Page 6 - link magazine

6 The Link Magazine • January 2004
Taw Hill primary school start, but opening could be delayed

Dignitaries and parents gathered on 29 November to see the first sod symbolically cut to start work on Swindon's newest school - St Francis
Church of England aided primary school - which is due to open next September. However, because of a late change in the plans, completion
of the school at Taw Hill village centre may be delayed.
The original pro- North Swindon vicar Rev Ruth removal of the church from the
posal was for a Taw Hill village centre Cram said establishing a new area project had required re-negotia-
school and church was an exciting and challenging tion on funding with the Depart-
to be built together Medic venture for all who live and work ment of Education and adjust-
with parts of th ^ _ F^ there. "Laying the foundations for ments to the planning permission.
eentre
church hall bein.; .; •- - Y _t new communities is hard work, "Our builders Bluestone Construc-
available for school -----' full of challenges, fears, hopes, set tion are experienced in school
Urch 0111itted from plans
use. However a re- backs and successes." projects, but the timescale is now
view of resources After the ceremony she said, "not very tight and even they might not
by the Bristol Dio — r ` ^` ^`° b having a church building at Taw be able to achieve a September
cese means that 3 Hill is disappointing, but our grow- opening. We have contingencies
plans have had to ing congregation will meet in the in place to use temporary build-
be redrawn and the school; this offers other opportu- ings for a short time if necessary."
church postponed. Eighty people, packed into the nities to help the community to
The Bishop of Swindon Rev Taw Hill Worship Centre to dedi- develop." Parents' get together with
Michael Doe said the diocese had cate the school site, heard the Resident Andrew Goddard from head to plan school
reconsidered its priorities for Bishop offer prayers to God for the Cranborne Chase said he was re- St Francis Primary School
North Swindon and with a new new beginning and for the people lieved a start on the school was in headteacher Clive Westall invites
church at Abbey Meads and a tra- living in North Swindon, and all sight. "When we moved here in parents to a meeting on Wednes-
ditional church at Blunsdon St those who are working with them 1996 we were told there would be day 28 January, 8pm at the Taw
Andrew, it had been decided to to establish community life. a school built in two years. We're Hill Worship Centre.
see how the community at Taw The Lord Lieutenant of Wilt- glad that it's finally underway; it's Application forms for the school
Hill and the adjacent Priory Vale shire, Sir Maurice Johnston, said a really exciting time for the area." are available from Taw Hill Medi-
develops before a commitment is he would convey an invitation to a Architect David Freeth from cal Practice or from Rev Ruth Cram
made to a church building to corn- member of the Royal family to open Horsely Huber Associates said the on 701353.
pliment the school. St Francis in due course.
Medical practice underway
Three sites on the go
Taw Hill's medical practice third home is taking shape after building
Just when Taw Hill residents thought building works in their area works started on 8 December.
were a thing of the past, construction traffic for three sites at the Having opened in a tem-
village centre will be passing up Queen Elizabeth Drive for another porary surgery in 1999, fol-
nine months. lowed by a transfer to larger
Originally conceived as an inte- opers over access issues for some temporary facilities in 2001,
grated scheme, the school, shop- months. It is unfortunate that partner Dr Peter Crouch t°
ping area and medical practice are agreement could not be reached to promised this would be the
now separate construction projects. avoid the extra traffic through Taw final move, ready for the rap-
The Co-op neighbourhood store Hill. idly growing North Swindon 1' «, •
plus five commercial units were "If people have concerns or com- population.
started in early November and plaints, please channel them Housebuilding atTaw Hill
work on the medical centre started through the residents' association is largely complete and
on 8 December. so that we can monitor the situa- homes in Priory Vale are be-
Chairman of Taw Hill Residents' tion. It also avoids the dangers of ing built and occupied very ^a.+r
Association Richard Barrass said going onto the building sites." quickly. The first houses at `^ Aga
land ownership disagreements Richard can be contacted on Hayden End, to the east of dzq ° - ^ ^•s
had prevented access to the village 722029. Taw Hill, will appear later
centre site from junction 9 on • Taw Hill Residents' Association this year. Over the next seven °
Thamesdown Drive which means meets on the last Wednesday of years the surgery will have
builders and deliveries will be the month at 7.30pm in the Parlia- 6,700 houses within its catch-
Dr Crouch and Dr Morris, rear, get stuck
made through the housing area. ment Room at the Tawny Owl on ment area and around 12,000
into site work with architect James Law-
"We have been in discussion with Queen Elizabeth Drive. All resi- people on its patient list,
Swindon Council and the devel- dents are invited to attend. The medical centre is one rence and Project Manager Clive Hughes
of six in the UK to qualify for spe- pation in August.
cial startup funding from the gov- North Swindon MP Michael
LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALITY? ernment to cater for its local popu- Wills congratulated Dr Crouch and
lation as well as providing facili- partner Dr Morris. "This is one of
Peter Galbraith ties for town wide specialist clinics the most innovative and enterpris-
ing medical practices in the coun-
for minor surgery, vasectomy and
dermatology. The practice will con- try, dedicated to constant improve-
Haitdbitilt fitted bedrooms tinue to provide a home for The mentofservicesfortheirpatients."
Swindon Sanctuary, a forensic Swindon SouthMP Julia Drown
Individual handbuilt finish on If R
medical centre for victims of rape is impressed by the state of the art
all bedrooms and sexual assault, and the Great facilities available to people across
Western LaserUnitwill alsobebased Swindon. "The Sanctuary for vic-
f Manufactured individually to
at the new practice. tims of rape is one of the best in the
customer requirements
There will be ten consulting country and its permanent loca-
Choose from over 40 different rooms, two operating theatres and tion will be welcomed by all of us
finishes - hardwood, Woodworking since 1969: three treatment rooms. These will trying to combat these violent
pine sprayed and vinyl wrapped an eccellent finish and be arranged around a circular wait- crimes."
ing area lit with natural light from Visit www.tawhillsurgery.nhs.uk
r
v
pe sonal ser ice guaranteed.
Tel: 01793 526335 all at an aJfordahle price the south facing glass roof and win- for details and to view building
dows. It should be ready for occu- progress from a web cam.