On Thursday, 1st May 2025, elections will take place for 98 Unitary Wiltshire Councillors and across the Parish and Town Councils in Wiltshire. We take a closer look at the candidates who will be vying for your votes in Calne.
Meet John Barnes, Labour candidate for Calne Rural on Wiltshire Council.
John Barnes, a retired civil engineer and 17-year long resident of Old Derry Hill, is vying for election to represent Calne Rural Ward on Wiltshire Council. He was elected to Calne Without Parish Council in 2021 and has served as Council Chair for the past two years.
Building on his established reputation for action, John aims to bring his passion for road safety, countryside conservation, and rural community needs to the council.
He is passionate about road safety and established the Parish Council’s Road Safety Working Group, which has promoted and delivered road safety improvements through Wiltshire Council.
An example is the reduction in speed limit through Studley Crossroads. John told us: “There are still too many deaths on our roads. We’ve been successful in getting schemes delivered through Wiltshire Council, but we need to see more active police enforcement and the use of new technology, such as AI-enabled speed mobile speed cameras.”
Beyond road safety, John is deeply committed to preserving the natural beauty of the countryside. He has dedicated the past four years to volunteering as a leader for a local charity, contributing to the planting of 19,000 trees across sites between Calne and Chippenham.
He also dedicates his spare time to maintaining local footpaths. "I love walking in my spare time and really appreciate the network of footpaths and bridleways that open up access to our fantastic countryside.
"If elected, I’ll push for more resources for this forgotten part of Wiltshire Council’s responsibilities," John added.
Understanding the unique challenges faced by rural communities, John is also focused on improving public transport options. "I recently broke a collarbone, and it has reminded me how important public transport is for people in rural areas," he noted.
"We have some excellent bus services, like the 55, but many of our villages have either no service or an infrequent one. I’d love to see some of the extra government funding for buses to go into trialling a demand-responsive service, like the Pewsey Vale Wigglybus, to supplement our existing rural services."
Residents of Calne Rural ward are encouraged to contact John Barnes at
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