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News Archive
Major General John Page        October 2011

It is with regret we have to announce the sad death of former Trust chairman Major. General. John H. Page C.B., O.B.E., M.C., K.S.G. who died on 21st September 2011 at the age of 88.

John Page was born in Devizes and originally lived in the Bath Road.  On joining the army he was commissioned in the Royal Engineers and saw service in Europe during the Second World War.  He fought in the Korean War where he was awarded the Military Cross. He then served in Cyprus during the EOKA Terrorist campaign.
After a further period of service in Germany and  teaching at Staff College  he  became Assistant Commandant at Sandhurst.
He left the Army in 1978 and was made a Commander of the Order of the Bath.  After this distinguished career in the army he returned to his home county which he loved.
He was Chairman of the Trust for a number of years, just one of many charities that he supported throughout his many post-army years. With enthusiasm and determination he raised the profile of the Trust and was responsible for several important issues in which we were involved.
In retirement, John used his considerable energies to help his fellow man. He Joined Home Start when it was a in its infancy and saw it grow to more than 7,000 volunteers.  He worked with a number of other charities including SSAFA and the Winged Fellowship Trust.
John’s inimitable character will be missed in the town and to all who knew him.
First Civic Awards go to Hotels
The new Civic Awards presented to those buildings of significance in the town that the Trust judged as being presented to the highest standards were awarded alongside the Devizes in Bloom Awards at the Town Hall on 29 September.
In the commercial section first prize went to the Bear Hotel. Highly commended in this section was the Black Swan.  Both hotels are well known for the way in which they present their premises and it is a credit to them in these straightened times that they continue to spend money on the premises.
Highly Commended in the Residential section was 8 Northgate Street, a property which borders on the Market Place.
2011 being the first year, the number of entries were lower than the Trust would have liked. Nevertheless the awards have been established and are here to stay.
Changes in Planning Laws                                                                                           November 2011
The Trust has been very active in lending its voice to many others expressing concern at the proposed changes to planning law which would give developers a much better chance of winning planning appealsu because of the now infamous “presumption to develop”; i.e. that unless the Planning Authority has specifically stated its case against development on any piece of land, the presumption should be that it can be developed. The only safeguard is that any development has to be sustainable. But as our Chairman has pointed out this is a “weasel” word  with little significance.
Pressure has been brought to bear on our MP, Claire Perry, to seek changes to the bill now going through Parliament to rid it of this offensive clause.  Although she is adamant that the new wording will not be bad for Devizes, after meeting a number of significant Devizes residents, including our Chairman, she has certainly ensured that the responsible minister is aware of the local concerns.
In the meantime, an exhibition of the proposed housing development along the Coate Road has enaged many local residents who fear that the new laws will favour the developer who, they point out, has no local interest  and is merely interested in making money.
Meeting with the Director of Public Health                                                              November 2011
Tony Sedgwick, the Trust’s Traffic Advisor and Dr Alan Cowley, a Trust member and retired Medical Academic met with Maggie Ray, Director of Public Health to express their grave concern at the damage being done to people’s health by traffic pollution.   There was broad agreement that the matter needed to be tackled, although the Trust’s request for people to be informed of the damage pollution brings about was not accepted on the ground that it could cause alarm. We wait to see what action our Council take to address this issue.
Area Board Meeting opposes further housing developments                         November 2011
Tony Sedgwick joined with fellow campaigner Judy Rose to propose a resolution against further housing development at both Coate Bridge and Roundway at the November Area Board meeting.
There has been very considerable opposition expressed by members of the public and it was felt that a formal  vote at the Area Board Meeting would both provide an opportunity for people to state their views more formally and also signal to the developers that their proposals are not welcome in a town already suffering from over-development and over-burdened infrastructure.  
The motions were carried by an overwhelming majority.
To see the actual wording of the proposals Click Here