Free newspapers, including the Warminster Journal, can now be used to advertise certain public notices after Wiltshire Council reversed a long-standing practice that restricted such advertising to paid-for titles only.
When Wiltshire Publications took over and relaunched the Warminster Journal as a free newspaper in 2024, the council withdrew all Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) notices – key legal adverts informing residents about changes to roads, parking and speed limits – saying it would only advertise in paid-for titles.
Despite using the Warminster Journal under its previous ownership when it was a paid-for paper with a smaller circulation, the council switched TRO advertising to the Wiltshire Times, a paid-for publication based outside the town, also with a smaller circulation.
Council leader Cllr Ian Thorn said the move reflects the new Liberal Democrat administration’s commitment to stronger engagement with local communities.
Cllr Thorn said, “As the new administration of Wiltshire Council, we are committed to moving forward positively, with a clear focus on delivering for communities through practical action and meaningful engagement.
“This is a key part of our new Our Wiltshire Plan, which places engagement at the heart of everything we do.
“As part of this approach, we have reviewed our processes for advertising Traffic Regulation Orders, ensuring they are both compliant with statutory requirements and accessible, while also reflecting the needs of local residents.”
Cllr Jon Hubbard, who campaigned for the change, said, “I’m delighted that Wiltshire Council has made this decision. This is a real victory for transparency and local democracy. Thousands of residents read their local paper every week – people who might never have seen these statutory notices buried on council websites or in regional publications with a smaller readership.”
The council has confirmed that free newspapers can now also be used to advertise permanent but not temporary TROs. All TROs must legally be advertised in a newspaper.
Joe McCann operations manager at Wiltshire Publications said, “We welcome Wiltshire Council’s decision to allow free newspapers to carry permanent TROs, which is a step in the right direction for transparency, access to information and fairness and parity across news publications in Wiltshire. We have, however, raised questions about why free publications can’t also be considered for temporary TROs where timescales permit.”
Pictured: Cllr Ian Thorn and Cllr Jon Hubbard outside County Hall.
