Each year Trowbridge Town Council makes two major awards, The Civic Award and The Town Enhancement Award.
Civic Award
Doug Ross
How many people realized what a difference this kind and caring person would make when moving to our town?
For some 13 years Doug Ross has been watched and listened to in awe at the way time is always set aside for people, and the way he listens to the needs of others and sees and understand all points of view. Many times, he has put down the phone after saying “I’ll be there “just now”, to then grab their coat and run out the door to speak to someone face to face, and hopefully sort out their dilemma.
Doug has volunteered his services free of charge for well over 20 years during his spare time, in addition to working part-time, then full-time, and even more so now since retirement over 7 years ago.
He has always supported the development of Trowbridge, including feedback on the Core Strategy, the Trowbridge Masterplan and the Town Hall proposal.
Additionally, he is still a keen member of Trowbridge Community Area Future, and goes above and beyond coordinating the LINK scheme, from personal telephone calls and home visits, to driving – even giving up Sunday afternoons once a month to transport people who would otherwise not be able to attend the Sunday Club.
Doug attends all Area Board meetings and has been involved with organisations such as the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Partnership and Trowbridge Town Development Partnership, and Leer Twinning, where this person accommodates and entertains guests from our twin town in Germany, and also participates at the Ostfriesland Show in Leer every other year to promote Trowbridge with a very popular English Pub stand.
He is also part of the Trowbridge Town Initiative, the Biss Meadow and Sensory Garden projects and has also mentored in the past at St. Augustine’s Catholic College. Using his accountancy knowledge, he has acted as Treasurer for several organisations including Wiltshire Racial Equality and Trowbridge/Leer Twinning Association.
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Nominations for the Civic Awards 1) To qualify for a Civic Award the recipient will be a person who has made a material contribution to the welfare of the people of Trowbridge by direct or indirect effort in the form of community service, efforts in support of charitable work carried on in the Town, personal effort and achievement and any form of personal self-sacrifice that has directly or indirectly assisted the Townspeople of Trowbridge or has contributed to the advancement and well being of the Town of Trowbridge, and for any other act of outstanding citizenship.
2) Proposers and Seconders must be residents of the Town of Trowbridge.
3) The nomination form must be signed by a Member (Councillor) of the Town Council.
The closing date for nominations for the Civic Award is 31st December 2013, with the Awards ceremony being held in March 2014.
Town Enhancement Award
Kier Construction for Trowbridge Library
In September 2012, Wiltshire Council unveiled a new library for its county town Trowbridge. The library operates alongside a wide range of council services and a publicly accessible café, and offers a fresh approach to using the venue. The aim was to create a real focal point for all and an asset for the community to be proud of.
This state-of-the-art library is much bigger than the combined areas of the old lending and reference libraries that it replaces. It has more than 40,000 books available, free Wi-Fi access, as well as public computers for everyone to use. The children’s area has a book train and a hideaway seat and an improved teen area. There is window seating for those who wish to sit and browse the newspapers, a large local studies space as well as an express zone for people in a hurry.
Trowbridge Library has proven to be hugely popular since it opened. Footfall has doubled and book issues and renewals have gone up by more than 60%.
This development has created a much needed improvement to the library facilities in Trowbridge, the County Town, and administrative centre for New Wiltshire.
Trowbridge Library was constructed by Kier Construction, who provide a comprehensive building and civil engineering service delivered through a nationwide network of locally managed businesses. The materials used are of a very high standard and the external design connects with the old County Hall without detracting from it. The changes to the MECH building are also in keeping with the whole ensemble.
All in all it has been a well-conceived, well designed and well-built project. It is a definite enhancement to the town.
Wiltshire Council, with support from its local communities, has not had to close a single library in the county therefore maintaining this vital community service.
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The Award is given for a development which significantly enhances Trowbridge and consists of a wall plaque and framed certificate for the Owner, Architect or the Contractor of the development.
Developments may be a housing estate, a new building, the refurbishment of an existing building, a road improvement scheme, a landscaping scheme, an environmental scheme possibly including street furniture and flower beds.
The main criterion is excellence and the work nominated must have been completed during the period 1st January to 31st December.
The nominated schemes are considered by a panel of three judges, a Town Councillor, a member of the Civic Society and a member of the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce. Their recommendation(s) will be submitted to the Town Development Committee for final approval. |
