Page 18 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • September 1998
18
Peatmoor School underway Residents pressure achieves
Work started on West Swindon's tenth and last primary school when road closure changes
Council Leader Maurice Fanning and Chair of the education commit-
tee Jo Garton took controls of a JCB digger on 17 August. Protests by Sparcells residents that local children were to be put in
danger by Swindon Council's decision to start building a new foot-
Costing £1.5m, Peatmoor is the
first 'community school' to be built bridge across Mead Way during the summer holidays has resulted in
by Swindon Borough Council as changes to the building programme.
the new local education authority. Notice of a temporary closure of "We were faced with a public com-
As well as providing for over 240 Mead Way between 5 August un- ment that safety was at risk. We've
four to eleven year olds, many of til 8 December was published on listened to this and acted on it."
its facilities will be available to the 21 July in The Evening Advertiser. Proposed changes are:
local community for use outside Sparcells resident Lesley • Closure of Mead Way from
school hours. Clements, contacted the Planning 8 September for a shorter period
The school hail and kitchens will & Transportation Department to of 6 weeks, subject to progress.
be shared and the community complain about the lack of advance
meeting rooms will be as large as notice and the fact that heavy traf- • Signed diversions to catch
those found in centres at Toothill fic would be diverted onto Spar- traffic long before it reaches
or Freshbrook. The school was cells Drive through a residential Mead Way (at Purton Road,
planned in consultation with the area during a period when chil- Westfield Way, Moredon Road,
police and extra security measures dren would be out playing. Acers Way and Great Western
will be built in to ensure safety of These concerns were taken up Way). This should leave only
children and staff. by the Sparcells and Peatmoor very local traffic having to use
Chief Education Officer Mike Community Association, who in- Sparcells Drive or Swinley
Lusty said he was confident it vited Swindon Council Highway Drive.
would be completed in time for the Operations Officer Geoff Bryant to • An advisory speed limit of
first children in September 1999. Starting up Peatmoor School: Coun- hear the complaints at a meeting 20 mph.
Located next to the shops at cil Leader Maurice Fanningand Chair on 11 August. • A temporary controlled
Roughmoor Village Centre, the of the education committee Jo Garton On a very hot night, thirty seven crossing on Sparcells Drive
school will accept children from get some help from three year old Ella people turned out to voice their adjacent to Stenness Close.
Peatmoor and from Sparcells, via Garton and Neil Cushing, chair of the anxieties. These included: • Discussions with local hauliers
the new footbridge being built over Peatmoor and Sparcells Community • the dangers to pedestrians and bus companies on speed and
Mead Way. Association created by the heavier routes.
traffic flow
• An option to impose double
Bulging Brook Field ready for relief • increased HGV traffic, which yellow line restrictions on bends
Sparcells Drive is not designed on Sparcells Drive, should this
The start of building work on the new Peatmoor school is welcome to carry be necessary.
news to other local schools in the area, in particular Brook Field, Members of the Community As-
which is bulging at the seams. • visibility problems for
traffic emerging from side roads sociation also raised broader con-
At the start of this Autumn term, He expressed appreciation for into Sparcells Drive cerns about traffic dangers in the
Brook Field will have 590 childrn the help given by Swindon Coun- • the length of time to be taken to area.
on roll. Celebrating the end of its cil's education department in cre- build a footbridge Team leader Stuart McKenzie
tenth year in July, the school was ating extra space though the use of said communication channels had
originally designed to take 420. mobile classrooms and providing Mr Bryant accepted the concerns been improved and he hoped prob-
Head teacher Mr Nicholas is de- extra resoures. of residents and recognised that lems can be tackled together in
lighted that the building at Peat- Mr Nicholas also paid tribute to council communication over the future.
moor is underway, but said there governors' and parents' pressure road closure has not been handled Further concerns about traffic
had been advantages in being a for the Peatmoor School. "The as efficiently as it should. and other issues can be raised with
larger school. "Despite our size, Brook Field parent body have been Stuart McKenzie, Technical the Sparcells & Peatmoor Com-
we at Brook Field have an excep- outstanding in their support. They Services Consultancy team leader, munity Association via their Cor-
tional staff and continue to offer have been the strong force behind said a package of measures to alle- respondence Secretary, Menna
an excellent education." getting the new school." viate the situation had been agreed. Stapley, on 887192.

Centre gets organised to serve the community

New Toothill Community Centre co-ordinator Annette Kennedy is Current use
looking to bring the community into the building Mon 2 - 4 pm Good Companions
Annette, right, who lives in days, new projects will be explored. (Social Club for older people)
Dance Sequence
Wroughton, was appointed by the But most of all Annette is keen to Mon evening
Management Committee in June hear from Toothill residents, both Tues morning Slimming World
with a brief to promote and de- about ideas for activities and for Tues 6 - 9 pm Square Dance
velop the Centre and to provide ways of making the Centre more Wed Lunch Club
administrative support. welcoming and responsive. Thurs morning Little Poppets
"We have a good community Local resident and management Toddlers
facility and we want people to use committee member Viv Paxton
it," she said. spoke encouragingly of the new Thurs evening Line Dancing
Plans are afoot to re-open the developments, "things have Occasional Sundays
once popular community cafe, this turned round, there are some good 3 - 6 Club (Social!
time to be staffed by volunteers. activities planned." Bingo)
Discussions are currently being If you have any ideas for the
held with local community worker Centre or are prepared to volun- Room Rates: £4.50 - 5.00/hr for user
Pam Pixton, Age Concern and the teer some time to the refreshment groups. Hall E5.00/hour for user
Swindon Lifestyle Unit about start- area, you can contact Annette on groups or £10.00/hour for private hire.
ing new groups. And as people 614492 or pop in to see her (morn- Facilities: bar, hail, stage area
return from their summer holi- ings only). (separate room), refreshment area.