There is an article in the Wiltshire Advertiser free paper this week with regards to the conservative party prospective parliamentary candidate for the new Chippenham seat (which will include Melksham, Corsham and Bradford on Avon)  His name is Wilfred Emmanual Jones and he descibes himself as Britains only black farmer.  Apparently he is on David Camerons 'A' list. 

I quote from the article 'locally he will campaign for more stringent planning controls, better public transport  and roads  to serve commuters'

The article also states that sitting North Wilts MP James Gray has been selected to fight the new (or remainder of) the North Wiltshire Constituency.

I have just found a website which looks like it is his:

http://www.theblackfarmer.com/index.htm

More info:

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2006/06/breaking-news-black-farmer-selected.html
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.805347.0.black_farmer_stands_for_safe_tory_seat.php

One of the problems that people face when dealing with issues such as these is that there are so many different factors that need to be taken into account.

Section 8.5 of the link below is a good example.
http://www.transport2000.org.uk/library/RoadstoRuin/section_08.htm

To quote the 'Lib-Demos' (link):

"The new Chippenham constituency includes the towns of Chippenham, Melksham, Bradford on Avon and Corsham, and the neighbouring villages including Holt, Bowerhill, and Hilperton. Independent analysis (http://www.ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/newseatguide2.pdf) suggests that the new parliamentary boundaries will wipe out past Conservative majorities in the area, producing a constituency that is finely balanced between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives."

It appears we've got a marginal with two strong candidates.  I don't think that this can be anything other than good for local representation, though I have to admit that I've been much more impressed by Michael Ancram (current MP, safe Tory Devizes seat) of late than I was historically and owe him something of an apology.

Feel's a bit odd as a Chippenham resident to have someone from the West Wilts area who could be our MP.  i am sure we will get used to it!

Good for him to have an apartment in the area (and having met him, a good / typical piece of marketing to ensure that we hear about the move).  Wilfred - I hope we'll see you around quite a bit; delighted you'll have a base here.

If there's going to be national attention on north or west Wiltshire let's make sure we get some of it!  Any of the candidates will want to look good on the 'green' and 'transport' front so let them fight over us and get things put in their manifesto...