Local Information - Kington St. Michael Village Website

The Latest News & Snippets About The Village

(Contributions welcome - click on Contact Us)

Village Newsletter
Here's the latest edition.

KSM School Summer Fete
Advance notice that the school will be holding its summer fete
on Saturday 12th July (details to follow).

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Parish Council Elections

Kington St Michael has an allocation of nine Parish Councillors, all of whom must step down before the elections on Thursday 1st May - would you like to be one of the councillors on our new council? To find out about what our council does and is responsible for please see the Parish Council page of this website. To find out more abount becoming a Parish councillor, please read "Local Elections 2025", which also contains an application form.

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Be a Good Neighbour

A timely reminder that there is still time (begore the birds start nesting) for parishioners to check and cut back any of their overgrown hedges, trees and shrubs that are either impeding pedestrians or restricting the view of vehicles. This will help our blind, disabled, smaller and taller residents walking through the village. This is also a good opportunity to ask you to be considerate about where you leave wheelie bins and black boxes out for collection, as these can also cause a hazard for less able people – please don’t leave them in the middle of the pavement, if possible.

During the colder months, when snow has fallen or the ground is icy, consider checking in on your elderly neighbours to see if they need help with shopping, putting out their bins or other jobs that may be difficult for them at this time. The village shop will deliver to anyone who cannot get out – call 01249 750181 to ask for help.

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Village Green

Our village green and pond can be found down Stubbs Lane, behind the cottages. This delightful oasis is one of several areas of land owned by the parish, and maintained by Parish Council contractors. This maintenance is paid for out of the village precept, which all parishioners contribute to annually, via their Council Tax.
These areas are for the enjoyment of the village and, what is little known, is that anyone planting or disturbing the soil on a village green is considered to be in violation of the law, and legal action could be taken against the well-meaning parishioner unless they restore that land to its original state.

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Shop News
Shop logo

A big thank you to all the villagers who have supported the shop - especially when the internet recently disappeared in the village for most of the day. The backup system of pen and paper, plus a card machine that used the mobile network, saved the day.

The shop now has an Ecover refill station for washing up liquid and laundry detergent. If you are interested in helping the environment and reducing your plastic usage, bring your empty bottles and re-fill them.

The new till is providing some fascinating insights - on busy days there are over 80 transactions and there are over 1,000 products listed on the till. Top items are stamps, wine and beer, bird seed, logs and Walter Rose’s tasty sausage rolls and pasties. There are more than 30 different sorts of biscuits and crackers! Amongst the most popular items is the expanded range of Artisan candles from Langley Burrell. New, intriguing scents include Lime, Basil & Mandarin and Green Orange & Coriander.
In response to customer requests, there are more frozen meats available, supplied by quality Corsham butcher, Toby Haynes. Alongside meat pies, spinach plaits and chicken fillets are lamb cutlets, chops, sausages (including gluten free), minced beef, faggots & braising steak.

Whistlefish has some great Valentine’s Day cards this year and if you need a nice surprise to go with your card, there are sparkling wines and good chocolate in the shop too.

Shop volunteers decorated a Christmas tree for the church Christmas tree festival and wrote a sentence summing up how they feel about helping in the shop. These comments showed that working in the shop is something that people enjoy and value. They included ‘I know so many more people from helping in the shop’, ‘It’s good for my brain ‘, ‘Volunteering increased my self-confidence again and gave me a sense of purpose’, ‘A great opportunity to give back to the community’ and ‘Lovely friendly team’. One volunteer wrote, ‘Volunteering is great to add to your CV, can add many skills that are valuable for the job market’.

To continue to open for the hours villagers want and need, the shop must have more volunteers. If you would like to find out more about joining the team, call in, or contact the shop.

Find us on Facebook: kingtonstmichaelvillageshop or Instagram @ksmvillageshop.
Tel: 01249 750181 or email: hello@kingtonstmichaelshop.co.uk.

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Community Pub Project's January Update

Many thanks to everyone who bought our Christmas cards, tankards and mugs and to those who visited us at the village Christmas Fayre and bought from our stall – our Christmas cards quickly sold out. Our tankards (£25) and mugs (£10) continue to sell well and will make great gifts, with Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter soon upon us. Why not pop an Easter egg in one for the chocolate lover in your life?! To get yours please contact Alex Hall on 01249 750602, alex.hall@kington-st-michael.com, or Linda Durno on 01249 750514, kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com.

Unfortunately, just before Christmas, we received the news that the Community Ownership Fund had closed and that there will be no further application windows on the COF programme. The current government “…took this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government”. Whilst the Community Ownership Fund has closed, the government states that it “…remains committed to the communities’ sector and community empowerment. The government will deliver on its manifesto commitment to replace the community ‘Right to Bid’ with a strengthened ‘Right to Buy’ Assets of Community Value, creating a more robust pathway to community asset ownership”.

We had hoped to have been successful with an application to COF, which would have provided a large grant, and so this is a blow to our fundraising. However we are fortunate to have your pledges of shares and are seeking further advice on future grants.

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Dog Fouling and Dog Walking

Recently there have been multiple incidents of dog fouling on pavements throughout the village, especially regularly along the main street towards the café. Wherever you are walking your dog in the village - street, public footpath, QE2 Field, Nymph Hay Wood or the surrounding fields - picking up after your dog still applies! If anyone sees an owner letting their dog foul in a public place please report it to Wiltshire Council, either by 'phoning 01249 706111 and asking for the Dog Warden, or email publicprotectionnorth@wiltshire.gov.uk or via an on-line form on Wiltshire Council's website. Photographic evidence of the owner neglecting to pick up is always a help. Your personal details will be treated in strict confidence and you will be informed of the outcome of the complaint. Please note that complaints regarding aggressive dogs should be made to the police.
Now that it is lambing season, please keep your dogs on leads when walking in fields with sheep in, as well as when walking on the footpath that leads through the farmyard, as there are sheep and lambs about.

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Book Recycling Scheme

The 81st and 82nd donations from this scheme, totalling £100, goes towards the village's Community Defibrillator Fund, to purchase replacement parts as and when required. You've clearly done a lot of reading over autumn and winter, so many thanks to those who donate books and buy books; the book scheme is run from the shop foyer and books are only 50p each. Village organisations that would like to be considered for a donation should contact Linda Durno via kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com. If you would like to support the Community Defibrillator Fund, please also contact Linda.

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What’s on at St Michael & All Angels Church

Thank you to everyone who visited the church over Advent and Christmas, whether you came to enjoy the music, to worship, to see the Christmas trees or to reflect quietly in peace, we hope that you will carry the joy and hope of the Christmas story with you throughout the year.

You are always very welcome to come along to any of our services and stay for refreshments afterwards or to explore and enjoy your beautiful village church which is open every day. Light lunches are served every Monday or pop in for a coffee and a chat.

February
Thursday 20th February, 10am: Holy Communion.
Sunday 23rd February, 4pm: All Together @ 4, informal all ages worship with activities, refreshments and optional Holy Communion at 5.30pm. Come for as long or short at time as you choose. Bybrook Primary School, Yatton Keynell.

March
Sunday 2nd March, 9.30am: Morning Praise.
Sunday 9th March, 9.30am: Holy Communion.
Thursday 20th, 10am: Holy Communion
(to be confirmed - see church posters nearer the time).
Sunday 23rd March, 4pm: All Together @ 4, informal all ages worship with activities, refreshments and optional Holy Communion at 5.30pm. Come for as long or short at time as you choose. Bybrook Primary School, Yatton Keynell..

For details of services here and around the Benefice, and contact details for any queries about Baptism, weddings and funerals, please see the Bybrook Benefice website bybrook.org.uk.

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Environment Agency Flood Recovery Guide

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Poppy Appeal 2024
This year's Poppy appeal in the village raised £258.75.
Joan Gilbert, who co-ordinates the collection, would like to thank all who donated.

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KSM Pub Project Promises Update
Jolly Huntsman tankard Jolly Huntsman tankard (reverse)

Stuck for gift ideas for loved ones? Why not buy one of our stylish Jolly Huntsman tankards and help us to fundraise at the same time? We're selling them at a special price of £25 each to local folk, and don't forget that we have the lovely Kington St Michael landmark map mugs at only £10 each.

To get yours please contact Alex Hall on 01249 750602, alex.hall@kington-st-michael.com, or Linda Durno on 01249 750514, kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com.

Other great items are available from our online shop: ksmpub.co.uk and we can produce bespoke items too!

We are planning to hold a promises auction as a fundraiser in spring 2025 and are collecting promises of services and items. If you are able to help out by offering a service or an item, please email kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com - all donations will be gratefully received.
Have you visited our online shop ? We have t-shirts, tankards, mugs and more for sale - great gifts for birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and the like - take a look at ksmpub.co.uk. Or you can buy the tankards, mugs or greetings cards from Linda Durno on 01249 750514, kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com.

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Teddy Bear Parachute Day

Despite a very soggy afternoon and a delayed start, 35 brave bears took to the skies on 22nd September. Enormous thanks to all who came, to all the helpers who contributed their time, to everyone who contributed to the hugely successful tombola, and raffle, and those who so kindly made delicious scones and cakes for the tea.
We are grateful too to Julian Frost who brought the ever-popular Yoda, the owl, who once more swooped around the church, to the delight of all. The event raised a wonderful £605.20 which will go to the church funds.

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KSM QE2 Field News

ENHANCEMENTS AT KSM QE2 FIELD - We are excited to share that the resurfacing of the kickwall area at the recreation field has now taken place! Once the new surface has dried, markings will be painted allowing a variety of recreational sports to be played, and new fencing will also be installed. In addition, an accessible pathway will be created leading to the kickwall area. We are also happy to report that new gravel will soon be laid on the existing pathway from the BBQ area down to the bridge near the entrance to Nymph Hay Wood. KSM QE2 Field Group would like to thank the
Parish Council for supporting these projects!

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Community Pub News

Thank you to everyone who came to our stall at the KSM Day on the QE2 Field.
We have some more shares promised, an idea for fundraising, a promise of help and a cash donation.

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Wiltshire Adult Care & Support Guide

A new, updated, independent care services directory has been published which gives readers crucial information on how to access, and pay for, care services throughout Wiltshire.

You may have seen there’s a huge amount in the media at the moment about the crisis in social care. If you’re growing concerned about your care options, or just want some more information on what your choices may be, this directory can help. With information to help you understand your options, where to go for advice and how the paying for care system works, this Care Services Directory can support you to make informed decisions.

The new edition of the independent publication and accompanying website give information on all aspects of arranging care and support. It includes how to stay independent for as long as possible, the different care and support options available and what to look for when choosing a care provider. It also offers guidance on important issues such as paying for care and what financial assistance may be available from the local authority. There are comprehensive listings of all registered care services, plus checklists to help you ask the right questions when visiting services.

The directory will be available throughout the region from outlets including carers’ centres, hospitals, GP surgeries, Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society. It can be downloaded from www.carechoices.co.uk and is also available in spoken word.

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Going on Holiday poster

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"The Kingtons" Book - Available Now!

The Kingtons book cover photo

Get your copy of "The Kingtons" now - available from the village shop or Kington Café at only £14.95. Commissioned by the parish council, this book gives an interesting history of the ancient parish of Kington St Michael with Kington Langley,
written by Louise Ryland-Epton.

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Thank You from St Michael & All Angels

A huge thank you to all the brilliant supporters who turned out on a hot day to saw, strim, clean, polish, pull a lot of ivy off the church walls and memorials, and provide delicious home made cake.

Everyone worked so hard and it has made a massive difference, the church and churchyard are looking so much better.

We really appreciate everyone’s time and support .

We will be holding quarterly Spruce up Days to keep on top of everything and will be having regular visits from the Unpaid Work Team to help with the churchyard.

If you would like to get involved in either the cleaning rota or the mowing team, please contact Colin Labouchere or Alison Greenhalgh (contact numbers on lych gate).

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The Churchyard & Burial Ground
Angel monument

The churchyard belongs to the whole village; it is the village burial ground. Anyone living in the village (and a number of others) have a legal right to be buried here. It is not just for church-goers.
To keep the whole area mown and tidy more regular help is urgently needed. Any of us may take our place there one day! Machinery is available, but the team is short on volunteers. If you can undertake even a small area, please ring Colin on (01249) 750222, or email colin@labouchere2.co.uk.

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Village Litter Pick
Litter picking image

Would any village organisation or individual be interested in organising a litter pick in the village? This could be just within the village itself or extending along roads and lanes surrounding Kington St Michael. All equipment can be provided. Please contact Viv Vines, Clerk to Kington St Michael Parish Council: ksmparishclerk@gmail.com.

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New players welcome - any ability.
Our club is reaching out for new members to come join us for some fun and friendly fitness. All fitness levels and any ability, we are a really friendly club, and there’s no obligation to join one of our league teams - the club has teams in both the Rock Up League and the Calne Social League, so there are plenty of opportunities for those with more competitive streaks too. We really do have a great mix of players of all ages 18+.
First session free, so come along and try out your netball skills. Then £6 per session or £30 per 6-week block. 1½ hours of coached netball with England Netball qualified coaches and umpires - with plenty of opportunity for match play during the session. Training in the Dome every Thursday (we break for school holidays). If you want to come along this Thursday, message our Facebook page facebook.com/ksmnetballclub or email ksmnetballclub@hotmail.com.

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Be A Good Neighbour

A gentle reminder that now is the time for parishioners to check and cut back any of their overgrown hedges, trees and shrubs, that are either restricting the view of vehicles or impeding pedestrians. This will help our blind, disabled, and taller residents walking through the village.

This is also a good opportunity to ask you to be considerate where you leave wheelie bins and black boxes out for collection, as these can also cause a hazard for less able people.

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Accessibility Along Pavements

A repeat of a previous request, to help our disabled and visally impaired residents (and those with children in buggies):
~ Please do not block lowered pavements with parked cars.
~ Please do not park on pavements, partially or otherwise.
~ Please don't block the pavement with wheelie bins or black boxes.
~ If your property is next to the pavement or footpath, please trim back any overhanging branches, shrubs, etc. Of a dark evening, and with the new lower lighting, it's no fun walking into prickly or wet overgrowth! Please trim back lower shrubs too, as these affect children. Thank you.

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Fatal 5 poster

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Parish Council News

A parishioner asked the council who was responsible for the driveway surface between the gated entrance to Kington Manor and the Village Hall/Shop car park. The driveway also continues onwards to Manor Farm providing access to several properties, and when the Parish Council met on the 15th June 2023, it received a brief report on the factual position. In providing the answer the council felt that it was worthwhile updating everyone as the matter has often been raised over recent years.

The access driveway is in fact part of Public Footpath KSTM12 and, following two years extensive research and case-building, supported by seventy-five User Evidence Statements from residents and visitors, in February 2020, the Parish Council submitted an application to Wiltshire Council to upgrade the Footpath to a Byway Open to All Traffic. It was hoped that if this was successful then it could be argued that the entire driveway surface should be maintained by Wiltshire Council as Highway Authority.

The Parish Council is indebted to former Councillor Sandra Eaton for the tremendous efforts to reach this stage, and following her move from the parish, she volunteered to continue with the project, particularly as Wiltshire Council failed to determine the application within the required timescale and the matter was taken to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in March 2021. The Planning Inspectorate determined that Wiltshire Council should deal with the matter by August 2022.

Despite the case and evidence submitted, Wiltshire Council finally decided in January 2023 that “on the balance of probabilities” the application should be refused. In February 2023, following further consideration, the Parish Council determined that there was no longer a case to pursue, and after all the efforts the only success arising was that Wiltshire Council has agreed that the tarmac surface directly outside the Village Hall/Shop car park should become part of the surface that should be maintained at public expense. The remainder being privately owned, although used by vehicles to gain access, is not public highway other than having Public Footpath KSTM 12 status. Should anyone be interested in reading the Outcome Report and details considered by the Parish Council in February 2023, then please email the Clerk of the Council who can provide the details - ksmparishclerk@gmail.com.

Community Emergency Contacts Wiltshire & Swindon Prepared (Local Resilience Forum - LRF) has initiated a new scheme called Community Emergency Contacts. This initiative will give the LRF a direct link into the community in an emergency situation. They have asked for at least 3 people to be named as an emergency community contact for Kington St Michael. In the event of an emergency, contacts may be called and asked to give information about how an emergency (e.g. flooding, storm damage) is affecting the local area and any problems arising where help may be needed. If you would like further information, or to put your name forward for this initiative, please send an email to ksmparishclerk@gmail.com. There is no obligation to be available 24/7 and the scheme will operate on a call down basis (whereby the LCF will work their way down the call list until they’re able to speak to someone ‘on the ground’) and there are no other expectations as part of this voluntary role.

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Kilvert's Trail - A Walk Around Kington St Michael,
Kington Langley, Langley Burrell & Allington

The Rev Francis Kilvert 1840 – 1879 wrote diaries portraying everyday Victorian life. These were kept in many notebooks during his relatively short life, sadly, most of which were destroyed. Thankfully 22 notebooks remain and these have been published in three volumes. His work has been acknowledged to be as important as that of Samuel Pepys.
Kilvert was a keen walker. Indeed he walked to Bath and back in one day. He took delight in the countryside around him, never failing to note the beauty surrounding him.
To that end, some residents of Langley Burrell have compiled several local walks, taking in familiar landmarks that Kilvert would have known (Kilvert's Trail), and one of these comes through Kington St Michael - the Allington Walk (obviously you could join this walk at any point along it in Kington St Michael and complete the loop back to your starting point).

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Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch can help build safer, stronger and more active communities and connect people with their neighbours. The Parish Council would likw to revitalise our local scheme in Kington St Michael and would love to hear from you.
If you are interested in joining, or just want more information, then please contact
Cllr Vicky Ingham at v.ingham@kingtonstmichaelparishcouncil.gov.uk.

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Pick Up After Your Pooch!

Wherever you are in the village - street, public footpath, QE2 Field, Nymph Hay Wood or the surrounding fields - it still applies! Do it for your dog!

If anyone sees an owner letting their dog foul in a public place please report it to Wiltshire Council, either by 'phoning 01249 706111 and asking for the Dog Warden, or email publicprotectionnorth@wiltshire.gov.uk or via an on-line form. Photographic evidence is always a help. Your personal details will be treated in strict confidence and you will be informed of the outcome of the complaint. Please note that complaints regarding aggressive dogs should be made to the police.

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A Bit of Village History

Many thanks to Tim Sage for sharing these photographs of the baptism
and confirmation certificates of his ancester, Maurice Arthur Sage.
The baptism took place in St Michael & All Angels Church in 1913 and the
confirmation at St John the Baptist Church in Charlton near Malmesbury, in 1931.

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Warm Spaces and Food Providers

Wiltshire Council has created an online interactive community directory to help you find out what warm spaces and community food providers there are in the county to support you through the cost-of-living challenges.

The directory has been created using information collected by the council, in order to establish what support is available in Wiltshire.

To find out the support that's available on your doorstep, and across the county, please visit the directory and select your postcode area - this will then automatically generate a list of what's available, as well as a host of other useful features:

Interactive Community Directory

For anyone wishing to make donations to the community food providers, there are contact and website details included for each with more information to find out how best to do this.

The council has worked hard to ensure that the directory contains a comprehensive list of the support available, but will continue to keep it updated regularly.

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Kington St Michael Parish Council now has a new website www.kingtonstmichaelparishcouncil.gov.uk.

The website has been designed as a “one stop shop” for parishioners and the wider community, and is intended to provide up to date and historical information on all Parish Council related matters, including meetings and decisions.

This website has been created to comply with the latest regulations and will run alongside and complement this community website.

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Wiltshire Library Newsletter
Please click here to view the latest newsletter from
Wiltshire Libraries, reminding you of what's on offer.

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Church Coffee Corner
Every Monday from 11.30am - 1.30pm - meet others and enjoy refreshments:
all welcome.
Church Monday cafe poster

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Get in the Know!

Would you like to receive news and updates on local matters from the Parish Council and Wiltshire Council, etc, via email? The Parish Council has set up an email database - if you would like to be included, please email the Clerk, Viv Vines - ksmparishclerk@gmail.com.

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Worried About Scams?

Wiltshire Police has suggested reading "The Little Book of Big Scams", which is an excellent fraud prevention resource created to help raise awareness of the dangers of fraud ,and offer preventative measures to help keep everyone safe from the insidious creep being seen in financial crimes in recent years.

An audio version of the Little Book of Big Scams can be found at this link: https://soundcloud.com/metropolitan-police/the-little-book-of-big-scams

A business edition of the Little Book of Big Scams can be found at this link: https://nbcc.police.uk/images/guidance/the-little-book-of-big-scams-business-edition.pdf

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Village Help Facebook Page

If you are on Facebook, please search for the KSM Community Help page, where you will find lots of useful information and support (look for the colourful hands, as above).

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Phishing Scams

You can now report phishing emails by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk and the National Cyber Security Centre (part of GCHQ) analyses them and remove the culprit sites.

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Pet Owners
The RSPCA is urging pet owners to make an emergency pet care plan, in case they have to be hospitalised - visit RSPCA for further details.

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Making A Planning Application

If you are considering or are about to make an on-line planning application via
Wiltshire Council's website, you will be redirected to the Planning Portal.
Unfortunately, if you choose to use autofill for your address, and if you happen to live along the main street (i.e. no.** KSM) then you will find that it submits your address as being in Honeyknob Hill or C154 Road.
This causes confusion to those wishing to or needing to look at planning applications, and, in fact, there are only 8 properties which have the Honeyknob Hill address (unsurprisingly 1 - 8 Honeyknob Hill).
The Parish Counil is asking affected residents who make a planning application to please check that "Honeyknob Hill" or C154 road" isn't included in the address (unless you are one of the eight!) and to enter the address manually.
If you spot this issue elsewhere, please let the Clerk to the Council know: ksmparishclerk@gmail.com.

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Village Hall Car Park
The Village Hall Management Committee would like to remind villagers that the village hall car park is only for village hall users and shop customers. Recently, a number of paying village hall users have not been able to park. Thank you!

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Defibrillators
Just a reminder of where our defibrillators are kept in the village: map of defibrillators
and the instructions of what to do when someone collapses.
Please visit the Community Defibrillator page for further information

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Advertise Here!
Do you have a small business? Are you local?! Why not advertise on this website for only £24 per year? (That's just £2 per month!) Take a look at other advertisers by clicking on "Local Businesses Adverts" above. If you are interested please contact us kingtonstmichael@btinternet.com.