Page 8 - link magazine

8 The Link Magazine • June 2006
West Forum looks at schools and road safety
The bi-monthly West Swindon Forum on 8 May discussed road crossings near schools in Toothill and Shaw and the future of Salt Way
Primary School.
Traffic calming on Beaumaris alty points. Director of Childrens' Services traffic and Ms Pitts was asked to
Road, outside Oliver Tomkins In- He said that the temporary chi- Hillary Pitts told the meeting that urgently investigate this.
fant and Junior Schools, has been canes installed on the road had the school will continue to have a Referring to the consultation to
discussed at the forum for twelve been removed after complaints variety of educational uses after close Freshbrook and Windmill
months. from residents. the children transfer to Shaw Ridge Hill Primary Schools and a new
Geoff Bryant from Swindon The height of the speed humps in September. It will be used as a primary school to be built on the
Council's highways department on nearby Freshbrook Way, which centre for children with disabili- Freshbrook site, Ms Pitts said that
described the proposal to install a have long been blamed for caus- ties from across the town, a centre the independent Schools' Organi-
zebra crossing in early June, on the ing the extra traffic on Beaumaris for staff employed in children's sation Committee will discuss the
corner of Beaumaris Road, oppo- Road, was raised. Freshbrook social and health care and perhaps proposal in July.
site the infant school to be paid for councillor Peter Greenhalgh said a new base for a special needs play- Future forum agendas:
by the Safer Routes to School fund. he would be discussing the issue group presently in temporary The West Swindon Fortran meets
He pointed out that parking on again with highways officers. premises. on alternate months and provides
the zig zag lines on either side of Coun Nick Martin asked the Salt Way will also be the site of a a point of discussion for residents
the crossing will incur three pen- highways department to investi- children's centre serving the north- and the 8 councillors representing
gate schemes in other parts of the ern part of West Swindon. the area. The next meetings take
country where volunteers are Carol Hill from Pearl Road ex- place on 10 July and 11 September.
SueLynn trained to use speed guns and re- pressed concern that these differ- To raise items contact one of the
port the results to the police to take
ent uses will generate a lot more
councillors on page 4.
For tailor made I action. He said, "from what I've Six West & North councillors join Swindon Council's cabinet
Partners
heard, seeing people in yellowjack-
ets tooled up with speed guns has
Leader of Council Roderick Bluh (Dorcan), retains the Economic Devel-
behaviour."
Curtains • Pelmets been effective in changing driver opment, Regeneration and Development portfolio, and has appointed
seven local councillors to his cabinet:
The meeting heard that a peli-
Roman blinds can crossing is being considered Peter Greenhalgh (Freshbrook & Grange Park) - Highways
Swags & tails for Roughmoor Way between both Nick Martin (Shaw & Nine Elms) - Finance & Resources
sides of Old Shaw Lane, to create a Gary Perkins (Shaw & Nine Elms) - Chi/drens'Services
Cushion covers
safer route to Brook Field and Shaw David Renard (Haydon Wick) - Hea/th, Housing& Social Care
Measuring and fitting advice Ridge Primary Schools. Justin Tomlinson (Abbey Meads) - Leisure, Culture & Recreation
No job too small Coun Martin said it was always Steve Wakefield (Toothill) - Grants & Community Affairs
For further information call the council's concern to utilise the David Wren (Moredon) - Loca/Environment
Sue: 01793 870451 Salt Way Primary School site for The deputy leader is Fionuala Foley (Lawn) - Corporate Affairs
educational purposes, and not
or Lynn: on 01793 330595
housing as has been rumoured.
1 Windmill Hill answers back
Tim Poole, chairman of governors at Windmill Hill Primary School, says
the campaign to keep the school open continues and wants to correct
misleading statements made during the recent election campaign.
G wdcDWe. Statutory Consultation on Swin- of our staff, governors and pupils,
but again totally untrue.
don Council's proposal to close
the school concludes at the end of At Windmill Hill we have never
May and the proposal and any ob- selected children based on resi-
jections will then go before the dential or ability criteria. Subject
Schools' Organisation Committee, to usual sibling arrangements we
probably sometime early in July. have always filled on a first come
We were disappointed but not first served basis. Our admissions
surprised with the decision to pro- are managed / monitored by Swin-
ceed as discussions with both don LEA. Of our 205 children, some
James Butcher Housing Association provides Freshbrook School and the LEA 115 come from Freshbrook, 58 from
a wide range of quality, affordable homes for had come to nothing. Grange Park, 14 from Toothill and
But we were also very concerned 18 from other areas.
rent or purchase in central southern England. by the number of incorrect state- We are all for robust politics but
ments made about the school by misinformation, and publicjudge-
We currently hold a waiting list for our two prospective and current council- ments on individual members of
rented sheltered housing schemes in Swindon lors on the doorstep in May's local staff, have no place in this debate.
election campaign. Two examples: Parents of Windmill Hill con-
and hold a joint waiting list with the local
• Governors have acted in an un- tinue the campaign with a trip to
authority for all other properties in Swindon. derhand way, not having adver- London to present to the Minister
tised nationally as is required for a of State for Education and Skills a
Tel: 01672 515622 or email headteacher before making an ap- 1,200 signature petition to save the
[email protected] , quoting reference pointment. Not true. We adver- school.
tised on a nationally recognised Windmill Hill School has been
marl/link for more information.
education recruitment website consistently successful and is cur-
which attracted over 380 initial rently in the top five schools in the
enquiries. borough as measured by SAT re-
James Butcher • Our academic results have been sults. We believe it is only right
Housing Association achieved by selecting children that this success and strong lead-
from Grange Park as opposed to ership within the school are recog-
Providing accommodation throughout the central and south of England. Freshbrook and other areas. Not nised in any reorganisation plans.
A charity, incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society No. 16602 R. only is this insulting to people liv- The LEA appears to believe oth-
ing in Freshbrook, including many erwise.