From : Philip Carter
The long term contractors who have been doing this work have stopped, so we need a new supplier.
As the area is quite large, it requires a sit-on vehicle, probably also a smaller mower and a strimmer for going round each gravestone.
Please let us know of any supplier who might be interested in doing this work. They can start immediately.
Replies to Jeremy Wright (jeremy.wright77@hotmail.co.uk) and Philip Carter (philipjacarter@hotmail.co.uk).
Thank you. Philip Carter
Many thanks to the Jane Highway Patrol this week – there’s been a lot to report !
Here’s this weeks update from Dan at Wessex Water :
Tarmac surfacing works have been completed in preparation for the bank holiday.
The diversion route has been changed, and residents of Folly Fields will now enter and exit via the Charlton end of the road closure. All signage has been organised to be altered and new signs will be out on site by the end of today.
I asked him what was happening next week and got this :
Next week the gang will be excavating from Folly Fields to the pumping station. The drilling under the stream will be complete at a later date but I will inform you when that is.
Now….. they’ve actually already excavated from Follyfield towards the bridge, laid the pipe, backfilled, and resurfaced so I guess they’ll be going a little further and then preparing to drill down under the stream fairly soon.
I guess the good news is that it’s now fairly “stable”. For most of Hankerton the main access will be from the Charlton end of the road until the end of the project. My guess is that we’ll probably have access both ways outside working hours.
Update from Dan at Wessex Water
Progress This Week
• Approximately 200 metres of 180mm water main have been successfully installed.
• Trench concreting works have commenced in preparation for upcoming surfacing activities.
Planned Works for Next Week
• A planned shutdown at Folly Fields junction is scheduled for 19/05/2026.
• Following the shutdown, works will continue with:
o Backfilling of all trenches from Folly Fields through to the Charlton end of the road closure.
o Tarmac surfacing works, which are programmed for completion ahead of the bank holiday.
Traffic & Access Arrangements
• From 23/05/2026, all residents in the Folly Fields area will enter and exit via the Charlton end only.
Summary
• This week: 200m of 180mm main installed; trench concreting underway.
• Next week: Junction shutdown (19/05/2026), followed by backfilling and tarmacking works in preparation for the bank holiday period.
Michael has clarified that the access to Follyfield will be maintained using Road Plates in a similar way to this week.
We also had a letter (Follyfield) that said the water supply may be interrupted on Tuesday from 10am – 1pm.
From : Anne Goodyear
The Hankerton Art Group’s exhibition is now open in the John Bowen Gallery at Malmesbury Town Hall. Do go along and see a wide range of work from our local art group, pictured on the opening evening. The exhibition is on until 27th May.
From : Michael (Parish Council Clerk)
With the Parish Clerk’s apologies that the advertising of this meeting has not gone well – the Annual Village Meeting is tonight in the church !
Doors open 7pm for a bit of free refreshment before a 7.30 start.
Reports by the Parish Council and by our Wiltshire Cllr and the chance for you to ask any questions.
Hope to see you then !
Message from Wessex Water :
“I have received confirmation from Wiltshire Council that the resurfacing works have been amended, and access for the village should not be affected on Saturday.
Unfortunately, our pipe supplier has delayed the delivery once again; however, they have assured us that the pipe will now be delivered on Monday. As soon as the pipe arrives, we will begin laying it and reinstating the excavated area so that we can move on to the next stage of the works.
While this does result in a delay to our programme, we are confident at this stage that the time can be recovered during the next couple of sections.”
From : Simon
Michael has received a message from the engineer at Wiltshire Council.
This is about the Murcott work which was planned for this weekend. It’s not the Wessex Water work.
I think we should probably thank Elizabeth Threlfall for helping with this one !
“Good Afternoon All,
Due to clashes with utility works in the area, these works have now been cancelled.
The contractor will attend site within the next week to reinstate road markings – however this will be carried out under localised TM, without the need for a road closure. This will not affect accidents for residents.
Kind Regards
Jon”
So hopefully the properties between Cloatley Rd and the Eastcourt Rd won’t have the 3 day ? / 1 day ? / 2 hour ? access problem that seemed likely earlier this week.
I’m hoping the engineer has an over helpful spell checker…. but if not, and if anyone is planning to have an accident it seems you’re good to go !
In terms of the Wessex Water work I’m hoping that there’ll be access in both directions over this weekend but I think that will depend on how far they get today. There’s a chance that they’ll have concrete curing on the road south from Follyfield towards Charlton.
From : Simon Kearsley
Wessex Water have explained that the engineer we’ve been dealing with (Jamie) is moving on at the end of the week. He’s been really helpful ! But, don’t worry, there’s a replacement (Dan) that is taking over.
Wessex have a regular progress meeting on a Monday and they’ll then issue us (Michael – Parish Council Clerk and myself) a copy of the report. I’ll pass that on via the website and WhatsApp so that everyone can see what’s going on. It may well be the Tuesday before I can do that – just so you’re aware.
Wessex Water have also mentioned that various people at Wessex have been getting direct calls from people in the village and have asked us all to please not do that and also not to share direct contact details but, more importantly, to please raise any issues, complaints, enquiries etc. through the main help desk. The number for this is :
0345 600 4600
This then helps them refer the issue to the correct person and make sure it is resolved properly. It also lets the engineers get on with what they’re good at – engineering !
Elizabeth Threlfall has been dealing with Wiltshire Council about the resurfacing work that’s scheduled for the Murcott Rd this weekend…
It’s expected to happen on Saturday, it only takes half an hour, and they’ll stop before the Eastcourt turning so that a diversion will still be in place.
Hopefully, exit from Follyfield will still be possible by turning left anyway…. but that’s just my guess not a Wessex Water promise !
Sorry, couldn’t resist..
From : Simon (simon.kearsley@symmetry.co.uk)
I’ve been in touch with the Design Engineer at Wessex water to get an update. He’s been really helpful. Here’s where things are (his words in blue italics) !
Resurfacing works
There were some access issues when Murcott Road was being resurfaced recently. Unfortunately, this was outside of our control; however, I have been in contact with Wiltshire Council to ensure this does not happen again when the resurfacing works are completed in May. I am currently awaiting their response on how this will be managed, and I will provide a further update as soon as clarification is received
Works Update
The team has now completed approximately 170 metres of open‑cut excavation, stopping at Follyfield due to access restrictions over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Following the Bank Holiday, works will resume on Tuesday, with a 30‑metre open‑cut section progressing across Folly Field. During this time:
– Access for residents will be maintained using road plates while the junction is excavated.
– Residents will continue to use Murcott Road to access and exit the village.
Pipe delivery is scheduled for Thursday 7 May. Once delivered, the pipe will be installed within the excavated trench, followed by reinstatement works as outlined below:
Concrete reinstatement – expected to take one day
The surface will then be left over the weekend to allow curing
Tarmac reinstatement will be completed on the following Monday
Once this section has been fully reinstated and reopened, the team will continue open‑cut excavation from Follyfield, progressing approximately 100 metres towards the river.
I asked Jamie a few more questions and he gave me some additional information :
It’s likely we will work in approximately 200m sections for the majority of the phases of replacement , however as we are coming up to the river where a directional drill is required it’s likely we will cut the next section down to 100 m to accommodate this.
Once we have the current section that is open reinstated we will have a better idea of what kind of length we will be required.
More to follow as soon as I know more.
Again, we would like to thank the residents for their patience while we complete the work
I’ve also asked Elizabeth (councillor) for a contact at Wiltshire County Council so that I can ask them if they have any other plans in the pipeline. My thinking being that once the Wessex Water work moves on, if the Council decides to resurface the road to Charlton then the only access to the village would be Cloatley Road – far from ideal. I’ll pass on anything I find out.
Finally…I did some simple arithmetic and with a little help from Google maps I’ve worked out that if they’re doing the work in roughly 7 stages plus drilling under the brook then they’ll need to complete each stage in about two and a half weeks if they’re going to hit their 5 month estimate. One to watch I think !
I hope everyone finds this helpful ! Hopefully, if we all know what’s likely to happen then it all gets a little easier.
From : John Thorne
Charlton and Hankerton Quiz Night return on Sat 16th May, 7 for 7.30pm, Charlton Village Hall. Questions, audio and scoring are by me, Philip Carter and Peter Wyman.
It’s always an enjoyable event. Tickets £15 in advance, includes hot supper and pudding. Bar available.
Contact charltonhall22@gmail.com, 07771 258424. Come as a team (max 8) or join one at the event. Proceeds to the Charlton Recreation Centre. If you have questions, please contact john.thorne@islington.gov.uk
Hankerton Village 