Shenley Wood is home to the wonderful Westbury Arts Centre, located off Foxcovert Road. Westbury is a Grade II listed 17th Century farmhouse building, which provides both permanent and temporary studio spaces, as well as space for community activities and exhibitions.

Recently Westbury Arts Centre was under threat because of a hefty business
rates bill. Milton Keynes councillors for Loughton and Shenley, Zoe Nolan and Matt Clifton, worked with Westbury and the Council to identify ways to avoid closure. The result was that the national Valuation Office agreed to treat artists’ studios separately from the community space. This means that artists can apply for small business rates relief on their studios while Westbury may apply for charitable relief on the community spaces.

The new Chief Executive of MK Council, Carole Mills, visited Westbury Arts Centre on her “Ward Walkabout” with Zoe and Matt and whilst there met with the chair of the Parish Council, Stuart Nightingale and the Parish Clerk, Jane Munn. It is important for the Chief Executive to get to know our ward and to understand the role of the Parishes within them.