Winner of Best Kept Village
Read the visit report Ashton Keynes 2026 BKV
AK Quarry U-turn : Help Needed
AK Quarry U-turn: help needed TODAY with barrister costs
Ashton Keynes Quarry U-turn : UPFRONT BARRISTER COSTS HELP NEEDED TODAY and legal costs help needed for upcoming Inquiry.
We need your help TODAY to challenge Earthline’s bid for a gravel extraction and landfill site in Ashton Keynes!
You all know that we were only told last week that Wiltshire Council planners have withdrawn their objections. We desperately need to postpone the start of the Inquiry from 15th October to give us time to review materials, seek expert reports and prepare the best case to object to the quarry and infill.
The team of volunteers have been working all hours to identify grounds to seek delay to the Inquiry, and we’ve found some!! But we need a barrister to give us the best chance of getting the delay.
The Ashton Keynes Parish Council has called an emergency meeting for next Wednesday 9th (which is the soonest a meeting is permitted to be called) to raise funds towards covering the costs of objecting at the Inquiry but STEP ONE is that we need to raise £4,300 immediately to cover upfront costs of our barrister helping us seek the delay. STEP TWO will be meeting costs of technical experts and a barrister for the actual Inquiry.
We’d like to share this cost fairly amongst the villagers who object to the quarry, we hope that £25, £50 or £100 from our supporters will enable us to cover this cost TODAY before speaking to the barrister tomorrow. All further monies raised will go towards the costs of the Inquiry itself.
Thank you everyone for your support. We are doing everything we can!
Public Local Enquiry AKEY 41
NOTICE OF PUBLIC LOCAL INQUIRY
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Section 53
Notice is hereby given that an Inspector will be appointed by
the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to determine
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL
The Wiltshire Council (Parish of Ashton Keynes) Path No. 41 Definitive Map and
Statement Modification Order 2018
The appointed Inspector will open the public Inquiry as a virtual event on
Tuesday 30 November 2021 at 10.00am.
Anyone wishing to attend the inquiry virtually must register that interest with Ms Janice Green either by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or tel: (01225) 713345, before 10am on Monday 29th November 2021.
To take part using video, participants will need to have access to Microsoft Teams (via an app or web browser). The link https://support.microsoft.com/en- us/office/welcome-to-microsoft-teams-b98d533f-118e-4bae-bf44-3df2470c2b12 gives further information on how to use this. Alternatively, you can take part by telephone. Registered participants will receive individual joining instructions, providing details of any requirements, guidance and support, whether joining by Teams or telephone.
The effect of the Order, if confirmed without modifications, will be to modify the definitive map and statement for the area by adding to them the footpath from OS Grid Reference SU 0592-9417 at its junction with Fridays Ham Lane at Rixon Gate, leading generally south-west for approximately 250 metres, before leading west for approximately 165 metres and south-west for approximately 200 metres to its junction with Path no.19 Ashton Keynes at OS Grid Reference SU 0544-9386, having a width of 1.4 metres.
Any person wishing to view the statements of case and other documents relating to this Order may do so by appointment by contacting Ms Janice Green, Senior Definitive Map Officer at Rights of Way and Countryside, Communities & Neighbourhoods Services, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN. Her Telephone Number is (01225) 713345 and E-mail Address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Additionally, the documents will be placed on the Wiltshire Council, Rights of Way, website pages: https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recreation-rights-of-way
Planning Inspectorate Reference: ROW/3245937
Contact point at the Planning Inspectorate: Helen Sparks, Rights of Way Section, Room 3/A, Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol
BS1 6PN.
Tel: 0303 444 5646 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gravel Extraction Application
Revised planning application for mineral extractionby Earthline at Wheatleys Farm.
Application No 17/12064/WCM - Closing date for comments 14 June 2021
Over the years, the Parish Council has objected to the planning application for mineral extractionby Earthline at Wheatleys Farm, along with 470 parishioners and the local MP.
This is the 4th consultation since 2017 and in that time Earthline have done very little to addressour concerns around:
● Noise, dust and pollution - affecting all the village which will last for 8 years or more.
● Flooding - the scale of the excavation is likely to increase the flooding risk - See the existing flood plain
● Ecology. It will take about 20-25 years before the damage to hedgerows and watermeadows recovers and will have immediate impact on our wildlife.
● Traffic. We’ll have HGVs every 10 minutes using the B4696
● Protecting land not yet quarried as set out in the Wiltshire CC Landscape Character Assessment report 2009.
● The overall and cumulative impact on our village of the above.
To read more about the concerns for the village, see this article in the June 2021 Village Newsletter - Gravel Extraction Objection
On the basis that village isn’t going to benefit AND will be negatively impacted by this quarry, the Parish Council is going to put in it’s objection. Again! We thought you might like to see the detail behind our objections., So we’ve outlined them on pages 16 and 17
Want to have your say?
You have until the 14 June to comment.If you objected last time and still object, you need to do again otherwise the planners will assume that your concerns have been addressed.For everyone else who wishes to comment or object to the planning application, it’s easy to do.
● Comment online at www.wiltshire..gov.uk. The page is difficult to find though and you might find it easier to use this shortened URL -
● By email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. quoting application no 17/12064/WCM
● By post. Development Services Wiltshire Council Monkton Park Chippenham,Wiltshire SN151ER. Again quote the application number 17/12064/WCM.
The more objections received, the greater chance there is of the application being turned down.
Spring Colouring Competition
With schools closed and children at home Ashton Keynes Parish Council are holding a spring colouring competition. Can you draw and colour a spring themed picture to make the judges smile?
The competition is open to children living in the parish or attending Ashton Keynes C of E Primary School or Ashton Keynes Pre-school.
There are 3 age groups which are
0-5yrs 6-10yrs 11-15yrs
There will be a first prize of a £10 book voucher and second prize of a £5 book voucher for each age group.
Entries should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 30th April 2020. Winners will be announced on 5th May 2020
Winning entries will be displayed on the Parish Council website. Click here to see the entries.
Names and addresses are to be provided in an email along with a photo of your finished entry, no names to be visible on the actual entry.
Good Luck and I look forward to receiving lots of colourful spring entries.