Page 8 - link magazine

8 Relaunching soon: www.swindonlink.com

Will Thamesdown Drive ever meet the Great Western Way?
The inexorable growth of North Swindon is putting increasing pressure on vehicular access to the town centre and Mead Way through West
Swindon, which - at rush hour - has become a traffic clogged by-pass from the A419 to the town centre and the M4.
With another 4,000 homes still sewage works. Whilst relief is in The greater traffic flow is prov- and strategic planning, believes the
to be built in Priory Vale the pres- the plans, will this new road ever ing frustrating for many people. cost will be much greater. “Al-
sure on residential areas in the be built? Dave Smith from The Bramptons though the developers have con-
West will continue to grow. The Part of the Section 106 legal said traffic volumes are increasing tributed to the cost of construction
regional planning enquiry presently agreement between Swindon each week. “With more people there is a significant funding short-
sitting in Exeter could allocate more Council and the North Swindon travelling to and from North Swin- fall. The estimates I’ve been given
houses to the north and west of Development Company was a £15 don, and using Mead Way as a range from £60m to £100 million.
Swindon. Gridlock beckons. million contribution to construc- short cut from the A419 to the M4, “We are considering a number
A new two mile link road is on tion. Link sources suggest it could there are more vehicles flowing of major capital road building
the plans. This would run from the be built for around £22 million, through residential areas. projects, not least ensuring im-
western end of Thamesdown Drive assuming all the land is in council “We know of the Thamesdown proved access to and within the
at Purton Road across the River ownership and there is no con- Drive to Barnfield link road, but town centre. There is still an inten-
Ray floodplain, over or under the tamination to be dealt with. The people need to know when it will tion to have an improved route
railway line, to join Great Western cost of paying Railtrack to cross be built.” from North Swindon to link the
Way at Barnfield between the new the railway line could also be pro- The proposed DSA driving test A419 and Great Western Way to
B&Q store and the Thames Water hibitive. centre, see below, will add to the the motorway. But I believe we
extra traffic flow in and out of West will require significant govern-
Swindon. ment investment as the costs are in
Abbey Meads Dental Practice Coun Peter Greenhalgh, cabinet excess of what a council of our size
member for highways, transport could possibly afford.”
Restorative, Preventive & Cosmetic Dentistry The former Swindon Services site at Barnfield, where B&Q has relocated, next to
the Thames Water sewage works. The arrows indicate a possible route of the
Thamesdown Drive extension. The sale of the Barnfield site is paying for the new
NHS Dentistry Swindon central library which is due to open in 2008

(for children) Great Western Way
➚
Free Car Park
01793 726288 ➚

Abbey Meads Village Centre, Swindon Swindon to Gloucester line ➚
Cheney Manor
➚
Industrial Estate

Learn to drive in West Swindon
You can foster The Driving Services Agency (DSA) has applied to Swindon Council
to relocate its Old Town test centre to Hillmead, next to the former
It’s one of the most rewarding Cellular Operations/Arclight building on Roughmoor Way.
If built it will be one of the new generation driver test centres which
experiences you will ever have will incorporate an area where motorcycle riders will be tested under
standard conditions by undertaking manoeuvres on a dedicated site.
A car manoeuvre area is also included on the plans.
What we offer A major implication for West Swindon is the increase in traffic
volumes due to the number of learner drivers and motorcycle riders
from across the Swindon region visiting the test centre and practicising
● 24-hour support
on nearby roads.
● On-going training Mead Way is already very busy and with Arclight building soon to
house about 200 HSM call centre employees, there will be more traffic
● Allowances from £335 a week on Tewkesbury Way and Peatmoor Way, passing housing and schools.
● Regular respite Drive by fast food planned for North Swindon
● Monthly support group meetings At the third time of asking McDonalds has applied to build a
restaurant and drive-through outlet in North Swindon.
● Organised activities for children Previous attempts to build on the commercial site at junction 5 on
and carers Thamesdown Drive were blocked by residents’ protests, but this time
they want to build at the North Swindon District Centre, close to the
fuel station.
Abbey Meads councillor Justin Tomlinson, who led previous pro-
Tel: 0800 032 4661 tests, said, “with a pizza restaurant at the district centre, the grounds for
objecting to another fast food outlet are limited. There are already
precedents for restaurants and drive-throughs at retail parks. But we
e: [email protected] have told McDonalds that their standard ‘kit’ building would not be
www.communityfostercare.co.uk acceptable. They are proposing a bespoke design for the site.”
Plans can be viewed at Premier House, Station Road, Monday to Friday
9.30am to 4.30pm or online at www.swindon.gov.uk

1 June 07 8 17/5/07, 2:41 pm