Minutes of Extraordinary Castle Combe Parish Council Meeting on Thursday 26th of February 2026 at 7.30p.m.
Present: Cllrs F. Winup, J. Mackelden, J. Halliday, B. Blair, G. CleggLittler, G. Hare.
24 members of the public, Clerk S. Parker
1. Apologies for absence. Cllr S. Bettles
2. Declarations of Interest. None
3. Councillors to vote upon the proposed implementation of resident only parking on the hill and the lower village.
4. Confirmation of a new website and councillor emails.
The chairman reiterated the issues covered at the previous meeting, namely atmospheric pollution, road dangers and excessive visitors to a tiny village.
He welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly Draven McConville who produced a short presentation on behalf of a number of interested residents. A copy will be available on the new village website.
Proposals include making Dunns Lane one way (entering it from the B4039 to the car park), introducing a minibus drop off – pick up point on the lower part of the hill for authorised vehicles, and the installation of pedestrian walkway markings on Dunns Lane and possibly the hill.
The chairman confirmed that details of the proposed Residents Parking Only scheme were in all the notice boards and the village website and that all residents had been made aware of tonight’s meeting via the Combe Courier, which goes to all households.
Attendees were invited to raise any questions or comments.
i) A resident questioned the proposal of cars turning right at the junction to Dunns Lane, as it is very tight. The chairman said that the existing B4039 signage already directs drivers to the car park avoiding the hill, and that during discussions with Wiltshire Council Satnav guidance would be updated.
ii) Would there be a lot of additional signage. The chairman explained that all requests for signs must be agreed with WC as some may need a Traffic Regulation Order. Some new signs will be added, while others will be removed. They will be in keeping with the village.
iii) A resident said that in 1963 there was more traffic than now and said that at the weekends the road to Ford was made one-way. The chairman explained that we are looking for a permanent solution bearing in mind that pollution is currently experienced on any day of the week.
iv) A resident asked for clarification on the space for minibuses. The chairman said it would be only for authorised vehicles, not coaches or unlicensed operators. This would reduce the number of times each vehicle would enter the village centre. Whilst it would be preferable in many ways to have no minibuses at all, the reality is that they are fully entitled to use the highway in the village centre to discharge and pick up passengers provided they do so within approved timescales. An allocated space on the hill would solve this issue. There was a suggestion of whether to charge them for parking on the hill, but this would be for Wiltshire Council to decide and could prove a problem.
Discussion on Residents Parking Permits.
The agenda listed the rules adopted by Wiltshire Council, namely:
1. Residents living in the parish for at least 4 nights a week can apply. 2. Resident permits will cost £40 for six months or £80 for twelve months. 3. This is per vehicle. Disabled badge holders will not need a permit. 4. If more than one permit is required, the extra cost is £50 for six months or £100 for twelve months.
5. 24-hour daily visitor permits will cost £6 for ten (up to 100). A maximum of a further 50 is allowed at a cost of £36 per ten. Visitor permits do not however have an expiry date so can be used for a much longer period. There is a separate scheme for holiday lets and BnB’s at a cost of £75 for a book of ten (but with no annual restriction).
6. Annual visitor permits are available for residents over 60 years old without cars. Cost £20 p.a. Physical voucher to be retained at the residence. 7. Visiting tradesmen can use a daily visitor permit. If parking on a yellow line is required, a tradesmen waiver can be obtained for £15 a day (by the trader, not the resident). 8. The permits would be digital for residents, paper for those under item 6 above. 9. ANPR monitoring is via a Wiltshire Council APNR vehicle. Signage would be needed on posts and marked bays. 10. There is a maximum of two permits per residence, reduced by one permit for each off-road parking space available in the residence (driveway and/or garage). A garage or driveway is defined as 5 metres by 2.5 metres. Smaller spaces are exempt. Most, if not all, of the garages in the estate yard would therefore be exempt.
ANPR would be additional to existing warden visits, not a substitution.
A resident asked if Wiltshire Council could use the fees from the permits to keep the toilets open. The PC has already suggested to WC that they use car park proceeds and/or install a card based entry system. Fortunately, this issue appears to be in abeyance at the moment.
The chairman suggested that the hours for the residents’ parking times could be 11-7, the same as the existing single yellows. This would allow visitors to park early morning to visit the church, and the pubs in the evening. The Parish Council will discuss with Highways
the provision of spaces specifically for church attendees if at all possible. If not, there might be a potential to change the terms of the lease with the Lysley Estate for the field behind the village hall to include this.
A resident asked about parking for the people who run the café. Options will be investigated with Highways.
The possibility of a park and ride was raised taking visitors back up to the car park using an electric vehicle. The PC will add it to the agenda for March meeting.
Cllr Winup proposed that the PC go forward with the recommendations for making Dunns Lane one way with pedestrian markings, minibus parking on lower part of the hill, and resident only parking on the upper and middle of the hill and the lower village centre. Seconded by Cllr Hare. All agreed.
Early improvements that can be done without TROs will be investigated with Highways plus the feasibility of pedestrian markings on the hill.
Item 4 : Cllr Winup proposed to move to a new domain name for the website and that all PC emails will end in gov.uk to comply with updated guidance. Seconded by Cllr Hare. All agreed.
The next meeting will take place on 19th March 2026 at 7.30pm in village hall.