Inside Salisbury: Mystery Photo, £millions for buses, festive schedule, and more.
Keep up-to-date with our bumper Salisbury news issue
Welcome to another Inside Salisbury. We start with a mystery photo taken somewhere in Salisbury, but where? Do you recognise it? We often feel that we know our city well but how often do people look up?
Also in this newsletter, we have lots of information from Wiltshire Council on recycling, safeguarding and news on the millions of pounds received to improve bus connectivity.
As I have said a few times now, we are about much more than day-to-day news and have decided that each weekend, a ‘special’ issue will go out to our subscribers, and this will give you much more insight into Salisbury with interviews and feature stories.
Annette J Beveridge
National Safeguarding Adults Week
SELF-neglect, or being treated with disregard can lead some adults to be at risk of abuse - that’s the warning from Wiltshire Council as part of National Safeguarding Adults Week.
Abuse can be carried out by partners, relatives, friends, neighbours and even carers. It can take different forms - financial, emotional, physical or psychological.
From simple disrespect to causing someone physical or mental pain, these occurrences can happen in an individual’s home, a hospital, a care home or in a public place. It also includes domestic abuse which often occurs as part of a special relationship.
Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Jane Davies, said: “Sadly abuse of adults is taking place and it’s not always talked about. We may also see someone not taking care of themselves – it can be a subtle sign, but it’s there.
“There are steps both professionals and everyone can take to get help. We have safeguards in place and by working together and people speaking out more we can address these issues. Safeguarding is everyone’s business.”
Read more: Stars Appeal Charity launches Christmas Raffle
A reminder is going to professionals working with adults to report any issues of abuse. The theme organised by Ann Craft Trust is Working in Partnership.
The focus is on how organisations and individuals can work together and help reduce the risk of harm occurring in the first instance. It is also about ensuring the correct policies and procedures are in place so any safeguarding concerns raised are recognised and responded to effectively.
If there are any concerns, contact Adult MASH on 0300 456 0111 or via the website
Festive Bus Timetables
SALISBURY Reds has published its plans to increase the number of Park & Ride buses available on Saturdays leading up to the festive season and published details of routes over the Christmas and New Year periods.
Park & Ride
Passengers using the PR3, PR7 and PR11 can make use of additional buses between 10am-4pm from November 16 until December, 21.
Plan your Saturday journeys during these dates here.
Festive season
Monday, December 23 - normal Monday timetable (Saturday timetable on Activ8)
Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve -Normal Tuesday timetables except Saturday timetable on Activ8 (though the 2040 and 2120 journeys from Andover will not operate)
Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day - No buses will run on Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day Special timetables on routes Red 1, Red 7, Activ8 & X4, check salisburyreds.co.uk/christmas for details.
The X3 will run to a Sunday timetable.
No other buses will be running on Boxing Day
Friday 27 December - A normal Friday timetable for all services except for a Saturday timetable on Activ8.
Saturday, December 28 - Wiltshire Connect routes 100, 101, 110 & 120 will not run
Sunday, December 29 - A normal Saturday timetable will apply on all routes.
Monday, December 30 - A normal Monday timetable for all services except for a Saturday timetable on Activ8.
Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) Wiltshire Connect routes 100, 101, 110 & 120 will not run. A normal Tuesday timetable except Saturday timetable on Activ8.
The 2040 and 2120 journeys from Andover will not operate.
Wednesday, January 1 - Special timetables on routes Red 1, Red 7, Activ8 & X4 but check salisburyreds.co.uk/christmas for more details.
The X3 will run to a Sunday timetable.
Wiltshire Connect routes 100, 101, 110 & 120 will not run.
The Stonehenge Tour will run on a normal timetable. No other buses will be running on New Year's Day.
Thursday, January 2 - normal timetables resume.
Get Fit this Black Friday
MEMBERSHIP deals will soon be available for those who wish to save money while getting fit.
Improvements have been made to many of Wiltshire Council’s Leisure Centres recently including the Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre. The deals run from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, December 1 and includes:
10% off annual memberships (including Life Zone, Fitness Zone, Swim Zone, Young Adult and Junior Zone).
This equates to more than an extra month free when people buy an annual leisure membership (normal price already includes one month free).
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling, said: “With the festive season now upon us, our Black Friday deals are a great time to sign up for one of our memberships. People will have the chance to get active and meet their fitness goals, access our fantastic facilities and save money in the process.
“Don’t miss out. These deals are on sale for a limited time only, and must be purchased by Sunday 1 December.”
When signing up by direct debit, there is nothing to pay until December 5. Various membership offers are available.
Cllr Blair-Pilling added: “We are committed to helping the people of Wiltshire to increase their activity levels and improve their health, and we’ve invested heavily in leisure centre refurbishment and improvement projects this year to support that aim. We’re confident there is something for everyone in our centres, regardless of fitness levels, experience or personal goals and we’re here to help you achieve a happier, healthier lifestyle.”
Read more: Turning the world orange against domestic abuse
Millions awarded to improve bus services
AN IMPROVEMENT to bus services across the county is likely after millions of pounds were awarded to Wiltshire Council.
Almost £7m was awarded from the Department for Transport (DfT) as an investment into the county’s bus services for 2025-2026 as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The funding will enable the council to bring forward a number of enhancements as detailed in the BSIP which includes extended hours and increased frequency for some services, improving passenger waiting facilities, and upgrading the services that serve key areas such as employment sites or healthcare.
Read more: Does Salisbury really need another publication?
Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Tamara Reay, said: “We welcome this additional Government funding into Wiltshire’s bus services. With this funding, we can now build on the proposals outlined in our Bus Service Improvement Plan to provide more enhanced bus services across the county, as well as other investments to help improve the bus passenger experience.
“Most Wiltshire buses are £2 or less for a single journey, and although this will rise to a maximum single fare of £3 in January, it still represents great value to travel to work, to explore our beautiful county, or as an alternative to taking the car.
“We are investing significantly in buses across the county and are always looking at innovative ways to deliver the right services that benefit the most people, whether it’s our pioneering Wiltshire Connect services in the Pewsey Vale area, or the electric buses in Salisbury, which we’re working closely with Salisbury Reds on as part of the Government’s ZEBRA programme.”
Wiltshire Council will continue to work closely with its partner operators to provide bus services that enable people to travel around and explore the county.
Recycling changes agreed
CHANGES to recycling collections across the county will take place from 2027 when the current contract comes to an end in 2026.
The changes will enable a significant reduction in the Council’s annual revenue expenditure, increased income from commodity sales, improved recycling rates and the simplification of the recycling sorting process.
It will also significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Following extensive research, the Cabinet has agreed Wiltshire Council should adopt the Three Stream recycling collections from 2027 where residents would be asked to present recycling in one wheeled bin or weighted reusable sack for mixed plastics, cans, cartons, and bagged flexible plastics and a box for glass.
The decision was made on Tuesday, November 19.
Cabinet Member for Waste, Councillor Dominic Muns said: “I am pleased that we now have a preferred option on our future recycling collections, and this means we can now start the process to secure a provider to deliver these services from 2027.
“Any potential change that affects all households in the county cannot be done lightly and that’s why we’ve carried out an extensive level of due diligence to ensure the decision we make is the right one.
“Our focus is ensuring residents have the very best opportunities to recycle as much as possible from the kerbside, that we meet all our obligations as set out in the Environment Act and that these services are financially sustainable.”
Read more: Dogs Trust Warning and Rail Services
The changes to the current arrangements are necessary as the council, and all local authorities, need to comply with new statutory requirements under the Environment Act 2021. This means councils must offer households a regular collection of the following recyclable items:
Glass
Metal
Plastic (including flexible plastics from 2027)
Paper and card
Food waste (from 2027)
Garden waste (charges for collection may be applied)
Aside from food waste and flexible plastics, Wiltshire Council already collects these materials and has agreed with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to collect food waste by August 2027. Flexible plastics are to be collected from households by April 2027.
In 2023/2024, the council recycled, reused or composted 43.7% of Wiltshire’s household waste equating to an almost 4% increase from the previous financial year of 40%.
The council is encouraging people to ensure they are recycling as much as possible as part of The Recycling: Let’s Sort It campaign, putting the correct items in the right bins. Initially, more than 5,000 bins were rejected during March 2023 when the campaign started, compared to just over 1,000 bins being rejected in March 2024.
Councillor Muns added: “Together with all other local authorities, we are awaiting further clarification on certain aspects of the Environment Act and when that comes through that too may impact our plans.
“It’s important to note that the decision we’ve made is just the first step, and that residents will not see any changes to their collections for a few years. We’ll keep people updated as this process continues”.
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