Page 6 - link magazine

6 The Link Magazine • March 2005
Plans to cover Toothill
PART TIME
VACANCIES open space with housing
Apply within or
Residents living close to Toothill Farm on Bodiam Drive may be
call for furt her
saying farewell to an important green area in their midst because
according to Swindon Council the site is suitable for 21 dwellings.
v v I
Probably the widest selection The farm was preseved for corn- for Swindon and objections had to
of affordable lighting munity use when the original plans be in October 2003."
for the western expansion were Nevertheless, thanks to council-
in Wiltshire drawn up in the early 1970s, and for intervention, the junior club
Open: the farmhouse was converted to a has been given a further twelve
council run social hall in 1978. months use of the premises.
Monday to Saturday ea r
But a gradual decline in usage Toothill councillor Mary Martin
9.30am - 5.30pm
over the last five years, since the expressed amazement that the
Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm Locate the L1ghtingBug playgroup closed, means that the farm could be built on. "I know the
viability of the farm as a commu- council is conducting a review of
nity facility is questionable, its assets, including whether so-

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Now the farm's future is even cial halls are being used effectively,
deeper in doubt. In November and I was under the impression
Toothill Junior Youth Club made its the farm is part of the council's
annual application to use the farm- open space audit, but being in-
house for its Friday evening meet- cluded for housing in the local plan
ings, as it has for the last 13 years. is new to me.
In January club organisers were "It really is very frustrating that
^^ C`JOl?GP^XI,^C^^IrfPh told that the on-site caretaker was you ask reasonable questions in-
being made redundant and re- side the council and you cannot
housed and the club would have get answers."
YOUR LOCAL PVC-U MANUFACTURER to vacate the premises by the end A Swindon Council planner ex-
of the month. plained to The Link that the farm
• Buy direct from Treasurer Mavis Reed said she was identified as a housing area in
our factory had discovered the farm site was the 2001 Urban Capacity Study.
to be built on and the time for Local councillors and the chair of
• We make it and objections long gone. "There have Toothill Community Centre had
we fit it been rumours about housing for been asked to comment. As no ob-
the farm site; but it is really devi- jections were received the farm site
• High security ous and underhand how the offic- was included in the Revised Draft
• 10 year guarantee ers have gone about this. Some of the Local Plan to 2011 currently
user groups have been moved to being reviewed at a planning en-
• Lowest prices other buildings and officers told quiry at the civic offices.
us the farmhouse was unsafe to He added that the farm is consid-
Why not let use; they told local councillors the ered an informal green space in the
same thing. council's open space audit, but
us handle "Then the planning department Toothill has a surplus of open areas.
told me the site has been included He pointed out the draft plan
everything as a housing area in the local plan community policy retains the farm
as a facility, unless it becomes no
from start to Chair offer longer financially viable.
In late March or April Swindon's
Toothill Community Centre has
finish? received a grant from Swindon cabinet will consider the property
Council for new seating and has assets report and will decide the
Call today 01793 790944 50 upholstered chrome framed future of Toothill Farm.
In the meantime Ms Reed is con-
or 07973 232435 (evenings and weekends) chairs to sell at a clearance price. cerned that without an on-site care-
To make an offer for one, several
The Marsh, Lower Wanborough. SN4 OAS or the complete set, call 614492. taker, the farmhouse is going to be
vandalised.