Beanacre
Beanacre is a small village of about 300 residents. The village has developed in ribbon formation along the A350 and development is interspersed with fields, which provide far-reaching views of open country. It is linked by footpaths to Melksham and to the Old Roman Road near Lacock in the north.
Beanacre has a pretty Church with a Church Hall attached which acts as a focus for village life. The front Churchyard wall, built partly in stone and partly in brick is an interesting feature. The community formed an Action Group - known as Beanacre Matters in October 2001. A visionary Action Plan was drawn up. One of the aims of the Group was an exciting project of a Community Park and Play Area where people could meet together and talk away from the busy road. Beanacre Church very generously provided a site next to the Church which was leased by the Parish Council. The Play Area was completed and officially opened in 16th March 2006. The council has now planted trees and shrubs in the Beanacre Play Area and the rest of the field is used for matches and informal recreation. One field has been converted into a wild flower meadow in memory of the late Elizabeth Awdry.
Annually a "Sports & Fun Day" is held in the playing field. Football coaching and practice under the supervision of qualified coaches take place most Saturday morning during the winter, and a cricket wicket and pitch is in the process of being completed, so that youngster (under 15) can practice their skills and play competitive games in the summer months. Beanacre Cricket Club started in 1940s, but for many years was based in Melksham. Now it is returning to its original home ground. Truly, from this new play park in 2006, a true community feeling has been created in the village. Beanacre Matters is now dormant, but it is hoped that it will be revived if a major issue arose.
The busy A350 is the most difficult problem for the village as this busy route forms part of the main route from Poole on the south coast to the M4 and runs straight through the village, causing dust and noise nuisance. The Parish Council has worked in partnership with Wiltshire Council to install traffic-calming points in the village to reduce the serious accidents due to speeding and overtaking. As a result of this, Wiltshire Council has now imposed a change in the speed limit for part of the village, from 40 m.p.h. to 30.m.p.h.
Around late 1999, the Parish Council planted bulbs along A350 and around village nameplates, to enhance the village. It was a great achievement for Beanacre to come first in the West Wiltshire section of the Best Kept Village Competition 2007.
In June last year (2010) the Parish Council applied for a "Parish Improvement Grant Scheme" (PIGS). These information boards have been erected in four sites in the Parish, Shaw and Whitley, Beanacre, Berryfields and Bowerhill. They have proved to be very popular.
Please follow the below link for a brief history of Beanacre
Brief history of Beanacre