Castle Cary Town Council and Ansford Parish Council have a applied for a Community Governance Review on a proposed merger in May 2027. The new council would be 'Ansford & Castle Cary Parish Council' meaning the station, currently in Ansford, would be in the same parish as the town.

All the usual stakeholder and parishioner consultations over the next 18 months before Somerset Council decide yes or no.

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/25470467.growing-somerset-town-may-merge-neighbour-2027/

 
Last year we saw the new enlarged Bridport emerge from The merger of most of the existing parishes of Allington, Bothenhampton & Walditch, Bradpole and Bridport, including West Bay. It seems eminently sensible. The enlarged parish has cive wards which equate to the old parishes.

 

I have watched this development with interest, particularly given I have historical connections to the area (Burton Bradstock and West Bay in particular) Oh how I wish the same might happen someday in Melksham, which is being terribly held back by a town council that lacks any vision, foresight or moral integrity whatsoever; whereas the parish that surrounds the town is widely respected for its fiscal and people management and can-do attitude. If only there could be a merger! One council for Melksham! Sadly however I won't live to see it, and I don't suppose my children will either.

 

There is logic in linking areas that have connections as they get more connected as the towns spread, and also because we have become more mobile in our day to day lives.   These days, people will head from Bowerhill or Beanacre into Melksham for the takeaways, charity shops, gyms, library, swimming pool, council offices, hair dressers and nail salons where they would have had those facilities in their village area in the past.   There is also logic on the planning and transport side with us working together such as we have done in getting the joint neighbourhood plan adopted, and in having a transport strategy which has been written, submitted to both and adopted by the surrounding parish (Melksham Without)

I would point out that Phil is expressing his view of Melksham Town Council here which is one I have heard before, but is not universally shared.  The difference might be partly explained by the fact that Without have had the same clerk at the helm for many years, where we in the town have had John, Steve, Linda, Heather, Tracy and now have Hayley.  However good they are, it hasn't helped a continuity of vision, and by a large town council being seen as a stepping stone and experience generator for unpaid councillors within to move on to higher remunerated tiers.