Page 8 - link magazine

8 The Link Magazine • October 2002
Planning Swindon's future - a chance to have a say
Swindon people have until 4 November to have their say on the town's future housing, jobs and countryside. These issues are among many
being considered as the council draws up a draft local plan for land use in the borough until 2011.
The plan will help the council c^' ^ WOOtl1 ^F^aad'^
decide on planning applications Residential Areas 1 s .
by b ensuring new development is n Vivage areas shops. housng t
g 1^ n Primary and Secondary Schools `i 1 +^„ ,^."^!"" ` _ ;.u`,^'r
in the most appropriate places and Open Spaces. parks play ng he a j ,
^,
ure
a
high qualityht
IS of a hi g a y gJ Wter Feat s /^ Old Town
"Inevitably, the local plan has to c
balance a variety of competing m rte - _
terests among which are the need - 3,.
for new houses and for protecting ^i
the best of the countryside" said
the council's local policy team ^' ^ ^"^ 1!'^ j
leader Richard Bell. "For exam
ple, government policy means ` tl ^v^` '•^ , -' -
Swindon has to find room for
nearly 7,500 more houses in the
Borough by 2011. We expect to be M4
able to put almost half of these
,
about 3,500 - in the town or one ► _ r
previously developed'brownfreld' The Master Plan for Hie Southern + j^^ qy Via' t ^^ `- e'
Iand.TheFrontGardenisexpected Development Areabetzveen ^ ^,lF ^^y _ Qv x r .
es
s' , yT
4
to provide land for the remaining the M4 qnd Old Town ^ry^^^^y : ^ °° ^.= 4 ^ti {sx < •.
4,500.,, y
y^ a -^ ^s y'`^
Overall, the plan has to: • Identify park and ride sites; ^^' ^ , c Ili I Irc H
• Concentrate development in • Provide community and recrea ^y
towns and in identified develop- tion facilities; r
merit areas such as the Northern • Protect the best of the borough's ^_ - ' J ^^–
Development Area and the Front built and natural environment. ^ - —
Garden; "This plan affects everybody,"
• Help the Urban Regeneration said Swindon Council leader Keith
Company improve Swindon's cen- Small. "It's vital local organisations
tral area; and residents are involved in shap- and beyond." centre and from libraries across
• Find a major new site for em- ing it as it'll have significant impli- Starting on 23 September, the six- the town. The plan can also be
ployment; cations for the development of our week public consultation period viewed at these places.
y
• Identify housing land; borough over the next ten ears ends at 5pm on 4 November. All comments will be taken into
Objections or statements sup- consideration in producing the
porting policies or proposals next draft of the plan which is pro-
should be made on standard re- grammed for summer 2003.
sponse forms available from the Information is available from the
council's offices at Premier House forward planning team on 466706,
AUT MN and Wat Tyler House in the town mail: rbell@swindon.gov.uk U
SPECIAL Front garden still unneccessary
says environmental group
The local branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England
(CPRE) is claiming there is no need for Swindon to build on the land
it owns between the M4 and Old Town and is calling on the govern-
Prawn Crackers ment to block development from a planning point of view.
Crispy Duck Rolls (Crispy Spring Rolls filled Although the High viously used land at
with aromatic crispy duck & cucumber served with Hoi Sin Sauce) Court agreed last year '': ". 35 per cent is far too
Spare Ribs in Capital Sauce that the Front Garden s low.
Chinese Pickled Vegetables could proceed, against She points out that
the objections of a resi- the North Swindon
Deep Fried Shredded Chilli Beef development is run-
Roast Pork with Cashew Nuts in Soya Sauce dents action group, ! . ning well behind
CharmianSpickernell,
Mild Malayan Curry cooked with right o f the North rth schedule which di-
Chicken and Potatoes in Coconut Cream Wilts and Swindon ' minishestherequire-
CPREbranch,believes ment for further
OR Stir Fried Chicken in Fresh Tomatoes I the case for develop- _ greenfield building.
Fried Rice & Fortune Cookies ing the area has not ' She also accuses
d been made on planning grounds. SwindonCouncilofbendingplan-
Special offer price £17.33 ShesaysSwindonplannershave ning rules by allowing the Front
Please note: the special menu cannot be changed found more than expected Garden planning application to be
Brownfield land and buildings submitted before consultation on
,.\ ithin the existing urban devel- the Local Plan has taken place.
op»ent and this could accommo- To find out more about theCPRE
date up to 7,950 houses - more case to delay the Front Garden, or
than required by the Government for advice on how to register an
in the Local Plan to 2011. objection with the government in-
Given the national target for spectors, contact Charmian
brownfield development is 60 per Spickernell on 850007 or mail:
cent, Swindon's target of using pre- cspickernell@aol.com