• Snowdrops
  These perfect little flowers herald the beginning of spring — it won't be long before the clocks go forward! As beautiful and widespread as they are, they're not native to the UK and it isn't known who introduced them here, or when.
• Beef and dairy farming
  Sitting on a fertile mix of clay and sandy soil, the farmland surrounding Corsley makes ideal grazing for both dairy and beef herds.
• National Trust's Cley Hill
  Dominating the local skyline, a walk up Cley Hill will reward you with some magnificent views for miles around!
• Sheep and lambs in Corsley
  
• Sunny snow scene
  This abstract image is just snow in a field with the shadows of trees appearing in a beautiful blue
• Spider's web with dew drops
  
• Corsley Manor
  Manor Farm, Corsley is a fine example of a grade II* Elizabethan manor house. In 1539, the manor of Corsley was granted to Edward Seymour who leased it to his steward, John Thynne. Eventually, Thynne was granted the manor and lived at the present Manor Farm from 1563 to 1568 whilst building Longleat House. The Manor celebrated it's 450th birthday in 2013 with a lavish luncheon for all the villagers.
• Clouds over Corsley
  
• St Margaret's Church
  Originally named St. James's Chapel and built before the thirteenth century, it was changed to St. Margaret of Antioch's Church in 1786. By 1830 the original church was in a very poor state of repair and too small for the parish. A new church was designed by John Leachman and whilst the re-building was in progress, services were held in John Ball's malthouse. The new church consisted of just a nave and tower — there's no chancel. Inside, the pulpit survives from the old church and dates from c1700.
• Meadows between Corsley and Chapmanslade
  
• AONB and SLA
  Corsley stands within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Outlying parts of the village not covered by the AONB are in a Special Lansdscape Area spreading from Corsley Heath across to Chapmanslade Ridge.
• Cley Hill from Corsley
  
• Farming
  Sitting on a fertile mix of clay and sandy soil, the farmland surrounding Corsley makes ideal grazing for both dairy and beef herds.
• Flooding at Redford Water ford
  
• St Mary's Church
  In 1899 Mary Barton, of Corsley House, died and left £10,000 in her will for the purchase of a piece of land at Whitbourne Temple. She wanted an Anglican ‘chapel of ease’ built in memory of her husband and son. Opened in 1903, W H Stanley of Trowbridge designed the chapel in the Arts and Crafts gothic style – the interior retains many of it's original fittings.
• Trees on the A362, Corsley
  
• Cley Hill
  A scheduled ancient monument and declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1975 and rising some 80m above the surrounding land, Cley Hill is home to many plant and animal species having a nationally restricted distribution (a bit rare!). Covering more than 65 acres it is also significant for its geology and archaeology: formed by ancient seas it has been shaped by man from prehistoric times right through to the 19th century when it was quarried for its chalk.
• Down the lane to Corsley Mill
  
• Cley Hill
  A scheduled ancient monument and declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1975 and rising some 80m above the surrounding land, Cley Hill is home to many plant and animal species having a nationally restricted distribution (a bit rare!). Covering more than 65 acres it is also significant for its geology and archaeology: formed by ancient seas it has been shaped by man from prehistoric times right through to the 19th century when it was quarried for its chalk.

Massive proposed housing development
Land south of Frome bounded by Marston Road, B3092/railway line And A361 (Frome bypass) and including land to the south of the A361 Frome, Somerset

Search Mendip Council — Planning, Buildings and Land for 2021/1675/EOUT

Application for Outline Planning Permission for the erection of up to 1,700 dwellings (Use Class C3), two care homes (Use Class C3), 6.7 hectares of employment land (Use Classes E, B2 and B8), a mixed use local centre for primary school (Use Class F1), cafes/restaurant and convenience store (Use Class E) and other supporting social and physical infrastructure (Use Classes F1, F2 and E), provision of greenspace and other supporting ancillary works. All matters (Access (within the site), Layout, Scale, Appearance, Landscaping) reserved except for four new vehicular site access points from the existing highway. (Revisions & further information in respect of the Environmental Statement submitted 21.02.24)

Click the images to enlarge them (pdfs)

---

Rights of Way Report from Corsley Parish Council
Current Issues

CORY 8 and 10
The first phase of the bridleway surface repair work has been undertaken by Wiltshire Council’s contractors managed by Longleat. The surface in the worst rutted and muddy area has been scraped, levelled and covered in planings. This is a great achievement as these bridleways have been in a poor state of repair for many years. This would not have happened had the Parish Council not worked hard lobbying and attending various meetings with all concerned. A good outcome for all bridleway users and the only feedback so far has been positive.

CORY 30 and 31
The stile/ access onto these footpaths at Heathway/Memorial Playing Field will be discussed with the two landowners.

CORY 7
The diversion application is still proceeding and a final bridge survey is taking place next week. It is hoped that this application may be determined by Christmas at the latest.

CORY 45
A small tree had slipped from the bank and was hanging low for riders to pass under. This has now been removed.

CORY 32
Report of nails sticking out and parts rotted. Will pick up with landowners.

CORY 13
Stile repaired and cleared by landowner at the request of the Parish Council. Equestrian fencing narrowing route. Will pick up with landowners.

CORY 36
A number of stiles are in need of repair along this route. I have contacted the landowners but agreed that we will look at replacing these with footpath gates via the Local Highways and Footpaths Improvement Group (LHFIG) bid below. These link to CHAP 7 which Chapmanslade Parish Council are keen to put footpath gates on (if we are) making the entire route easily passable.

CORY 20
There is an opportunity to work with Wiltshire Council to improve the bridleway surface of CORY 20 and make it a better route for all users to get to Warminster (Chapmanslade Parish Council are also supportive of this). This could include the use of planings on the surface from the local road improvements. Awaiting communication back from the landowner.

Initiatives/Funding
A bid was prepared for LHFIG for 10-15 new self‐closing pedestrian gates to replace stiles. One contender for these gates is CORY 9 where the stiles are in bad repair. I have liased with the Chapmanslade Parish Council Rights of Way officer and, as a result, propose a number of additional routes for these gates which would then make the entire route more easily passable and provide valued links between the two parishes. These routes would be:

• CORY 9
• CORY 36/CHAP 7 (see above)
• CORY 34/CHAP 10
• CORY 35/CHAP 28

The paper was written with the match‐funding element of the LHFIG being the installation of the gates. If funds are required, there is rights of way improvement money unspent from a previous Area Board bid.

Other Issues
Most of the complaints that are raised relate to muddy footpaths and bridleways some of which it is going to be impossible to address in a clay soil‐based area when the weather is bad!

Generally there are problems in the village with people walking wherever they want to, opening gates that clearly say ‘Private No Entry’ etc. There are also problems with dogs running all over fields, chasing livestock and owners not picking up poo that can cause cows to abort. Maybe a reminder of the ‘Countryside Code’ would be good, will seek Wiltshire Council’s advice.

It must be remembered that a right of way is a right to pass over land (private or public) and that other rights may exist for vehicles to pass for agricultural, forestry or access purposes.
Parish Councillor Alice Helliar

---

Click on the images to read and use the hyperlinks...

---

Corsley Reading Rooms

We still need a Chair!

I'm pleased to report the appointment of two new Committee members. David Sharrocks is taking on the role of Treasurer and Mary King has also joined the committee. Both will be applying to the Charity Commission to become Trustees. Caroline Hutton presented the Annual Accounts (available on our website ) and we thanked her for being our Treasurer over the last two years.

We are still without a Chairperson and would also like to recruit someone who could look after publicity for our work and events.

Anyone interested please contact me (lizi.garrett@btinternet.com) or any of the committee members.

Until a new Chair is found, all communication sent to the following email address will be picked up by the Secretary, Liz Garrett: chairman@corsleyreadingroom.org.uk

---

Household batteries can now be collected as part of Wiltshire kerbside recycling service

Wiltshire Council are now able to collect some types of small batteries as part of our kerbside recycling service.

Put your small household batteries in clear, sealed sandwich bags on top of your blue lidded bin and they will be collected for recycling. Please do not put batteries out for collection earlier than this date.

The batteries you can put out for collection are 'D', 'C', 'AA', 'AAA', 9V and button-type batteries. They will be kept separate from other recyclable materials on board the collection vehicles.

---

MyWilts online reporting

MyWilts is the new way to send reports to Wiltshire Council and replaces the MyWiltshire app.

What can I report using MyWilts?

• Pot holes
• Abandoned vehicles
• Fly Tipping
• Weather emergencies
• Fraud
• Dog mess
• Graffiti

Over time more services will be added to MyWilts, making it simpler, quicker and easier to access the services digitally, when you choose to.

Why should you register for an account?
If you register for an account, you will receive updates as the case you reported progresses. You will also have access to view your historical cases and will be able to access additional services.

Using your mobile device?
You can download the new app now from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) by searching for ‘My Wilts’, or visit Wiltshire Council's website My Wilts