CAKES and snacks were on offer at Tidworth Town Council’s last full meeting of the year taking place on Tuesday.

Members of the public put their questions to the council, with one of the most discussed areas being affordable housing.

The issue has turned heads at the recent election hustings, and members of the public asked what the council could do.

Resident Fred Galvin said: “Tidworth people are being pushed out of Tidworth. They can’t afford to live here so they have to move away. They don’t get a say.”

Mayor Councillor Brian Pratt suggested they could ask someone from a local housing agency to attend a meeting, but the council could not control how much affordable housing was built or people’s right to buy council homes.

The development of Riverbourne play park’s phase two was on the agenda, and councillors approved a quote for work to be done.

Concern was also raised over litter left in a bus shelter, and young people milling around on nearby streets.

Councillor Andrew Connolly said: “For balance, we should be proud of having a youth club and somewhere young people want to spend their time. There will always be people who don’t want to go, but it is well attended.”

Flooding on a cycle path was mentioned, with the council encouraging people to use the Wiltshire app to report issues.

Heather Newton, the area’s representative in the UK Youth Parliament, told councillors about the concerns of young people, and said she aims to act as a voice for them.

The council’s auditor spoke about the rules council must follow, revealing she had once audited a council who received a £1,000 application for lightsabers.

The police spoke to members, saying they would continue their speeding campaign.

Having increased patrols to keep watch for anti-social behaviour, and officers will be focusing on drink driving over coming weeks.

They also said they would be bringing ‘mini police’ to the area, encouraging primary school children to engage with the police and community work.

Later, when discussing the council’s new code of conduct, councillors said they thought the new code was not as ‘characterful’ as the previous version, feeling it should be altered to be more ‘charming’.

With some objections, The document was referred back to the policy committee.