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Based in the Town Hall, Chippenham Town Council primarily provides
town based amenities and facilities. It is responsible for the Grade
I listed  Yelde
Hall which houses the Tourist Information Centre, Grade II listed
Town and Neeld Halls, the Grade II listed Museum & Heritage
Centre, Stanley Park Sports Ground, Chippenham Information Point,
CCTV, John Coles Park, rivers route, town markets, children’s
playgrounds, allotment sites, the London Road Cemetery, the town
centre floral arrangements, top-up street cleaning, additional road
gritting and the festive lights.
The Council also arranges and attends a number of traditional Civic
and Ceremonial events, including Civic Sunday, Mayor Making and
Remembrance Day.
The Town Council’s flagship John Coles Park, with its sensory
garden, beautiful lawns and flower displays, bandstand, fountains,
tennis courts, putting area and bowling green is also the venue
for Chippenham’s annual Children’s Fun Day held on the
first Sunday in August, and Sunday afternoon band concerts throughout
the summer months. Sports equipment is also available for hire in
the park.
Chippenham Town Council organises a number of annual events including
the town’s Pancake Races and the Christmas Lights switch on
ceremony held in November, which has evolved into one of the town’s
biggest events, with thousands of people joining in the festivities
in the Market Place and throughout the town.
Look out for “Talk of the Town”, the newsletter distributed
by the Town Council, containing up to date information on services
and amenities.
The Council is composed of 26 Members (Councillors) representing
the wards in the town of Chippenham. All Councillors are elected
by the people of the town in a single election, held every four
years. The most recent election was held in May 2007. The Officers
are the Council’s paid employees and work for the authority
as a whole.
The Town Mayor holds office from the Mayor Making ceremony of one
year, generally held in May, until the ceremony of the following
year. The Mayor is the first citizen of the town and has the opportunity
to promote and uphold the specific character of Chippenham as well
as preside over meetings of the Full Council. Upon election the
Mayor is also appointed President of several organisations such
as the Chippenham Sea Cadets TS Tiger, the Twinning Association
and the Abbeyfield Chippenham Society. The Mayor also has the opportunity
to raise funds during their Year of Office for his/her named charity.
The leader of the majority group of the Town Council is automatically
appointed as Leader of the Council, at the first meeting of the
Standing Committees for the following Municipal Year.
Any questions on the Town Council’s services and amenities
should be addressed to:
The Town Clerk
The Town Hall
High Street
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN15 3ER
Tel: 01249 446699
Fax: 01249 443145
Email: enquiries@chippenham.gov.uk
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