Page 4 - link magazine

4
AT THE COUNCIL

WINNERS & LOSERS JAMMING INTO THE FUTURE

Great pleasure contrasted with finish right up to the end of the Time wasted by commuters sitting
in peak hour traffic jams on main
shock and dismay were the hall- re-count which produced a dif- routes in and out of Swindon
marks of the local election results ference of only thirteen votes town centre totals at least 1,000
in West Swindon. Two seats on between first and second places, hours every weekday.
Thamesdown Borough Council in a 42% turnout.
were in contention, one each in Over in Freshbrook the sitting If placed end to end, morning
the Toothill (including Westlea Alliance councillor Simon Cordon and evening traffic queues would
and Shaw) ward and in the Fresh- romped home with a 576 vote stretch from Regent Circus as far
as Wantage or to the other side
brook (& Grange Park) ward. majority over his nearest rival. of Calne. But worse is to come as
In Toothill Peter Stoddart Commenting on his win Simon
traffic volumes are expected to
gained the seat for the Conserva- Cordon said he was "delighted increase by about 25 per cent by
tive Party in a three way poll with with the enormous support people the turn of the century.
Alan Winmill and Jane Burbidge had given the Alliance. Over the
as runners up. It was a nail biting next four years I will continue These problems are highlighted
earning that support." by 'Driving Towards 2000', a
major new public consultation
ALL CHANGE AT THE COUNCIL document which was published
in May by Thamesdown Borough
In the annual re-shuffle on ing the Council's job creafion Council.
Thamesdown Council, West programme." The report identifies the main
Swindon councillors have taken Another position of major re- traffic 'blackspots' outside the IN TOUCH
on responsibilities with a number sponsibility has been taken by town centre and suggests some Councillors from Wiltshire
of committees with four of them Toothill councillor Tony Free possible ideas for solutions in the County Council were recently
gaining places on the influential who was elected chair of the shape of flyovers, underpasses taken on tour of West Swindon
Community Planning Committee. Community Planning Committee and relief roads. It also points at the invitation of Thamesdown
In a surprise vote in the con- and also Policy and Resources. out that the cost of developing Borough Council. The coach trip
trolling Labour group, Toothill New Toothill councillor Peter the schemes illustrated could be with commentary passed all the
councillor Ricky Midwinter lost Stoddart will serve on Housing & well in excess of £20 million and schools in the area and the
his position as Deputy-Leader of Health and Planning Committees. that local authorities might face forests of mobile classrooms
the Council, though he retains a The Freshbrook councillors difficulties in financing capital were pointed out at Toothill,
seat on the powerful Policy and will serve on the following com- programmes of this kind. Freshbrook
Oliver
and
Resources Committee. He is also mittees, Bob Pixton - Housing Commenting at a Press Con- Tomkins. The early work on the
a member of Community Plan- & Health and Public Works & ference held to launch the re- site for Freshbrook's semi-
ning. Commenting on his sudden Services, Martin Leighfield - port, Thamesdown's Director of permanent primary school off
change of position, he said "it is Planning and Community Plan- Environmental and Technical Uxbridge Road, was also visited.
an honour and priviliege to serve ning, Simon Cordon - Policy Services, Tony Westgate said, The coach later took the
the people of the Borough in any & Resources and Community "Essentially 'Driving Towards councillors through Shaw and up
capacity." He added that as Planning. 2000' attempts to evaluate the to Roughmoor to make them
Chair of the Local Employment The addresses and telephone kind of problems which could more aware of the continued
initiative sub-committee he was numbers of local councillors can arise over the next few years due growth of West Swindon and the
"looking forward to spearhead- always be found on The Link to 1ousing developments planned need for facilities like a police
Reference Page.
to ake place and if the motor car station and the likely increased
remains unrestrained." demands on the education and
Soft Water will "But it is important to stress social services.
.:
protect you and your bathroom suite
that the report is not a formal Before returning to look
KINETI plan but a consultative document, round the Link Centre the
designed to stir up debate and councillors were shown the
C provoke ideas from the public. dangerous crossing point at the
The No I Best Seteng Wale, So410085 ., UK The woes. most advanced oIly These could help the Borough roundabout on Langstone and
aotofl,abC non-e$ect,,C woto,-000tr000d sysloflI .1
For acoe'wlele semmeos Wale, SOflenw's, Sales, Sen, sro loslad.o0ocs, Council formulate policies de- Whitehall Way, Westlea, where
Rent, Boy. Oil'. call
SWINDON SOFT WATER. Tel. Brian Cox signed to combat the growing parents and children have to run
27172 threat of current traffic conges- for their lives to get to school
tion turning into paralysis." because there are no pavements.
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