Page 28 - link magazine

28 The Link Magazine • December 200 4
What's it like in Priory Vale?
Last month The Link exclusively marked the tenth year since the first residents of Abbey Meads arrived in the 10,000 home northern
expansion of the town. This month we look at the continuing development.
So far only about half of the that would be found there, centre and things like street
planned total have been built, with, as specified in a framework lights are being sorted out.
lastmonth,thesecondphaseofthe plan agreed by the devel- Janet said, "we have
development at Priory Vale cel- opers and Swindon Coun- " friendly neighbours and
ebrating its 1,000 house handover. cil planners. ,' there are more children ar-
There's still a lot of building to be The central area of . riving in the area. But what
done, including a village centre houses, offRedhouseWay, j they can do is limited as
and the education campus which would be an 'urban core' there are no play areas.
will start in the New Year and open with higher density town "It will be good when the
in 2006 and 2007. housing, many on three village centre is built; it will
Leaving aside the PR gloss of floors. give the area a stronger corn-
the house builder's brochures ask- A second area would be munity feel."
ing you to imagine living a dream more formal in layout, and , ' • (I The family moved know-
that is coming true, most people this is being built off ing that local schools were
who move to Priory Vale say they Eastbury Way, off Junction . ; not an issue for them, Danny
have made the right decision and 6A on Thamesdown Drive. attends Highworth
it is living up to expectations. The third is more rural Warneford and Rebecca
The builders gradually move on in character-to thewestot ' goes to Haydonleigh and
to new sites, the shrub beds are Oakhurst Way - with a hopes to move on to
planted and the final road surfaces larger number of two floor Warneford in couple of
are eventually put down. homes laid out to look as if Michael and Janet DaCova with Danny and Rebecca years.
Anybody who visits Priory Vale they are in a Cotswold vil- At present they are
will immediately notice how dif- lage. ing in Priory Vale are in two per- putting in a lot of miles travelling
ferent it is from any other housing But does it work? The critics son households. This will change out of the area. Danny plays for
area in the town, would say that Priory Vale is all as people settle down and start Shrivenharn Youth FC and is a
The November 2000 Link de- pastiche architecture evoking having children. The lack of local member of the Air Cadets in
scribed the three distinct layouts Georgian and Edwardian themes. schoolswas the biggest complaint. Highworth whilst Rebecca plays
Others say the higher density Swindon Council is due to open football for Swindon Town girls.
creates a Dickensian feel with the first primary An artistic impression of Priory Vale village
housing crowding in from all school in Sep- centre. Detailed pli ns will be revealed
angles. tember 2006. next year fo ompletion in 2007
But the new layout and the Narrow roads "
variety of house styles are and lack of car .'_
what attracts many buyers. A parking is the I, '
recent survey of residents main gripe. But I
showed that most have moved havingbeenbuilt
from other parts of Swindon. to Government i
The area's visual appeal, planning guide
open spaces, public transport lines which re-
Moving into the 1000th house, Christopher
Stephens and Joanna Feaver with Bryants sales and ease of access was cited duces the em •
lady Julie Biggs, just over two years after the as attractions. phasis on cars, -,
The survey showed that just and encourages
Barnes family moved into the first houses of
Priory Vale under half of the people liv- parking to the - . f
rear of proper-
ties, cars are always going to be a Danny said there isn't a lot in the
www.tag25O.co.uk blight on Priory Vale. area for people of his age. "I use
Despite Government planners, the library and go to the games
SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITES people want cars and will park club there. It will be good when
them where there is space, even it the youth centre is finished at the
£67.50 set up fee • £20.80 per month it blocks bus access. The spectre of district centre, but they're taking a
double yellow lines on main routes long time."
Includes domain name and free updates
like Redhouse Way looms. Becky said she plays out with
Call 01793 485355 Narrow estate roads and chil- friends in the street. "There's not
dren playing is going to be a major much to do; it would be good if we
problem when all the babies yet to had a skateboard park."
be born grow up. Footballs hitting As distributors of around 500
ARMY SURPLUS, parked cars and drivers making Links every month, the family have
their way through narrow alley-
discovered more of Priory Vale
TOP QUALITY KIT like cul-de-sacs endangering chil- than most. Michael said, "it has a
lot more character than other ar-
dren are likely to create conflict in
- NEW IN SWINDON the community. eas; no two houses are the same
For Michael and Janet DaCova, and each development looks very
BRITISH, US, GERMAN, FRENCH & MORE the move to Priory Vale could not different from the next. I think there
have been better. Having moved is a lot going for it."
• Parkas, jackets, trousers • Boots from Abbey Meads, their three
• Waterproof Gear • Flight Kit floor Twineham Road house was
an excellent choice for their grow-
• Children's camo clothing ing children, Danny and Rebecca.
• Camping Gear "It's a convenient area to live
in," said Michael. "It's easy to get
Premier Surplus, 35 - 37 Cricklade Rd, Gorse Hill, Swindon to work and the North Swindon
Tel: 538100 • www.premiersurplus.co.uk District Centre is close by. You
don't have to go into the town