Page 10 - link magazine

10 The Link Magazine August 1994

High hopes for balanced development in north expansion

Story continued from front page
At the official launch of the first phase of year time span is more realistic and I welcome and shopping facilities soon after houses are
3,200 houses to be built by several building the commitment to an integrated plan which built is important. So is early landscaping to
companies and to be known as Abbey Meads, endeavours to build communities as well as give a green framework in which to build
Crest Nicholson chief executive John houses." houses."
Callcutt, stressed the quality of environ- Council chief planning officer Nick Davies Road construction has been going on for nearly
ment which would be found. "We are look- said a lot had been learnt from the develop- a year and house builders Bovis and Prowting
ing forward to seeing Abbey Meads grow ment of West Swindon which was being ap- Homes are already on site to be followed by
and we intend to ensure that the develop- plied in the north. "The provision of social Crest Homes and Galliford Homes.
ment is a credit to Swindon as the town
enters the next century."
He said the first site for a primary school
would be offered to the local authority in 1995 Continued doorstep welcome in north likely
and the developers had agreed to contribute Providing information and advice to people However she has now become a full time
£45 million to the development of commu-
moving into new homes has been a task Neighbourhood Worker in Toothill and the
nity halls, sports and recreation facilities.
carried out by officers from Thamesdown future for the post needs to be reviewed.
Mayor of Thamesdown David Clahoim wel- Council for over twenty years. Sue Bates, Thamesdown Deputy Leader
comed the new homes and the jobs the 100 'Arrivals Workers' visited people moving and chair of the community development
acre employment site would bring. "1 am into East and West Swindon as new estates committee said there was a need to support
glad the Council and the developers have were built with information about pre-school people moving into new housing areas. "Per-
been able to agree as to how the expansion groups, schools, youth clubs and community sonally, I think it is absolutely necessary for
should proceed." facilities. arrivals work to continue. It would be my
Haydon Wick ward councillor and leader of The 20 hour a week job done for several wish for the 20 hour post to be re-allocated to
the council Tony Mayer recalled the early years by Pam Pixton in West Swindon was the housing areas in the north. It may be
battles between Thamesdown and the devel- changed to one of Information Officer at the necessary to increase the number of hours."
opers. "We fought the first plans. The scheme Link Centre as new housing development She said her committee would have to con-
was too big, too soon and too quick. The 15 declined. sider any proposal to redirect the post.

Looking across Abbey Meads, the first phase of the northern development, towards Haydon Wick.
The first houses can be seen on the left with Safeway and the Haydon Centre centre right. Woodhall Park is on the upper right.
Photo: Dave Evans, Swindon Evening Advertiser