Page 23 - link magazine

FOREST OR STADIUM ON COUNTRY PARK 23

Campaign opposing football stadium move

to West Swimion gathers pace

The announcement by County Ground, many
Swindon Town Football from West Swindon. A
Club and developer St different survey form was
Modwen Properties plc used.
on 19 March that they 1 4 May - Sir Jonathon
are discussing with Swin- Porritt visited the coun-
don Borough Council the try park, see below. Re-
commercial develop- ports on ITV West News.
ment of Shaw Forest Channel 4 and BBC Ra-
Country Park stunned dio Swindon.
thousands of people in
Now that the initial con-
West Swindon and
sultations have taken
across the town.
place St Modwen and
Not only is a football
stadium proposed. draft Swindon Town will be
considering whether to
plans show a cricket
submit an outline plan-
ground and athletics ning application which
track to replace the fa-
will be considered after
cilities at the County May Day in the rain. The police estimate that 1.500 people peacefully protested their
the Swindon Council
Ground, plus rugby opposition to the stadium proposal. followed by a ramble round the country park.
elections on 10 June.
pitches, a dog track, two It was the largest gathering of people in West Swindon since 2001 when 2,500 people
Overleaf St Modwen
hotels and fast food out- attended the last community tree planting day organised by the Great Western
Properties explain why
lets. The County Ground Community Forest. See more protest pictures at www.swindonlink.com
the project will benefit
would be redeveloped Swindon and the leaders of the
with 400 houses. These include: the room was far too small and political groups on Swindon Coun-
Since the announcement West 29 April - up to 2,000 people tried many were amazed by a survey
Swindon residents have turned out to view the St Modwen plans at form which gave no opportunity to cil explain their position.
For information, plans and pho-
in force at several events to dem- RoughmoorSocial Hall. andtalkto express opposition; tographs. go to the Swindon For-
onstrate their oppositio n to any pro- club and St Modwen representa- 1 May - 1,500 people protested est Protection Group site:
posal to rip up the country park. tives. Most had difficulty because their support for the forest by block-
ing Mead Way; www.sfpg.org.uk and
PM's advisor says don't concrete the park 6 May - fewer than 500 people www.swindonlink.com
viewed the St Modwen plans at the
Tony Blair's environment guru Sir Jonathon Porritt called on Swindon
councillors to consider their legacy to the town when they discuss the
future of Shaw Forest Country Park.
Visiting the site at the invitation into Swindon's future development.
of the Swindon Forest Protection Adding his name to the petition
Grouponl4MayhesaidthatSwin- calling on the council not to de-
don Borough Council is creating stroy the country park, he said, "it
something of national significance is horrible to think of this valuable
at the 100 acre former landfill site asset to the community covered by
and he was worried that a policy u- concrete. It goes against what the
turn to allow redevelopment for Government is trying to encour-
sports facilities would set a worry- age.
ing precedent. "I don't know how "The really critical thing is how
many people in Swindon realise do you maintain co-operation be-
the country park exists but a large tween the council and local com-
woodland and open space close to munities to bring something into
a town centre is both unusual and Swindon which will be here for all
very special." ti me - for all generations. Forests
Sir Jonathon chairs the inde- are about long term asset building
pendent Sustainable Development - they aren't just for the next dec-
Commission and has the ear of the ade. they are here for good.
Prime Minister, though that did not "The issue of trust between coun-
stop him publishing a highly critical cil and community is very impor-
report of the Government's envi- tant and councillors have to con-
ronmental aspirations in late April. sider how they will go down in
He is also a member of the South history. Do theywant to be remem-
West Regional Development Au- bered for their vision of the future
thority which gives him an insight orforshorttermcommercialgain?"

Events coming up:
y
Saturday 12 June, 12noon. Shaw Forest Countr Park Family
y
Picnic. Show our support. Details from www.sfpg.org.uk
y
y
Monda 14 June, 8pm, Holy Trinit Church, Shaw Village Centre.
Shaw Forest Protection Group meeting. Updates on campaign
progress. All invited.