Devizes’ “poorly designed” town hall roof is set to be repaired to prevent leaking, after Wiltshire Council has approved a planning application for the work submitted by Devizes Town Council.

Worsening roof leaks have been affecting the town council over the past few years, despite carrying out “some ad-hoc roofing repairs with limited success”.

Now that the project has been granted planning permission, the property will be re-roofed using traditional materials and techniques that retain its historic fabric.

The grade II listed town hall building is located on Saint John’s Street and is thought to have been constructed in the early 19th century.

Wiltshire Times: Devizes Town Council has permission to proceed with the roof repairs.

According to the application, “poorly” designed and implemented roofing works were carried out in the mid-20th century with “only a small amount of material salvaged and reused”.

Therefore, little of the original roof coverings remain.

The heritage statement noted: “The proposed works are seen as a timely intervention and will preserve this valuable heritage asset for the long-term benefit of the community.”

In other planning news, a Chippenham business has had its new signage approved, to support its transition from a Chinese takeaway to a new Thai café.

Lucky Eat Chinese Takeaway, at 9 The Bridge, had previously had its application discussed at a planning meeting during which Cllr William Douglas opposed the design, claiming it was “a very Chinese item” that would change “the ambience of the area”.

Wiltshire Council informed the newly opened WaraThai café that its signage had been given the green light on Tuesday, May 28.

Also approved by the council this week was an application for electric vehicle charging stations down in Warminster, at the Castlemore Retail Park.

The application stated: “The proposed charging stations and associated feeder pillar would be of a modest size and would be sited within the existing car park, occupying a small part of the existing hardstanding around the existing car parking bays and on the verge area adjacent to the car parking bays.”

Castlemore Retail Park is expected to receive more foot traffic in the coming year, as plans were recently approved for the now closed British Heart Foundation store to be replaced by a new McDonald’s.

Finally, further south, in the village of Zeals, a nursery has applied for an extension to help meet the demand for additional child places in that area of Wiltshire.

The Leaping Frogs Day Nursery currently accommodates 85 children every day and is seeking permission for a new room that would provide an additional 15 to 18 places for babies under two years old.

Wiltshire Times: Leaping Frogs Day Nursery has been in Zeals since 2012.Leaping Frogs Day Nursery has been in Zeals since 2012. (Image: Leaping Frogs Day Nursery)

The nursery estimates that this will service an extra 30 to 40 families, as not all children attend every day.

The application states: “Leaping Frogs Day Nursery is a not-for-profit nursery school dedicated to providing exceptional early childhood education and care to our community and as an outstanding-rated nursery recognised by Ofsted, we have a long-standing reputation for excellence and are currently facing an unprecedented demand for places due to the new government funding available for under two-year-olds starting September 2024.

“Leaping Frogs was founded in 2002 and moved to its current location in Zeals in 2012.

“We currently employ 26 members of staff and with new extension we will need to employ at least another 5 full time members.”

There has been a downward trend in childminding solutions for parents in Wiltshire in recent years due to a recruitment and retention crisis in the sector.

In the application, the Zeals nursery describes a “pressing need for early childhood education” in the community.

Wiltshire Council’s decision deadline date is Friday, July 26.

The full details of all Wiltshire planning applications can be found on the planning and building control public register.