Page 11 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • December 2004 11
Blunsdon by-pass still under scrutiny and could be delayed
Government design proposals for the long awaited bypass at Blunsdon Hill were the subject of public exhibitions during October.
Meanwhile, Blunsdon and Haydon Wick parish councillors have submitted their views and have held meetings with Swindon Council and
the scheme's designers to form a clearer picture of what is intended.
The parish councils have ex- fic lights, some may be tempted to
pressed concern about the abilit y take a cross town route as an alter-
of the access roads to cope with the native. Councillors claim the traf-
likely volume of traffic, but they fic flow figures support this view.
have been assured that they are The scheme, which is combined
designed for traffic levels antici- - ---- ° with proposals for a flyover at
pated until at least 2023. • - ^ `` Commonhead beyond Coate, was
The councils are also aware that due to be completed by 2008. But it
there are development proposals " has been included within the gov-
for the area between Motorola and ernments latest spending review
the line of the access road and are and consequently the next stage of
seeking assurances that provision planning the by-pass has been de-
is made for the possible widening layed.
of the access roads at a future date. North Swindon MP Michael
Hayden Wick Parish Council, in Wills is pressing for the scheme to
particular, is concerned that driv- remain in the government's cur-
ers wishing to join the A419 from Lining up Blunsdon by-pass. The A419 can be seen in the bottom right. The new rent programme and Stewart Boyd,
Thamesdown Drive and head road will be built between it and Motorola. Land between St Andrew's Ridge and Chairman of the Blunsdon council
south towards the M4 will have a 1 Abbey stadium in the background is due for development which will make demands is confident that the scheme is not
kilometre detour and several traf- on access roads in danger of undue delay.

Wider use for Groundwell farmhouse Pub plan decision still awaited
The October Link reported that planning permission for a dental Haydon Wick Parish Council has supported the residents of Thames
practice in the presently derelict 18th Century Groundwell Farm- Avenue who have expressed concern over proposals by The Shield
house close to Cricklade Road and Thamesdown Drive. and Dagger pub to seek an entertainment licence and planning
A revised application was submitted to permit a wider range of permission for a garden seating area.
medical uses. This has been approved subject to the applicant, dentist The October Link reported fears by people living closeby that the
Patrick Holmes, entering into required legal agreements. noise problems experienced when seats were previously sited in front
The conversion is expected to cost in the region of £1 million, and in of the pub would start again.
order to fund this, surrounding land will be used to provide 16 Swindon Council's licensing and planning committees have yet to
residential apartments. Some neighbouring residents expressed con- make decisions on these requests, though there is some doubt as to
cerns about the traffic and parking which the new use will generate. whether planning permission is actually required.