Latest news with #Devizes
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Planning approval boost for museum's revival of Devizes court
A museum has been granted planning permission to restore a derelict courthouse to use as its new Museum in Devizes has nationally important collections, including gold found in burial sites near Stonehenge, and is currently housed in a smaller hopes to open in 2030 at the Grade II* listed Devizes Assize Court, built in 1835, which has been left derelict since the 1980s – and has now won planning permission from Wiltshire museum and Devizes Assize Court Trust have already carried out consultations with the public and secured initial funding towards the project. Having completed a development phase, the museum and trust will now be writing an application for funding for a delivery will be submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund later this year with a decision shortly permission approval from Wiltshire Council means the museum can now also submit funding applications to a wider range of organisations and seek support from Kay, who chairs Wiltshire Museum, said the approval was an "essential" step that "gives further position of confidence that this is a deliverable project for the people of Devizes, Wiltshire and beyond". Peter Troughton, who chairs the Devizes Assize Court Trust, said the approval was "excellent news".The court will also become a hub for the community accessible to all. There will be a cafe, learning space, multi-use event space, gardens and new galleries – facilities that the museum's current building cannot have. Purcell Architecture has also been working on the associate Clare Phillips said: "This planning success is rooted in the team's collaboration with the museum and community groups." She said the court was in a "desperately poor state".
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Chocolatiers blame cafe closure on rising costs of ingredients
The owners of an award-winning artisan chocolate business say increased prices and staffing costs have forced them to close their cafe. Holly and Sam Garner said Hollychocs, in Devizes, Wiltshire, will shut the Beanery Cafe in August after two years of business."Every time we buy ingredients or packaging, the costs go up and on top of the increased costs with staffing, it's just unsustainable for us to continue," Ms Garner said, citing the recent increase in National Insurance contributions as part of the problem.A government spokesperson said it was "disappointed whenever any business has to close" and that officials are "taking bold action to back small businesses". Ms Garner said: "At the moment, everyone has less disposable income – we're finding in the cafe that more and more people are sharing things rather than having something each, and that makes it really hard to keep the business profitable.""We've tried everything – from constantly creating new menu offerings, to introducing special offers," she added. Government figures show that chocolate prices have risen by 17.7% in the year to May – far higher than rate of inflation for all food. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has just visited Wiltshire to announce a plan to help small businesses, but this has come too late for the cafe, and Ms Garner is doubtful whether it would have said that one of the saddest parts about closing the cafe is not being able to provide customers with treats for special hopes that remodelling the business will enable her to continue."We're having to look at how to work smarter to make the most of our time and keep our costs where they are by taking less time to make our products," she said."We're trying to strengthen the business now by offering click and collect and holding chocolate experiences and masterclasses."I'm really optimistic, and we're just hoping that everyone will continue to support us."The government spokesperson said: "Our brand new small business plan is giving owners the backing they need, including tailored support, access to finance and tough action on late payments."We have also taken 865,000 small businesses out of paying employer National Insurance through increasing the employment allowance [the amount employers can claim back from their NI bill]."
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Historic Devizes building gutted by fire may be demolished
A historic Wiltshire building that was gutted by fire last year may now be demolished after experts found it was too badly damaged to fire tore through the Devizes listed building, which included a kebab shop on the ground floor and accommodation on the floors above, in November of firefighters battled for 14 hours to contain the blaze, which spread to buildings either side of the property in Northgate owners have now applied for permission to demolish the building, which dates back to the late 1700s, but intend to rebuild the property subsequently. A decision by Wiltshire Council is expected in September. A report by Devizes-based surveyors Dolman says the fire "caused devastating damage with little of the original building remaining apart from the front and rear walls".Structural engineer Lark Cooper Red said, "nearly all the internal structure" had been "affected by the fire, making it no longer fit for purpose".The application says once the demolition stage is complete a second application will be made to rebuild the owners believe the two-stage approach will be of greatest benefit to the community as the building is unsafe in its current state and has necessitated the closure of one side of Northgate Street – an important access route to the town centre.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Demolition work on old Devizes Wadworth site to begin
The partial demolition of an old brewery site to make way for 102 homes is set to begin in the plans, 64 flats and 38 houses will be built at the former Wadworth site in family-run brewery left Northgate Street in Devizes in 2023 after 140 years to move to Folly Road. Wadworth boss Toby Bartholomew dubbed the old site the "heartbeat" of the town. The homes are set to be built around and behind the Grade II-listed old brewery building, with developer Backhouse saying the project would include eight affordable homes. Devizes councillor Iain Wallis said he had hoped there would be more affordable housing built as part of the project but "we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good". He said the plans initially did not have any provision for affordable housing, but the council had worked with the developer to increase this to of land at Backhouse, Stuart Walter, said housing schemes were under "extreme" financial pressure."That is the reason why the affordable homes on this scheme have been reduced."It does not mean we won't be delivering more, and we'll be looking to go to registered providers who'll take on further homes on the scheme," he said. Wadworth boss Mr Bartholomew said investment in the site was needed."It is a very sad moment but also a great moment for the future, that something is going to be done with the site"There is a financial reason for this. It did not make financial sense for us to carry on the way we were carrying on - the investment that would be needed in this site," he said.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- The Independent
Police officer's daring takedown of knife attacker earns her bravery award
Footage released by Wiltshire Police on Thursday, 10 July 2025, shows PC Nicola Crabbe bravely tackling and disarming a knifeman in Devizes, Wiltshire. PC Crabbe, who has been nominated for her bravery, engaged in a struggle with the attacker, during which she used PAVA spray to subdue him. She successfully brought the assailant to the ground and arrested him, despite her hair being pulled during the tussle. The victim of the attack made a full recovery, while the knifeman was convicted of attempted murder and subsequently sent to a psychiatric unit. Watch the video in full above.
