Andy Munns
With 2023 coming to an end, we look back at the year and what has happened across Salisbury, South Wiltshire and West Hampshire.
January
Salisbury City Council and other local councils announced their Council Tax Precept increases. Salisbury’s stood out because the increase was larger than most, with an increase of around £102 per year.
Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Panel approved the selection of Catherine Roper as Wiltshire’s new Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police after PCC Philip Wilkinson selected her as his preferred candidate.
February
Salisbury District Hospital was forced to suspend its new parking system after issues. There were many issues with the system since it was implemented on the 6th of February. The system was suspended whilst problems were resolved.
Two local businesses announced their closure – The Boathouse, which had only been open for six months, closed its doors. The Wood Bar Kiosk revealed it was to close after Salisbury City Council didn’t accept their application to renew their lease. The popular kiosk discovered that their application to continue the lease had been unsuccessful.
A parish meeting was arranged for Salisbury’s residents to discuss the Salisbury City Council parish precept, which forms part of our Council Tax payments.
March
Former Salisbury MP Robert Key’s funeral was held at Salisbury Cathedral. He served as Salisbury MP for 27 years, from 1983 to 2010. He held several positions within Conservative governments, including Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities and Minister for Roads and Traffic. He also had the freedom of the City of Salisbury.
Bemerton John Primary School in Lower Bemerton appointed a former pupil as its new permanent head teacher. Mrs Claire Pearce had been acting as headteacher since her predecessor, Alun Richards, moved to a new role within the Magna Learning Partnership.
The area was hit by snow, causing schools to close and travel problems.
April
There was a very low turnout for the Parish Poll over the council tax precept increase, with only 1202 people participating. Within the Salisbury City parish, there are around 30,000 people who were eligible to vote in yesterday’s poll, meaning a turnout of less than 4%.
Salisbury City Council announced that the historic Poultry Cross had re-opened following repair work. The Grade I listed structure was damaged last year, and repair works started in October 2022.
May
We celebrated the King’s Coronation as several events across the area marked the occasion, including a live screening at the Cathedral.
The 9th annual Fabulous Family Fun Day, which took place at Salisbury Rugby Club, announced it raised over £26k for Salisbury Hospice Charity. The Fun Day, which has grown yearly, is organised in memory of Lyn Futcher, supported by the hospice in 2013.
A Mayor-making took place with the handover of the Mayoral chain from Cllr Tom Corbin to Cllr Atiqul Hoque, who became the 762nd The Right Worshipful Mayor of the City of Salisbury.
June
Salisbury gained a brand new cinema as the Everyman Cinema opened its doors on Endless Street.
Hundreds of people responded when Two Bird Experience asked for our help in locating their missing Hybrid Falcon, Echo. He was eventually found and taken home.
People gathered at vantage points around Salisbury to witness the Hercules Farwell Flypast as the aircraft left military service for good.
July
Cusses Gorse, on the edge of Salisbury, hosted the World Motor Cross Side Car championships. The circuit just off Amesbury Road, near High Post, also announced it would be closing later in the year.
The government gave the green light to build the road tunnel near Stonehenge.
It will cost a whopping £1.7 billion and will be two miles long, which is about 3.2 kilometres. The tunnel will stretch from Amesbury to Berwick Down in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire Council installed bin stores as a solution to bins in some city centre streets. They are designed to help keep pedestrian areas clear of commercial bins, reduce smells in hotter weather and make the city more attractive for locals and visitors.
August
Salisbury’s newest Indian restaurant opened its doors in the Boathouse building. Serving a selection of Southern Indian cuisine, the restaurant is named “Elai”.
Wiltshire Polic launched a murder investigation following the stabbing of Tsvetomir Genov, 20, who died after the incident on Gainsborough Close. His family paid tribute to their son,“We lost our first-born amazing son TG suddenly, and it is a really hard time for our family. He is a brother to two boys and also a father to a little boy.“
Salisbury residents came out big numbers to enjoy live music, food and fun at Victoria Park of the first ever ‘Live at the Park’. The musical lineup featured a mix of local talent, both emerging and established and a trio of fantastic tribute bands.
September
Primark finally opened a store in Salisbury in September. There were big queues and much excitement as a DJ played tunes as the first customers entered the store.
Canon Kenneth Padley, Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral, climbed to the top of the scaffold on the East End of the Cathedral to bless the cross that sits high above the Trinity Chapel. Called ‘Topping Out’, Canon Kenneth’s blessing marked the end of an extraordinary feat of restoration and repair, which began with a survey by the then Clerk of Works, Roy Spring, in 1986.
October
Bradbeers opened their new department store on Blue Boar Row. The store, which covers two floors, offers products from well-known suppliers across womenswear, menswear, shoes, fashion accessories, fragrances, cosmetics, and homewares.
Three new plaques were installed at Salisbury War Memorial to remember those who died whilst serving in World War 2. The cast bronze plaques on the south side of the War Memorial facing Salisbury Guildhall list the names of 224 local people who died whilst fighting for their country.
November
The UK’s largest arts and crafts retailer looks like it is coming to Salisbury, as plans have been submitted for a Southampton Road site. Plans have been put to Wiltshire Council to add signage to the former Argos store adjacent to Next on the busy Dolphin Trading estate.
Salisbury celebrated its first cohort of stars recognised on the Walk of Stars. The stars celebrate local people nominated for their work and volunteering efforts in the community.
It was revealed a group of vastly experienced people have met discuss Salisbury’s City Hall and options for the building if Wiltshire Council’s options fail.
Two Salisbury schools revealed their plans to throw their Deputy Head, Mr Ramsay, out of an aeroplane. Mr Ramsay, who is the deputy head teacher across both Wyndham Park Infant and St Mark’s Junior schools, was set the skydiving challenge by the respective parent groups.
December
Salisbury Radio announced Woodlands Primary School the Song for Christmas 2023 winners after 20 local schools competed for this year’s title.
Salisbury’s Castle Street was closed whilst firefighters dealt with a fire at the Avon Brewery pub. Multiple appliances attended at the address, and police closed the road while the incident was ongoing.
