Page 5 - link magazine

The Link Magazine - November 2004 5
1,250 more houses proposed for west of Swindon

Plans for university at Coate and 1,800 houses get green light
Government inspectors have backed plans to develop green belt land next to Coate Water, and have stated there should be more housing
development to the western side of the town.
Bath University want to build a Saunders of Friends of the Earth,
campus between the Coate Water x ! said, "it's the most devastating
Country Park, the Great Western ,r , " thing that could happen to Swin-
Hospital and the M4 - having been = • _ don, to its environment, to its his-
offered land by Redrow and Per- r; ' r tory and to the most beautiful part
simmon Homes provided they can of the whole town."
build 1,800 houses there. The inspectors do not agree with
The independent inspectors' re- local planners that development
view ofthe Swindon and Wiltshire should take place to the east of
structure plan to 2016 supports the A419, suggesting that this should
view that Swindon should be the _^. -- ^, '` •-: be part of a regional review of de-
'Principal Urban Area' (PUA) for — dC,q, velopment strategy beyond 2016.
e
growth in the county. Vov ~^ Instead they want to see land
They say the building of a cam- found for the 1,250 houses in the
pus, 1,800 houses and a business ' structure plan allocation to the
parkis appropriate and providesa west of the PUA. Where these
good basis for development over j might be built will be subject to
the plan period of 1996-2016. detailed studies by planners from
Swindon Council leader coun , ""' • - Swindon and Wiltshire which are
Mike Bawden welcomed the re- unlikely tobe completed until well
port."Itisgoodtohaveaclearway The Save Coate campaign group is calling on all those who want to into next year.
forward on the site for the Univer- save the rural surroundings of Coate Water Country Park to come People living in West and North
sity of Bath in Swindon, but this is together to create a giant chain of decorated cardboard hands around Swindon, as well as Lydiard
only the first step of a very long the lake on Saturday 13 November. 2pm. Millicent, Purton, Cricklade and
term project. Draw a line around a hand on card, such as the inside of a cereal Wootton Bassett, can only specu-
"The university still needs a de- packet, cut it out, write a short dedication of why you love Coate Water late on possible sites. Hundreds of
cision from the Government on on the blank side - with a name - and send it to Join Hands Around houses may be coming to all or
funding." Coate, Marsh Cottage, Wanborough SN4 OAR. They will be photocop- some of these areas.
The announcement has come as ied and included in a book of rememberance. Swindon and Wiltshire planning
a bitter blow to campaigners try- Alternatively take your hands along to Coate on 13 November and authorities have now to accept the
ing to protect Coate Water. Jean join it with the others. inspectors' recommendations.

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