Page 3 - link magazine

A chance to look back 3

Twenty years ago the first families were arriv- The story of West Swindon's growth is re- Nationally the notion of community was
ing into what was known as the western markable. The vision of Swindon's policy largely disregarded during the 1980s. But poli-
expansion' or 'western development area.' makers in the 1950s and 1960s has come about ticians and the media have rediscovered the
In fact Terry and Teresa Davies, pictured nearly forty years later. We would say it is a idea and community will be a buzz-word in
below, moved in on 14 March 1976. Four story of successful urban development. From the coming general election.
weeks later baby Janice arrived, West Swin- a giant building site, consuming green fields, However community has been absolutely
don's first baby born to the first family. the area is almost complete with nearly 11,500 central to The Link magazine. Over the last 18
homes occupied by over 30,000 people. years, we have endeavoured to foster it in
There were big problems arising from the West Swindon by promoting local organisa-
massive rate of expansion. During the mid- tions. We're proud to be a vital means of
1980's, a thousand houses a year were being communication between people, and we're
built and the birthrate boomed to three times pleased to be providing the important chan-
the national average. Lack of playgroup and nel of information in Haydon Wick, Woodhall
school places caused much concern. Now all Park and for the newcomers at Abbey Meads.
those under 5s are are becoming teenagers We hope to have captured some of the
presenting us with a different set of demands. flavour of the last 20 years over the next few
In the early years the area was derided by pages. Happy birthday West Swindon.
outsiders and tainted with an unjust reputa-
tion. Yet the commercial, social and recrea-
tional facilities arrived, the open spaces were
developed and have matured. West Swindon
is now a very desirable place to live.

Congratulations

From the Mayor of Thamesdown, Councillor Bert Smith
Thank you for reminding me that it is 20 West Swindon has become a town in its
years this year since the Council embarked own right with community centres and
upon a very ambitious project that was other facilities for groups and individuals,
ultimately to become what we now call which have made it an area of which we are
West Swindon. all very proud.
Fortunately, I am one of the peo- In the midst of all this change,
ple who were here in Swindon be-e I am happy to say that a com-
fore munity magazine was started
fore it all happened - in fact, I was
a member of the Council when it at an early stage in the devel-
was first talked about. I can well opment. The Link is now a
remember the days when the road shining example of exactly
from Wootton Bassett to Swindon what is needed to join commu-
meandered through open country- nities together and keep them
side with only a house here and supplied with up to date local
there, and Great Western Way was information. I understand its
going to be the ultimate solution to all traf- circulation now covers 11,500 households
fic bottlenecks entering Swindon from the in West Swindon and has recently added
west. And so it was - for a very short time 5,000 in the new Northern Sector develop-
until the development got under way! ment.
However, traffic is a very small problem My congratulations to all the people of
with a hugely successful project. West Swindon for making it such a success-
We have a very prestigious industrial/ ful community in the past 20 years.
commercial development at Windmill Hill, Let us look forward to West Swindon
and also others at Hillmead and Westlea. going from strength to strength in the fu-
The West Swindon District Centre was ture.
opened with the new Carrefour Store in
1981 with its separate mall of indoor shops Capturing a 20 year feeling
and was followed fairly soon by the unique
and very successful Link Centre with the Thanks to Nick Belson
of Origin Design Con-
most modem ice rink, community centre sultancy in Westlea for
and library for miles around. designing the West
Next to the West Swindon Centre we Swindon 20th anniver-
have the De Vere Hotel and the attractions sary logo for The Link.
of the Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, and village OLO
centres have been created at Toothill, Fresh- Nick, who completed the S
brook and Shaw. London Marathon last o
Very recently we have seen the building month, raising money for VfU
of the fire station and police station at the Foundation of Study of Infant Deaths, e%5e Cc\e3
Westlea, in addition to the industrial and captures the growth of the community by
commercial developments there. imposing a baby's hand over an adult hand qb -
within a circle, giving a sense of care and
However, the most dramatic change has support for people working together.
been the rapid, almost staggering growth ¼0'
in the population of the area to utilise the For high quality graphic design, Nick can be 5349O1
facilities I have already mentioned. contacted on 875886.