For the first time in more than a year, Devizes Town Council met in person to elect the new mayor. Cllr Chris Gay – whose father, John Perrett, was mayor of Devizes in 1988 – was officially elected as Mayor for 2021/2022, last night (May 20). The town council now has to hold face-to-face meetings after the government chose not to renew emergency legislation allowing for meetings to take place online. Due to social distancing restrictions, the meeting was held in the Corn Exchange, where there was more space, as opposed to the traditional Town Hall. Councillors were encouraged to go directly to their seats and wore masks when standing.
A model boat maker s plan to sail his toy vessel on his local pond with his elderly father have been sunk by health and safety chiefs who said the water is too dense . Stephen Best, 57, had hoped to float the boat on Crammer Pond in Devizes, Wiltshire, with his elderly father and rekindle his memories from his youth.
The pond, also known as Moonrakers because of its links to smuggling 200 years ago, lies next to a children s playground and is only a few feet deep but Mr Best s local council said it was too dangerous because of the density of the water.