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The Link Magazine • September 2005 5
The Coate debate is conclusive:
the people say no' to development,
but will `the powers that be' say `yes'?
Thanks to articles and letters in the Swindon Advertiser during
August, there can be little doubt that very few people want develop-
ment of any kind on the Gateway site, between the Great Western
Hospital and Coate Water.
The majority want to see a uni- original plans to develop at North
versity - particularly if it's called Star, we can all retire in peace in
University of Swindon and not an the knowledge that Swindon will
outpost of the University of Bath - get a university and keep an area
and they want to see it bringing that has been dear to people's
life and dynamism to the town hearts for future generations.
centre, rather than sprawled out "Special places need special pro-
next to Swindon's favourite place. tection."
The battle lines are now drawn. See the objections at
In April house builders Redrow www.savecoate.org.uk
Homes and Persimmon Homes, The Gateway plan can be found
who have given land free to the C@ www.swindon-gateway.co.uk
University of Bath, submitted a
planning application for 1,800 Present & past views
homes, a business park and a 10,000 The university now does not want a
place campus. town centre location because it
In July campaigners delivered a would be incompatib/e with the cur-
20,000 name petition objecting to rent brand image 0/the tiniversityof
the development to Swindon Bath.
Council's planning department, in The decision was made at a re-
advance of the application going cent UofB council meeting in re-
before the planning committee in sponse to a proposal put by the
the Autumn. Swindon Civic Trust earlier this year.
Jean Saunders of the Save Coate It was different on 13 March 2001
group said campaigners were when the then University of Bath's
heartened by the volume of letters former Vice Chancellor, Prof
and comments published in the VandeLinde said at the Swindon &
Advertiser. "There has been an out- Wiltshire Forum that the Oakfield
pouring of objections. The people Campus would be a minor, but sig-
of Swindon and surrounding ar- nificant, site for the university's ac-
eas realise key decisions will be tivities in Swindon. However, the
made in the next few months and University smajor site wou/dbe the
more and more councillors are North Star Campus, as inc/udedin
questioning whether development the Councils 2030 vision for the re-
should take place at Coate. development ofthe town centre.'
"But, how much opposition to Swindon & Marlborough NHS Trust
the development proposals will it supporting document to the Great
take to stop borough councillors Western Hospital planning applica-
from voting them through? tion:6Jan 1998: There shou/dbe no
"If the NHS Trust and the coun- fearforthe hospita/being used as a
cil are true to their word and if the precedent for furthergenera/devef-
University of Bath stick to their opment to the south of Swindon.

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