Churches open

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St Mary the Virgin church in Kingston Deverill is open every Sunday and Wednesday during daylight hours for private prayer or meditation.

In using the church, it is important to keep a distance from one another and prevent the spread of infection in order to save lives. People may enter as individuals or with others from their household. Hands should be cleaned before entering the church using the hand gel provided. Inside is a book to record those who visit – this is important in case visitors need to be contacted. Social distancing of 2 metres from other visitors and worshipers should be maintained and bibles, hymn books or any other items in the church should not be touched. However, the pews may be used.

Can multiple people enter the building? 

Yes. For private prayer by individuals or members of the same household, multiple members of the public can be admitted provided that no more are present than allow social distancing to be maintained. If entering from a different social group a minimum of 2 metres social distancing should be maintained.

In the event of an emergency one of the following should be contacted:

The Churchwarden: 01985 844291 / 

The Rector: 01985 841290 /

Sunday services

Sunday services will be restarted in all the parish’s churches in rotation starting with SS Peter & Paul in Longbridge Deverill on Sunday 5th July. Services will be at 10.30am.

Coronavirus guidance

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on what you can and can’t do during the outbreak are here. This guidance was updated on 24th June.

The Parish Council has set up a community self-help arrangement to help see us all through the crisis. We are likely to need to maintain this extra level of support to each other for the foreseeable future, because this is not going to be a short-term challenge.

The purpose of this initiative is to help each other – not just the most vulnerable – because we all may need some sort of help over the next few months, even if we are lucky enough not to fall ill. The closure of some businesses, the disruption to shopping and services together with the partial closure of schools to some year groups is presenting people with all sorts of new difficulties. This is already a notably friendly and neighbourly place to live and between us we have an amazing collection of skills, talents and contacts. There is lot that we can do help each other not just survive but thrive through this strange spring and summer that lies ahead of us.

The kind of help we are thinking about ranges from making a phone call to a neighbour to dispel the isolation blues, to shopping and collecting prescriptions on behalf of those who find themselves needing to be isolated at home.

At the village level the coordinators are:

Kingston – Ted Flint: , 844507

Brixton – David Croot: , 840944

Monkton – Bridget Beattie: , 844884

If you are worried, or need any help, please do contact one of these coordinators.

Please keep looking out for each other!

Useful information

From the Government

From the NHS

From the Police

From Wiltshire Council

From Mere surgery

Dog Fouling

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The vast majority of dog owners are caring, responsible individuals but there are still some who do not clean up after their pets. Whereas incidences of dog fouling on our roads and verges here in the Upper Deverills are few, there have been some recent reports of mess being left on private borders, driveways and […]

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Vacancy – Parish Council Clerk

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Upper Deverills Parish Council wishes to appoint a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.

This is a part time position, approximately 20 hours a month, working primarily from home. The Parish Council will supply a laptop for Council work.

The applicant should have good computer, administrative and communication skills and should be competent in bookkeeping. Local authority experience would be an advantage, but training is available if necessary. The salary will be based on NJC pay scales plus agreed expenses.

If you would like an informal chat about the post, please contact:

Full information about the Parish Council is available on this website: upperdeverills.co.uk/parish-council

Please send your application letter and a brief CV by email to the Acting Clerk, or post it to:

Upper Deverills Parish Council, Whitepits Lodge, Kingston Deverill, Warminster BA12 7HD

The closing date for applications is Friday 31st July 2020.

Shops, facilities, etc open for business

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As we know, following Government rules many shops and businesses have been forced to close during the Coronavirus outbreak. However, some essential services such as food shops, newsagents and garages have been allowed to stay open for business in some form or other. Many gardens centres are open – see below for details. Of course, a great deal of shopping can be done online – and you are encouraged to do so, for example getting food deliveries direct from supermarkets. However, here is a list of services in the local area that we know are open, or will deliver. Please support them.

Please contact us if you know of any others that are not shown

Agra Restaurant, Warminster | agrarestaurant.com | 01985 212713

Open for take-away deliveries and collections 27th May.

Baber Animal Feeds | baberanimalfeeds.com | 01985 219602 |

The store is open for animal and pet food. One in – one out. Please use doorbell at the back door. Card payments only. Or order by phone for free local delivery.

La Chasse | lachasselimited.co.uk | 01747 840996 | 

W H Davie & Son, butcher, Angel lane, Mere | 01747 860406

Open. Ring to check hours

Grosvenor Arms, Hindon | grosvenorarmshindon.com | 01747 820696

Pizzas and pies takeaway Friday, Saturday and Sunday 6pm – 9pm

Lakeside Garden Centre | fonthill-lakeside.com | 01985 217413

Open 9am – 4.30pm

Longbridge Deverill Garage | 01985 840061

Fuel and essentials. Cards only – no cash

Mere Co-op | 01747 861203

Mere Pharmacy| dudleytaylor.co.uk | 01747 860232

Nick’s Shoe Repairs and Key Cutting, Warminster | 01985 216834

Monday-Friday 10am-2pm, Saturday 9am-Midday

Plant World, Milton-on-Stour| plant-world.co.uk | 01747 824015

Prince Leopold Inn, Upton Lovell | 01985 850460

Reeves the Baker, Warminster

C J Robbins butcher, Warminster | 01985 213052

Sprout & Flower, Mere | sproutandflower.co.uk | 01747 860300 |

Phone or email for a list of products.

Street market adjacent Library car park, Warminster | Friday 5th June: 9am – 2pm

Alexandra Talbot Cooks | 01747 820109 | | @alexandratalbotcooks

Home-cooked meals delivered to your door. Free delivery.

Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham | 01747 822242 |

Tytherington Milk Station, at Crockerton Shopping Centre | @tytheringtonmilkstation

Fresh milk station in the car park from 10am Tuesday 2nd June.

Wylye Valley Vineyard Farm Shop | 01985 211337

Dog walking in our countryside

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Parish Council Meetings

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Meetings are normally held in Upper Deverills Village Hall, Kingston Deverill. However, because of the restrictions on social distancing and travel imposed as a consequence of the Coronavirus situation, meetings will be held online until further notice. The next meeting will be on Wednesday 8th July at 7pm. The agenda is published a week in advance. It can be accessed on the agenda and minutes page.

Online meetings take exactly the same format as a conventional meeting but will use the Zoom web-based conferencing platform. Meetings will be controlled by the Chair, as usual, with the Clerk assisting with the technology. On a computer screen the individual Councillors and the Clerk will be seen and heard. Visitors who have been asked to contribute will also be seen and heard. Members of the public may, as usual, be ‘present’ having also joined the meeting via the web application. They will not be able to be heard, except when the Chair allows Public Question Time prior to the start of meeting-proper for no longer than the customary three minutes.

Instructions for joining meetings via Zoom should be obtained from the Clerk: ; 01985 844385.