Our Parish secures its future – and even grows!
Today’s Wiltshire Council meeting at County Hall saw the culmination of a major governance review for the Devizes Area. This will have lasting and positive repercussions for our parish and community.
In January 2026, Devizes Town Council had proposed to take control of the entire semi-urban area of our parish. That would have included all 1,200 properties north of the canal and south of the A361 between Windsor Drive and Laywood. It is where 80% of our parish residents live. Those proposals were formally dismissed on 26th March.
At today’s meeting, Wiltshire Councillors reviewed the final recommendations of the review and listened to an address by our Chair, Cllr Darren Bone. They voted by 88 votes to nil to transfer land and 200 new-build houses at the Lock Keeper Gardens development north of Coate Road from the town of Devizes to the parish of Bishops Cannings. This will take effect at the next local elections in May 2029.
Together, these developments secure the future both of our parish and our community.
Wiltshire Councillors also accepted the parish council’s request for a change in name. Cllr Bone explained that this reflected the results of a public consultation during June 2026. The aim was to retain our historic roots, while better reflecting the modern nature of the parish and our unique rural and semi-urban community.
Councillors voted by 90 votes to nil for a change in name to the parish of Bishops Cannings and Northfields. This will take place with immediate effect.
A new website and logo will be unveiled by the end of year to reflect these positive changes for our community. A good day!
Share your views on Adult Social Care
Adult Social Care supports adults who may need extra help because of age, disability, illness, mental health needs, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances. It helps people to stay safe, well and independent for as long as possible.
Wiltshire Council has launched a short survey to gather views from people who use services, unpaid carers, family members and anyone with an interest in Adult Social Care. The survey aims to capture people’s experiences and views on the values and behaviours that should guide Adult Social Care, helping to ensure services build on good work already happening and continue to reflect what matters most to local people.
Feedback will help shape how Adult Social Care supports people across Wiltshire so it remains focused on the needs, priorities and experiences of residents.
Cllr Clare Cape, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “The way we work with people is just as important as the support we provide. That’s why we’re asking residents, carers and people who use services to tell us whether these principles reflect what matters most to them.
“Listening to feedback helps us ensure our approach remains clear, relevant, and focused on helping people live the lives they want. I would encourage anyone with an interest in Adult Social Care to take a few minutes to complete the survey and share their views.”
The survey closes on 17 August 2026.
People can take part in the survey: https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/s/3zx0nw
BISHOPS CANNINGS VILLAGE CAR PARK WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES
16th to 21st JULY for Tree Works and from 7am 23rd JULY the car park will be closed for Renovation and Extension Works
Please be considerate to residents when parking around the village during this time.
A message from the Chair of Bishops Cannings Parish Council, Councillor Darren Bone.
Two Important Public Consultations
The future of the parish of Bishops Cannings is looking bright. Two public consultations are currently in play.
The first relates to Wiltshire’s Community Governance Review. The Parish Council has already successfully defended the parish’s boundaries against two takeover bids from Devizes Town Council.
In light of that debate, Wiltshire Council is now consulting on whether a number of existing properties, as well as the entire development of 200 new homes at Lockkeeper Gardens, should in fact be transferred from the town of Devizes to the parish of Bishops Cannings. You can have your say until Monday 22nd June by following this link CGR May 2026
You will find a short letter which will guide you through exactly how to complete this survey in just seven clicks
Community Governance Review Survey
The Parish Council is also consulting with the public on a potential new name and logo for the parish.
These are extraordinary times. You can find out about both issues and share your views at two more public meetings being facilitated by the Parish Council. These are scheduled for the village hall in Bishops Cannings and at the New Inn, Coate on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th June respectively. Both meetings will start at 7.30pm.
We look forward to seeing you.
A message from the Chair of Bishops Cannings Parish Council, Councillor Darren Bone.
The Battle of Bishops Cannings is almost won – and it might be worth even more.
Many of you will recall Devizes Town Council making an unsolicited bid in January to take control of the entire semi-urban area of Bishops Cannings Parish. That would have seen nearly 1,200 homes and 2,400 people effectively removed from our parish, to be subsumed instead under the control and jurisdiction of Devizes Town Council. The Town Council also sought to wrest control of further land south of Nursteed School.
Bishops Cannings Parish Council mounted a robust, transparent and evidence-based defence. This impressed the Wiltshire Council Committee tasked with conducting the Community Governance Review. The Committee was struck by the effectiveness of local governance provided by your Parish Council and the argument that ours is a coherent community, which successfully combines rural villages and semi-urban development.
That Committee voted to retain the semi-urban area as an integral part of our parish. But it has now also proposed that other areas transfer across from Devizes Town Council and into our parish! This includes the 200 new homes currently being built north of Coate Road at Lockkeeper Gardens. A public consultation in the form of an online survey is now open until 22 June on these proposals.
The Parish Council intends to facilitate a series of public meetings to brief residents on this. We shall also seek views from residents on options for a change to the Parish’s name as well as a new logo.
The first meeting will take place in the function room at The Hourglass pub on Tuesday 9 June at 7.30pm. Other meetings will take place at venues in Coate and Bishops Cannings, with details to follow. Further posts will explain how to engage for those unable to attend.
This is a positive opportunity for your Parish. Please come along and find out more.
Naughton Park – Your park just got another upgrade!
New benches have now been installed at Naughton Avenue park, right alongside the football goalpost. With the men’s World Cup on the horizon and the Lionesses roaring on the world stage, there’s never been a better time to grab a seat on the bench — even if the manager might not agree! ⚽🏴🏴
And just like the trees in our park, great football starts with strong roots — right here in the community.
A great place to watch the kids play, catch up with neighbours, or just soak up the atmosphere. This is your park — come and enjoy it.
Coate Road – Update:
THE NEW ROAD LAYOUT AT COATE ROAD/WINDSOR DRIVE WILL OPEN AT 16:00 TODAY 2nd JUNE 2026
An overnight inspection of the street lights at Coate Road/Lock Keepers Gardens has shown they are not fully operational. This is a legal requirement for the road to be open, and the Developer have the contractor on site. It has been confirmed that Coate Road will not be open, as expected, by the end of today (27th May).
To ensure that the works are completed correctly for sign off, a 3-day extension has been agreed, up to 30th May. The Parish Council wanted to make residents aware. We will update of any further information once available.
Naughton Park – A St George’s Day gift for our community!
We’re thrilled to announce that a brand new goal post has been installed at Naughton Avenue Park by Bishops Cannings Parish Council!
What a perfect day to invest in the next generation – who knows, our future Lionesses and Lions could be taking their very first shots right here in our neighbourhood. Come down, bring the kids, and make the most of this brilliant new addition to the park. The pitch is yours!
Whilst you’re there why not also enjoy the beautiful blossom on our new orchard fruit trees which are being lovingly cared for by local residents!
Community Governance Review
A message to residents from the Chair of Bishops Cannings Parish Council, Councillor Darren Bone:
You will all be aware that Devizes Town Council has made an unsolicited bid to take control of the entire semi-urban area of Bishops Cannings Parish, through a proposed boundary change. If successful, this would see nearly 1,200 homes and some 2,400 people effectively removed from our parish, to be subsumed instead under the control and jurisdiction of Devizes Town Council.
Many of you attended an extraordinary meeting of the Parish Council in the function room of the Hourglass pub on 29th January 2026. At that meeting you heard just what Bishops Cannings Parish Council has done and continues to do for the community which it serves: both rural and semi-urban.
On 19th February the Parish Council met informally with the Wiltshire Council Committee charged both with conducting the Community Governance Review and with drafting recommendations on whether or not changes to governance arrangements should be made. It was a positive meeting.
The Parish Council followed that with two formal submissions to the Committee on 27th February and 16th March which are listed below.
BCPC Community Governance Review Submission
BCPC Community Governance Review Follow-On Submission
Next Thursday (26th March, 2.30pm at County Hall) the Committee meets to consider all of the submitted bids and responses. The bid by Devizes Town Council and the Parish Council’s own robust defence is high up on that list. Bishops Cannings Parish Council will attend and will argue strongly that there remains neither any basis, nor need, for the current boundaries to be changed. The decisions made through this process will directly affect your futures.
Residents in the rural parts of the Parish will note that both submissions contain robust responses to the Town Council’s attempt to take control of rural land south of Nursteed School, which also lies within our existing boundary.
The Parish Council believes it has made a compelling case for maintaining the status quo in both cases and shall report back after the event to let you know the outcome.
West End – Speed Limit Review and Traffic Regulation Order
Letter from the Chair – West End Residents