Following the unexpected resignation of Cllr Maurice Powell after 3 years as Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Madelaine King-Oakley of Wiltown has been elected his successor at the monthly meeting of the Parish Council.

Madelaine, who moved here 8 years ago with her family from Balham, south London, has a background in IT and cartography.  She now works in local government for South Somerset District Council.  Madelaine has already served on the Parish Council for the past 4½ years and for the last 18 months she has been the Vice Chairman.

“I want to see things happen” said Madelaine “I would like the community to work together and become more involved in planning and coordinating our future.  I think that we could make better use of some of our resources such as Eastfield, Westfield and our playgrounds.  I also want to encourage those groups who work with young people in our community, like the football and cricket clubs, as well as the Guides and Scouts.  I will be looking at whether there is more that we can do for young people in the village.”

Madelaine added “I think some of the biggest challenges facing the Parish Council at a very difficult time financially are keeping our Post Office, our 2 pubs and of course there is the matter of ‘The Bell’.  It sits in the centre of our village and we cannot just let it become a derelict eyesore.  The Parish Council and our district Councillor, Derek Nelson, will work towards getting the building in use, although not necessarily as a public house.”

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