when you land in Nepal until you leave,” Rab explained we can offer the trip at a price you won’t beat – an estimated £1,395 covering everything apart from international flights (estimated £600–£800) and spending money “I’m not charging anything personally – my reward is seeing the local community benefit from this opportunity and giving something back for the support they show to the Armed Forces Most agencies would charge £2,000 or more just for the trek alone you’ll also have time to experience the wonderful culture cuisine and some well-deserved rest and recuperation in Kathmandu and Pokhara.” who is in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps based in Warminster has set the date for May 2026 to allow time for budgeting and preparation please contact me on 07894 647607 or email rabcniz@hotmail.co.uk,” he said once you’ve had time to discuss it with family and friends who might also be interested “If you have a personal reason for wanting to do this – perhaps to raise funds for charity or to achieve a lifetime goal – but feel it might be out of your league come along to the presentation before you say no to an adventure that could give you the best memories of your life FROME Town FC is offering a “helping hand” to their neighbours across the border following league and FA approval The club announced it will allow Westbury United FC to play home games at Frome’s Badgers Hill ground until the end of the season due to Westbury United having a “longstanding” financial issue said that due to an issue with the club’s electrical supply they no longer meet the Southern League’s grading criteria and as a result the club cannot fulfil the remaining home fixtures at their ground READ MORE: Young Somerset football players in surprise meeting with legendary manager READ MORE: Questions raised over Environment Agency “monstrosity” in Frome READ MORE: Frome community rallies behind “fantastic” charity stalwart following attack He said United is “eternally grateful” for Frome Town’s support in offering Badgers Hill as a home venue and that the club will take full responsibility for the “horrible situation.” Frome Town said the decision is in the best interests of the local footballing community said the move will ensure financial stability and save one of the club’s nearest neighbours “Prior to Frome Town Council’s generous and crucial decision to step in a few years ago many of you will remember that our club was just days away from liquidation,” he said the board members and long-standing supporters we know just how stressful and heart-breaking a situation like this can be – it involved sleepless nights and a horrible sense of unease about the future of our club “It was with that in mind and having been there that we took the decision to offer a helping hand to our neighbours There were several considerations at play here and many of the responses to this evening’s news are understood by members of the FTAFC Board “Our ground maintenance team from Greensward are aware and confident that they have the capacity to carry out pitch works and repairs for the added fixtures “The agreement we have reached with the approval of the community benefit society has the double benefit of ensuring financial stability but “We are a footballing family after all.” Frome Town came close to liquidation in 2022 and was saved thanks to Frome Town Council paying off the debts of Frome Town Holdings Ltd in exchange for the option to acquire the site for £1 thereby securing Badgers Hill for the Frome community A community benefit society was set up to return the club to community and fan ownership and initiate long-term development plans for the club and the site Follow us on Facebook Subscribe to the Newsletter The New Blackmore Vale Magazine The New Stour & Avon Magazine Salisbury & Avon Gazette A new song has been specially commissioned to mark the Westbury Choral Society’s centenary celebrations The popular choir will celebrate 100 years of singing in harmony with a concert at All Saints Church on Saturday 10th May a new piece titled Their Voices Rose has been created author and Westbury resident Judith Nicholls who has written 50 poetry books and visited 500 schools during her career has a personal connection to the choir – her late husband and eldest daughter both sang with Westbury Choral The accompanying music has been composed by Malcolm Archer a renowned choral composer based in the Trowbridge area He has previously served as choirmaster at Wells Cathedral School and St Paul’s Cathedral and was director of music for the late Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations The specially commissioned piece celebrates a century of choral singing in Westbury reflecting on the passing of time while expressing the enduring joy of singing The wider Westbury community is warmly invited to join the choir at 7pm on 10th May for an evening of music Tickets are £15 if bought in advance and are available at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/westburychoral The society gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsorship from Westbury Town Council for the event Picture: Judith and Malcolm attending a Westbury Choral choir rehearsal  With recent Westbury United games falling foul of the weather White Horse News talks to club chairman Phil Hampson White Horse News caught up with him to talk about his first year in charge the season so far and his hopes for the future… but I’m over the moon with how things are going now,” he said “The club has faced significant financial struggles requiring a complete restructuring to ensure long-term sustainability We’ve had to change a lot of things so we can compete with clubs with far bigger budgets “It’s been just a year since we’ve been at the helm and considering the redevelopment at the ground You can’t just throw money at a football club One of the standout achievements has been the performance of the first team this season who have excelled despite a significantly reduced player budget Phil was full of praise for the management and players “The managers and first-team staff deserve massive credit bringing in players who truly want to play for Westbury These players are running through brick walls for the club and doing amazing things It’s refreshing to see that in football nowadays things are ridiculously good; we really are punching above our weight We’ve won more points already this season than we did for the whole of last season not over our shoulders and if things go our way “It’s a joy to watch the players give everything for the shirt,” Phil added We’re a very difficult team to play against; even against top of the table Yate in November we could easily have got a point or even more despite playing 40+ minutes with ten men; only going down 1-0 to a late goal.” Phil’s vision extends beyond immediate results His goal is to establish Westbury United as a mainstay in the Southern League “We need better facilities to thrive at this level and we’re working hard behind the scenes to make that happen We shouldn’t really be in the Southern League with the facilities we have but we’re making big strides and hopefully we’re going to continue to move forward.” The club’s progress has been bolstered by the unwavering support of its fans “We’ve got the best fans in the area,” said Phil It’s brilliant to see so many young lads coming along and it’s having a huge impact on performances.” One of Phil’s early initiatives was to introduce free entry for children a move aimed at fostering a new generation of fans “We want as many people as possible to feel part of the club Cover Picture: Club chairman Phil Hampson playing for Westbury Utd Veterans Pictured below: United’s young fans who are having a ‘huge impact on performances’ the A350 through Westbury has been confirmed as the preferred route for traffic between the M4 and the south coast there are still questions about the future of a bypass for the town The findings were published in National Highways’ M4 to Dorset Coast Connectivity Strategic Study which identifies the A350 as the preferred route and Westbury before joining the A36 at Warminster a crucial concern for Westbury residents is the lack of any specific mention of a bypass – an issue that has plagued the town for decades Westbury remains the only town along the A350 where traffic One of the study’s main recommendations is a “more detailed assessment of the A350 between West Ashton and the A36 to address issues at Yarnbrook and Westbury.” However critics argue that this lacks clarity and that Westbury continues to lag behind Melksham and Chippenham where Wiltshire Council has already committed to major road upgrades Local reaction: mixed feelings and concerns Westbury town councillor Philip Harcourt summed up the situation “Making the A350 the preferred route could certainly be good if it means a Westbury bypass – this could be the most positive news we’ve had for a long time The town needs a bypass and that’s got to happen before even more traffic is funelled through the town The report is good news if it means a bypass Cllr Harcourt also raised concerns about funding pointing out that any major road improvements would require government investment “Wiltshire Council won’t have the money to finance this so it will have to come from the Government Although we’ve heard a lot about infrastructure projects the focus seems to be more on green energy than roads.” He also noted the impact of the recent closure of Cleveland Bridge in Bath which has already led to an increase in HGV traffic through Westbury MP Danny Kruger has successfully managed to get extra traffic out of his constituency in Marlborough and pushed it into ours,” he said Fellow town councillor Mike Sutton also expressed reservations “Whilst any review of the road network that impacts Westbury is welcome we should be mindful that at present they are only strategic proposals Westbury has heard this on many previous occasions.” Cllr Sutton also pointed out that Wiltshire Council has prioritised other areas over Westbury when it comes to road funding millions were spent upgrading the Chippenham bypass by providing extra lanes Some would argue that money would have been better used in Westbury the risk remains that additional traffic will be forced through the town without the necessary infrastructure improvements.” Local campaigner Phil Chipper has raised concerns about the cost and true motivations behind Wiltshire Council’s infrastructure plans He questioned whether the council’s primary motivation was road improvement or creating space for large-scale housing developments “Wiltshire Council aren’t at all interested in the M4 South coast project; the only section that they will actively undertake are those around Chippenham and Melksham where there is the greatest opportunity for large scale housing projects If they truly were interested in the through route then the Westbury bypass would be the first priority Local MP Andrew Murrison cautiously welcomed the report’s findings but pressing for further details “This takes the long overdue western route bypass for Westbury and Yarnbrook a step further but I await details on mitigations along the whole route before commenting further I have written to ministers asking for details and in the hope that there will be no further delays in this interminable process My constituents have been waiting far too long.” seeing it as an opportunity to secure much-needed investment for road infrastructure improvements across the county “Much of this route runs through Wiltshire and so it has huge implications for our county’s road network This study now means that highways improvements could be made at several key points in the county critics say the council’s statement did not mention the Westbury bypass leaving uncertainty about whether the town will see any direct benefits from the proposed changes Players and the joint managers have rallied behind Westbury United despite a worrying financial crisis The club is facing one of the toughest periods in its history battling severe financial difficulties that have left it without a home ground and unable to pay its players and managers With home games now being played in Frome due to ongoing issues with its electricity supplier and a squad playing entirely without wages along with joint managers Ricky Hulbert and Lewis Porter have chosen to stay without pay – which has brought a massive thanks from the fans who has been part of the club for nearly a decade as both a player and manager expressed immense pride in the dedication of his squad “Westbury United is more than just a football club; it’s a family,” he said “There is no longer a playing budget at the club or travel expenses so we had the seemingly impossible task of asking the players if they would stick by the club through these difficult times That is unheard of at this level of football It speaks volumes about the type of people we have brought to this club I want to pay tribute to the players; they are playing for nothing and have been fantastic Bristol – they are actually paying out of their own pockets to play for Westbury United That just shows the type of people they are The club has been forced to move its home games to Frome Town FC due to being unable to afford electricity at its own ground Ricky and Lewis remain focused on keeping Westbury United competitive in the Southern League the highest level the club has ever played at But we don’t want to stop here,” Ricky continued we were competing at this level with a smaller budget than most it’s an even greater challenge – but we’re not backing down.” The club’s success on the pitch has been remarkable considering the circumstances Westbury United was just four points off the playoff positions with a game in hand Ricky is determined to ensure the team regains its momentum “We’ve lost a couple of games since having to move grounds The biggest challenge now is bouncing back quickly,” he said a massive thank you goes to our players who have been so understanding and supportive We are under no illusions about the task that is ahead of us Ricky and Lewis believe the club can come through this stronger if they can attract more support from the local community and businesses “The town of Westbury deserves a club at this level There’s so much potential here with the trading estate and new housing developments “There are things going on behind the scenes the club can put this behind them going forward and come through this stronger.” “Regardless of the results for the remainder of this season and the players should hold their heads high We Westbury supporters are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of men to support on matchdays Ricky and Lewis made a seamless transition from being key players in the 2017-18 Western First Division-winning team to managing the club at its highest level ever they have upheld high standards for everyone involved “Without Ricky and Lewis’s hard work and commitment Their ability to lead the team to compete in the Southern League and all the players for your loyalty and support in this difficult time I’m sure the rest of our green army crew echo this thanks too Now let’s get back to winning games and moving up the league.” Lewis Porter and Ricky Hulbert; you are the right people to lead the team through a difficult period,” while Janeen Jones said you have a fantastic management team who bring out the best in their players People support you because you entertain them with the great football your team is providing.” due to a long-standing financial issue in relation to the club’s electrical supply we now do not meet the Southern League’s grading criteria we cannot fulfil our remaining home fixtures at the Platinum Hyundai Park “Frome Town FC has kindly offered us a ground-share option which enables us to complete our remaining home games without whom we wouldn’t be playing Southern League football “We take full responsibility for the situation and wholeheartedly apologise to our coaching staff for this horrible situation and make no mistake everyone is continuing the hard work laying the foundations for a better club for the future Pictured: Westbury United joint managers – Lewis and Ricky Westbury’s new cinema is here to stay – with a series of films and special events planned for the summer officially opened in January with a screening of the 2024 action movie Twisters Paddington in Peru and Moana 2 have proven popular with Westbury film fans Westbury Town Council’s buildings and facilities manager “Audiences have exceeded our expectations and numbers are ranging between 35-76 per movie with drama and action films proving the most popular genre so far “We have a programme of movies going forward throughout the spring and summer with Gladiator 2 Bad Boys Ride or Die and Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy “We are excited to be partnering with Westbury Festival to have a famous author here giving a talk on her book Watch our social media for details during July!” opened in November 1920 in a building on Warminster Road which was demolished in 1994 Patrick says cinema-goers have relished the chance to see a film on the big screen locally rather than drive and pay to park in another town the community cinema will continue to screen movies for younger viewers “Our £15 family ticket option is proving very popular particularly with our half term screenings of children’s films in the afternoon my favourite comment has to be from a four-year-old girl who told us she had already seen Moana 2 but really wanted to see it at our cinema with her best friend The next film at the Westbury Community Cinema will be Gladiator 2 on Friday It will be followed by Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Friday 30th May at 7pm Tickets will be available on the door or at www.ticketsource.co.uk/westburycommunitycinema Picture: Maggie Morton with her grandchildren Jessica Jack and Abigail at a recent community cinema screening Ollie Westbury gives his take as Shrewsbury picked up a surprising victory at Barnsley - giving Michael Appleton his first win as Salop boss John Marquis scored in each half as Salop went into a 2-0 lead at Oakwell Barnsley pulled one back but Salop saw the game out to put up only their eighth win of the campaign A new housing development of up to 350 homes is being planned for land to the western edge of Westbury with developers inviting local residents to provide feedback on the proposal which has been allocated for housing in Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan As part of the preparation for an outline planning application Persimmon Homes is seeking input from the community to ensure local views are taken into account with two dedicated vehicular accesses from Mane Way serving the northern and southern parcels Extensive areas of public open space will be structured around new and existing hedgerow planting alongside a network of pedestrian and cycle links to the surrounding area incorporating all of the existing footpaths and bridleways on site.” The proposed development will be split into two neighbourhoods one to the north and one to the south of Penleigh Road No road infrastructure is planned to cross this corridor ensuring the two neighbourhoods remain distinct More than 50% of the site is designated as public open space The proposed development includes several parks green corridors and a children’s play area there will be a green buffer along Penleigh Road along with incidental open spaces linking the development to Mane Way Views need to be submitted by Sunday 9th February Below: Site plan of the proposed development The talented Piano Bike Girl performed in Westbury recently as part of her ongoing challenge to busk in every town in the UK arrived in the town centre on Tuesday 15th April to play songs for passersby on her unique ‘piano bike’ between 11am and 3pm she performed piano ballads from a range of artists and some of her own songs Westbury’s performance was part of Chloe’s ambitious challenge to busk in every town in the UK The appreciation I receive is also very rewarding people don’t have to stop and listen but they do “Through setting out to busk in every town I think busking is the best way to promote yourself as a musician It also means I get to visit so many beautiful places that I may have never seen if it hadn’t been for busking.” she developed an interest in busking and open mics After learning guitar and finding the strings hurt her fingers her dad had the idea to make a ‘piano bike’ which they completed in the summer of 2019 “People love the idea of me playing on a piano bike and are impressed by the distance I travel to busk I have gained a lovely following on Facebook and I am always being asked to come back to certain towns.” She now travels around the country with the support of her dad “My dad is my roadie and makes sure that I get everywhere safely,” she said “I still live in North Devon and the longest I have been away from home is six weeks One of her busking highlights was when she performed in Leicester Square at the start of March “Receiving messages from people listening saying how I made their day is always so lovely too.” A payphone in Westbury could be saved from closure after town councillors objected to BT’s plans to remove it located on Phoenix Rise near Penleigh Park has been earmarked for closure by BT due to low usage it just isn’t used enough for us to carry on running it please contact your local authority within 90 days of the date on this notice.” At a recent meeting of Westbury Town Council’s policy and resources committee highlighting that the phone box still serves as a vital lifeline for some residents “There have only been 20 calls in 12 months While some councils have previously adopted redundant kiosks to repurpose them as art displays or mobile libraries Westbury councillors felt the phone’s original purpose remains important “I don’t think adopting [the kiosk] is right at this moment There is clearly a community need if helplines have been called.” and the council will now formally object to BT’s plans Their comments will be passed to Wiltshire Council before being fed back to BT who will make the final decision on the phone box’s future This is not the first time the Phoenix Rise payphone has faced closure BT proposed removing it as part of a county-wide review of kiosks I for certain would not like to see them removed from Westbury.” objections can be made if there is insufficient mobile coverage the phone is in an area with a high number of accidents or suicides or if there is “other clear evidence demonstrating a reasonable community need.” Picture: The phonebox has been used by people to reach charity helplines © 2024 White Horse News | Web Design & SEO by YOW Internet.