Page 7 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • November 2003 7
After west, north and southern expansion, Swindon goes eastwards
The Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan to 2016 identifies the next area of expansion for the town which will be on view to the public in November
explains Mark Newey, team leader Strategic Planning at Swindon Borough Council.
Swindon Borough Council and scribedin Regional Planning Guid- work and shop close to where they be viewed free of charge at local
Wiltshire County Council, as Joint ance issued by central government. live. Consequently, as part of the libraries, and at www.wiltshire.
Strategic Planning Authorities, Specifically for Swindon, after Structure Plan review, a Principal gov.uk and www.swindon.gov.uk
are asking for your views on the taking into account the amount of Urban Area Study has been under- For more information contact
revised Structure Plan to 2016 in a additional growth that can be met taken for Swindon to determine Mark Newey on 466031, or mail:
six-week consultation exercise on previously developed 'brown- the most sustainable direction, or mnewey@ swindon.gov.uk
which starts on Monday 27 Octo- field' land within the Swindon ur- directions, for future growth. Meeting: Wednesday 5 Novem-
ber, running until 9am on Mon- ban area, there is still a need to find The conclusion of the study is ber, 7.30pm at the Broad Green
day 8 December. a greenfield site, or sites, for about that whilst focusing development Centre, Salisbury Street.
It is important that everybody 3,400 houses and 70 hectares of initially within Swindon's urban Swindon Trades Union Council
expresses their views on the key employment land. The question is area, land to the east of the A419 will discuss the Structure Plan and
issues, such as the future direction where should this growth go? and south of the A420, the 'Eastern how objections to more greenfield
of growth for Swindon, as the Regional Planning Guidance for Development Area,' is the most development can be made. Details
Structure Plan will guide develop- the South West has identified Swin- sustainable direction of growth to from Martin Wicks on 496816.
ment for the next ten years, and don as a focus for continued meet Swindon's greenfield devel- Or contact Swindon Friends of
beyond. growth, designating Swindon as a opment beyond the current plan the Earth on 783040.
The Structure Plan is a key part Principal Urban Area, one of only period of 2011.
of the planning system, covering eleven across the region. In addition, land at Coate, adja- Exhibitions: 10 and 13 Novem-
the whole of Wiltshire up to 2016, Principal Urban Areas are the cent to Junction 15 of the M4, is the ber, 2pm to 8pm, at the Pilgrim
stating the number of houses and largest settlements where it is con- most sustainable location to ac- Centre, Regent Street. Swindon
amount of employment land that sidered that growth can maximise commodate a university campus Borough and Wiltshire County
each district and the borough existing services, facilities and in- for Swindon. Council officers will be available
should accommodate. This is pre- frastructure, enabling people to Copies of the documentation can to answer questions on the plans.

Is it time for a `Stop Swindon Exploding Campaign'?
asks Eddie Bedwell from Haydon Wick
In response to the question How big should Swindon get? posed in the to be provided.
August Link, it is clear from house price increases that demand from To expand Swindon further is to try to solve the problem 'on the
people wanting their own house still exceeds supply - and who would 'cheap' - a typical British disease. We do not have to put up with this as
want to deny them getting their own home? there are plenty of places along the M4 western corridor that have a
However for a town to be a sustainable living place, particularly in greater need for jobs and housing.
the future, adequate schools, transport, roads, hospitals and jobs need So let's really start objecting and join the 'Stop Swindon Exploding
to be put in place. In Swindon everyone knows that these are unlikely Campaign.' Mail me at: [email protected]