Hills Municipal Collections – GMB Union suspends industrial action
Hills Municipal Collections welcomes the news that GMB Union have suspended their announced industrial action to ballot members on accepting our pay review offer, averting disruption to its household waste collection service across the county. The pay review offer provides a fair settlement and is in line with comparable local pay reviews, inflation indexation and the current cost of living.
Further offer made by Hills Municipal Collections to GMB Union
Hills Municipal Collections has put a further pay review offer to GMB Union together with a request that the proposed industrial action is suspended during these continuing negotiations.
In the event that industrial action does take place from Monday 28 February, Hills Municipal Collections teams will work with Wiltshire Council in order to minimise disruption to household collection services. However, this industrial action has been timed to coincide with the roll-out of new collection rounds, we therefore ask that residents bear with us whilst we do all we can to minimise disruption to services.
We ask that residents place their bins out for collection as normal, and check Wiltshire Council’s social media feeds or visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk for update information on waste collection services in their area.
Statement by Hills Waste Solutions on commercial waste and recycling collection services
Hills Waste Solutions Ltd would like to reassure its commercial customers that their collection services and our treatment site facilities will not be impacted by the GMB Union announcement of intended industrial action from 28 February.
The GMB Union ballot was of its members employed by Hills Municipal Collections Ltd whose operations focus solely on delivering municipal refuse and recycling kerbside collection services to private residential households in Wiltshire under contract with Wiltshire Council.
As a valued business customer, should you have any queries regarding your waste collection service you may contact our dedicated customer support team on 01792 714 450 08:30 – 17:00 Monday to Friday.
Hills Municipal Collections Limited – GMB Union ballot result for industrial action.
The following statement has been issued by Hills Municipal Collections in response to notification from GMB Union of industrial action planned by union members at municipal waste depots:
Hills Municipal Collections is disappointed that GMB have balloted members on industrial action without first fully engaging in negotiations with the company on our 2021/22 pay review offer and not acting in accordance with the Tri-Union recognition agreement with the company.
Hills Municipal Collections is still waiting for both Unison and Unite’s responses under the terms of the Tri-Union recognition agreement to the pay review offer made.
The pay review offer was made in September 2021, however, GMB have only entered into meaningful dialogue since they have determined to ballot for strike action. This approach is not in the spirit of finding a resolution.
Hills Municipal Collections recognises and greatly values the work of our kerbside collections crews especially as demonstrated throughout the pandemic. During the pandemic the company has offered enhanced financial benefit to support employees required to self-isolate or where they have contracted coronavirus. In addition a special “lockdown bonus” has been paid in recognition of all employees that helped maintain critical frontline services during the first national lockdown. The current stance of the GMB does not acknowledge the positive actions taken by Hills Municipal Collections during a very challenging period for both employees and the wider Hills business as a whole.
The company looks to offer pay reviews based on affordability and the 2021/22 pay review offered was in line with comparable local pay reviews, indexation and the cost of living at the time.
New show home and sales office opens at Hills Homes’ development in Blunsdon
Award-winning developer Hills Homes has opened a new show home and sales office at its latest development, The Paddocks, with a very successful weekend seeing over half of its houses reserved.
Last weekend saw the launch of the second phase of The Paddocks development. Four of seven houses released for sale were reserved during the first two days. The new show home enables visitors to view the fine quality of the houses that are being built by Hills.
The sought after development consists of attractive two, three and four bedroom homes which are built to a high specification and perfect for first time buyers, couples and families. The Paddocks comes after the award-winning success of Hills Homes’ Hillside development which was completed in 2019.
The Paddocks is located on the rural edge of Blunsdon – a charming and historic village located between two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: The Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs.
A previous winner of the CPRE Wiltshire Best Kept Village competition and a shortlisted finalist for the same competition last year, Blunsdon is a popular village with a thriving community and a variety of local amenities including a community-run shop, a village hall, a doctor’s surgery, an excellent choice of schools in the area, plus a recreation ground for sports clubs.
Nick King, Group Director Hills Homes, said: “Very pleasingly buyers have recognised that The Paddocks provides beautiful homes, with high quality fittings and features in each room and especially in the kitchens, bathrooms and en-suites. There are five different house styles to choose from, with a mix of traditional red brickwork, stone and render with complementary detailing, all designed to reflect the character of the development’s surroundings. The success of our off-plan launch in July which has seen all 10 plots released in phase one either now reserved or exchanged has been followed with the opening of our show home and on-site sales office with a further four plots snapped up on phase two during the release weekend.”
Nick continued: “Our previous development, Hillside, in Blunsdon won the Best New Large Housing Development award from Swindon Borough Council in 2020 and was shortlisted for a West of England LABC Building Excellence Award in the same year. Both awards recognise excellence in internal home layouts and a development’s planning, external appearance and landscaping, which Hills Homes endeavours to provide at all its property developments.”
Danielle Wedmore, New Homes Sales Manager at Richard James Estate Agents, said: “Our show home launch was a huge success; over 50% of our seven plots released were reserved. We already have a growing interest for our phase three launch which will see the release of The Grafton, a popular two bedroom home, coming soon.”
Danielle continued: “The Paddocks consists of only 54 properties and many visitors have noted how open and green the development feels upon arrival, along with the fantastic workmanship and quality of finish provided by Hills Homes.”
We have only three plots remaining for Summer 2022 completion. Please make an appointment with Richard James’ on-site sales advisors, available Monday to Friday 10:00 until 17:00. Call 01793 501 650 or email thepaddocks@richardjames.uk to book.
Hills Municipal Collections Limited – GMB Union ballot for potential strike action
The following statement has been issued by Hills Municipal Collections in response to notification from GMB Union of a ballot of union members at municipal waste depots:
Hills Municipal Collections Limited is disappointed that the GMB Union have elected to ballot their members on industrial action at this time. Hills Municipal Collections has not had an opportunity to meet with any GMB Union representative regarding the current pay review.
Hills Municipal Collections would welcome the opportunity to hold constructive and meaningful negotiations as set out in correspondence to the GMB Union on 19 January and awaits their response, following which the company can hope to resolve the matter.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Cadet programme continues in Wiltshire
The Hills Group has sponsored the intake of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Cadet programme for a third year in both Swindon and Trowbridge.
The Cadet courses are well underway for the 2021/22 cohort, the new intake of young people aged between 13 and 18 started in September. They’ve been taking part in practical activities, mirroring those undertaken by firefighters, help to develop confidence and self-esteem, as well as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
Ian Hopkins, Prevention Delivery Manager, said: “We are extremely grateful for the support The Hills Group have previously provided for the benefit of young people in Swindon and Wiltshire, and we are delighted they have pledged further funding for the 2021/2022 Fire Cadet program.
“Now we have returned to delivering our Cadet courses after a one-year absence due to the pandemic, this sponsorship will help us provide positive activity to young people at a time when they are likely to need it most. The support from Hills is invaluable, as it covers the costs of the uniform, equipment and resources required to run the weekly sessions.”
The aim of the Fire Cadet programme is to support the development of young people by providing a positive role model and giving them opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities. Upon completing the course they will obtain Level 2 BTEC qualification, the National Fire Cadet Level 1 Award and an AQA Award.
Quarry near Swindon reveals Neanderthal hand tools alongside Britain’s biggest mammoth ‘graveyard’
A Hills Quarry Products’ quarry north of Swindon in the Cotswolds has revealed what is being described by Historic England as ‘one of Britain’s most significant Ice Age discoveries in recent years’.
The remains of at least five Ice Age mammoths, including two adults, two juveniles, and one infant were discovered, with a number of stone tools made by Neanderthals found nearby.
The discovery was initially made by amateur fossil hunters, Sally and Neville Hollingworth, who were given permission by Hills to explore the area. Realising the significance of their find, additional resources were brought in to tackle this important discovery.
The research team, which attracted funding from Historic England and was led by archaeologists from DigVentures, believe that both the artefacts and mammoth remains date to around 210,000 – 220,000 years ago, towards the end of a warmer interglacial period when Britain was still occupied by Neanderthals. Towards the end of this period, early humans abandoned Britain as temperatures plummeted and the landmass was plunged back under ice.
It’s not yet clear whether the mammoths were killed by Neanderthals, or why so many were found in one place, but archaeological sites from this period are incredibly rare, as is evidence of how Neanderthals interacted with mammoths, making this discovery one that has enormous value for understanding of Neanderthal behaviour, not just in Britain but across Europe.
The significance of the discovery was filmed by Windfall Films and is the subject of a BBC1 television documentary featuring Sir David Attenborough called “Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard” and will be aired on Thursday 30th December at 20:00.
Peter Andrew, Group Director for Hills Quarry Products, said: “Hills has a long-standing relationship with Sally and Neville Hollingworth, and we provided substantial resources towards making sure that the area remained accessible during the various phases of excavation.
“Having worked in the Cotswold Waterpark area for many years, we are very familiar with archaeological finds, but this latest discovery has turned out to be quite unique. We have been amazed by the interest in the project and the results of the research which provides an insight into Britain’s Ice Age environment and the world as it was lived in by our closest human relatives.
“We are extremely proud of the contribution we have made to bring this great story to life. It was an honour and privilege to host Sir David Attenborough during the filming of the documentary, and we cannot wait to the see the final programme to be aired.”
This update follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of Step 4 of the Government’s roadmap to ease national restrictions in relation to Coronavirus and sets out the Hills Group’s response with effect from 19 July 2021.
Our priority is to follow Government guidance to ensure that our business activities and work environments are as secure from the virus as possible.
We have also taken the decision in some situations to exceed the requirements set with regards to social distancing and wearing of face coverings. Employees already working from home, where their role permits, will continue to do so.
These additional measures will be reviewed at the earliest 6 September 2021 with any changes implemented on or after 20 September 2021. Review dates remain subject to any interventions / edicts from Government which the Company may be required to follow.
We are keeping under review the impact that Coronavirus is having on our business and mitigate any potential service disruption so that we continue to deliver essential services to our customers as we have managed to do throughout this pandemic. We will keep both employees and customers updated on any changes.
Residents and visitors to the Cotswold village of Down Ampney, are celebrating extensive repairs to damaged drystone walls near the historical All Saints Church following a Landfill Communities Fund grant from The Hills Group.
Existing drystone walls along the main walking route between the All Saints Church, the Memorial Garden, the former runway and Memorial Stone had over the years been vandalised, with large sections of old stone having been stolen resulting in significant sections of the wall falling down.
Repair was in sight when the funding, administered for Hills by Community First, was granted to cover the costs of the drystone wall restoration back to its original condition so that it can complement the Conservation Area it is located in. Work started in March and one wall along the south boundary of the churchyard has been completed so far.
Down Ampney, located near the Gloucestershire / Wiltshire border, has significant historical places of interest which attracts visitors from all over the world. These places include: The birthplace of the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, All Saints’ Church, the location of an RAF airbase during the Second World War and an RAF Memorial Garden and Memorial Stone. Most of the visitors choose to walk the various routes around the area in order to appreciate the Cotswold village, its surrounds and places of historical interest. Many visitors come to pay their respects and remember those who served at the RAF Down Ampney airbase, to lay wreaths and flowers at the Memorial Garden and walk to the Memorial Stone.
Reverend Canon John Swanton of All Saints Church, Down Ampney, has said: “It felt like the walls of Jericho had fallen down around us! The ancient drystone walls surrounding the churchyard and along the public footpath were in a dreadful condition. It has been wonderful to have had the walls restored to their former glory by Chris Evans and Tony Fletcher, who have done a wonderful job with great craftsmanship and artistry. The Grade I church of All Saints sits in a quintessentially Cotswold setting and it is now set off beautifully by the drystone walls so characteristic of this area and which are a haven for local wildlife.”
John continued: “Down Ampney Primary School has put together a ‘Time Capsule’ containing various items about life during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was built into the wall, in the hope that the capsule will be found in many years to come.”
As well as being an important landscape feature, Britain’s flora and fauna owe much to traditional drystone walls as they provide varied and valuable habitats for a whole range of wild plants and creatures.
Peter Andrew, Group Director Hills Quarry Products, said: “We are proud to be supporting the local community to undertake this major restoration project, with the help of a Landfill Communities Fund grant from The Hills Group.”
