Page 8 - link magazine

8 The Link Magazine • February 2002

Black Cat Front garden plans go on show in February
Following the High Court decision before Christmas to allow Swindon Council to develop the land
School of Motoring between the town and the M4, plans will go on display this month to outline the proposals for the area.
The exhibition which can be
Your local viewed at eight locations around over the next couple of months to a 1,000 space park and ride scheme,
community facilities such as
give everyone an opportunity to
motoring school the town between 4 and 11 Febru- express their opinions and influ- schools, health centres and shops,
ary will set out the principles for ence the future development at this a stadium and leisure complex, and
the development of 3,800 homes in very early stage." employment areas.
Gift vouchers available advanceofamasterplanbeingpre- The exhibition will outline land Bryant Homes have appointed
sented to Swindon Council's plan- use, noise and drainage issues, renowned urban design architects
: Barry Hunter 700131
ning committee by Bryant Homes. road access, the preservation of John Simpson & Partners to pro-
(proved Driving Instructor Nick Sedgwick, Bryant project the Wilts and Berks Canal and an- duce the masterplan for the devel-
manager on the scheme, said, "we cient monuments found in the area, opment of the area following the
want to involve the local commu- as well as the protection of flora outcome of the public consulta-
50% OFF
FIRST LESSON nity in the process of drawing up and fauna. tion process.
this masterplan and will be hold- Along with housing, the plans • Seepage2l forexhibition dates
ing a public consultation exercise will also consider the provision of and venues.

PARKING Civic Trust wants people's view on changes to Regent Circus
Swindon Council was given the green light in January to set up an Urban Regeneration Company to
redevelop the town centre.
CENTRAL SWINDON The Swindon College Regent usage will form makes it special,
Annual long stay Circus site is to become vacant the basis of a so let's all get to-
when the college rebuilds at North workshop on Sat- gether to build on
parking from only Star and there are grand plans for urday 16 Febru- that knowledge."
the town hall and the Theatre ary, 10am to 3pm. Attendance at
£47.80 per month Square area to become a cultural Civic Trust the consultation
centre of the town. chairman John day is free, but a
Contact Christine Jenkins
But, before the experts go too far Monniot said, place should be
Tel: 01793 - 690600 with fancy ideas, the newly formed "our town faces booked on 528095.
Swindon Civic Trust wants to find big changes. Now The Civic Trust
out what people of the town think is the time to make will also be re-
about redeveloping the Regent clear what the cruiting members
Circus area. people of Swin- at the Disability
yr partner in business A highly visual display of maps don hope to gain, Resource Centre
and photos of buildings, traffic and and what they in the Brunel Cen-
hope to keep. tre upper floor on
Swindon people know best what Saturday 23 February.
­
01 1 01 s Council comes up with education plan
After the catastrophic Ofsted report on the way Swindon runs its
education service in September, a working group has come up with
a plan to run the service for the benefit of the children of the town.
On 10 January the full Council work together constructively.
Community Dividend Scheme voted in favour of a plan arrived at "Ofsted has created a situation
jointly by councillors from all par- where heads, governors, officers
ties, headteachers, governors and and councillors have had to talk to
outside advisors which will now each other. Out of the discussion
be submitted to the Department has come trust and understanding
for Education and Skills as the way and a commitment to making the
of getting Swindon out of special education service work for all the
measures as a failing education children of the town. However, no
authority, new organisational model in Swin-
The proposal sees the manage- don will work without more
ment of education handed over to money from government."
an independently chaired Educa- There was agreement in the
tion Partnership Board (EPB) council chamber that Swindon's
which would contract an external ability to deliver the education
Members of the Swindon Kings wheelchair basketball club at the
Hayden Centre who received a £1,000 grant from the Co-op organisation to provide strategic service was being hampered by
management of the local educa- the government's refusal to in-
A minimum of 1% of the Society's profits tion authority. The EPB and exter- crease grant aid to the council.
are returned to projects to benefit nal partner would recommend ap- Funding for each child in the town
pointments to the senior manage- is £238 less than comparable au-
the local community through the
ment team and the partnership thorities, which makes a total of
Community Dividend Scheme. would be responsible for manag- £6.5 million less.
ing the top two tiers of posts and Despite a letter from the govern-
If you think a project you know of could qualify oversee a restructuring of the way ment stating that no extra money
for a grant of up to £1,000, education is run, would be provided via the Rev-
call 0800 435902 for more information Keith Smith, chair of the Asso- enue Support Grant, the council is
ciationofSwindonSpecialSchools, appealing for a one-off grant to
Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester s e addressing the full council said the help it give the education service
Ofsted report had forced all par- and schools a fighting chance to
ties with interests in education to improve.