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Thamesdown
Borough Council
A VILLAGE CENTRE
FORSHAW
The Borough Council has a long established policy of
providing neighbourhood facilities at the centre of Swindon's
urban village developments. Following on from Village
Centres at Toothill and Freshbrook, the Borough Council has
already completed the village square at Ramleaze Drive,
Shaw. Around this attractively landscaped square, which
includes 65 car parking spaces, will be built a parade of
shops, a public house (with an additional 50 space public car
park) and a church. Sites have also been reserved for a
community centre and a second smaller commercial
development which is expected to include facilities such as
an estate agency, building society and possibly a bank.
Construction work has commenced on the public house The car park awaiting some buildings
and shops which will include a supermarket, chemist,
hairdresser and 'take-away' hot food outlet. It is hoped that The square itself has been carefully designed to encourage
the Post Office will permit a sub-post office within the very low traffic speeds. Pedestrian priority areas are clearly
supermarket. Both these development will be completed by distinguished by a contrasting paving block. A 'lychgate' is to
the end of the year, with the church due for completion by the be built at the front of the Centre on Ramleaze Drive as an
Spring of 1988. A site has also been reserved for a permanent attractive feature providing shelter and seating.
doctors' surgery which will replace the existing temporary
surgery, probably by 1990. A temporary community building Surrounding the Village Centre on the west and east sides
has been erected next to the temporary surgery and will is over 5 acres of open space. This land will be laid out as a
soon be ready for use. pleasant parkland with play areas for a footpath/cycleway
system providing links between the centre and adjoining
residential areas. An elderly persons' group dwelling is to be
Traditional Appearance built by the Borough Council, staring in 1988, to the north of
the church. An existing fine oak tree is being carefully
retained within the overall development. It will become the
The centre page bird's-eye view of the Village Centre gives a focal point of on the square that is to be created between the
realistic impression of how the Centre will look on comple- group dwelling and the church.
tion. In order to create a strong unified and attractive
appearance, all the buildings which surround the Village By the end of the year Shaw Village Centre will have come
Square will feature steeply pitched roofs with the same to life, providing a host of local facilities within a develop-
traditional clay tile, whilst external walls will be constructed ment of distinctive character which is both pleasant and
in complementary brickwork. convenient to use.
I
A Community is only as strong as the people in it and the Borough Council welcomes the interest of residents
to be involved in their own community building.
On the back page of this newsletter is an invitation to Shaw residents to participate in th e process of
establishing a community centre at the Village Centre.