Page 5 - link magazine

The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com 5

College site scheme fills another Age Concern Swindon promises
gap in town centre rebirth £600,000 to older people
Hot on the heels of plans for town centre redevelopment at The Age Concern Swindon has pledged to put an extra £600,000 into the
Exchange around the bus station, and the Regent Place site between pockets of older people before April 2008 to mark the launch of its
Commercial Road and Regent Street, proposals for the 5 acre former ‘Your Rights’ campaign.
Swindon College site have been unveiled. The year-long campaign will Swindon, yet around £1.2 billion
To be called Regent build on previous years by help- of Council Tax Benefit went un-
Circus the develop- ing more residents than ever claim claimed by older people in the UK
ment lies at the head the benefits they are entitled to. last year, with up to two million
of The Promenade, The campaign will focus on differ- pensioners missing out.
the proposed cultural ent benefits every two months Age Concern Swindon offers
quarter within the starting with Council Tax Benefit clear, free and confidential help
New Swindon Com- and Housing Benefit during April and advice which can overcome
pany’s town centre and May. obstacles to making a claim. For
regeneration master Further increases in council tax details contact them at Number
plan. bills are once again stretching the One, Milton Road, Swindon or call
The planning ap- finances of many older people in 692166.
plication by Ashfield
Land and Parkridge West police teams reformed
Developments is cen- To comply with new Government requirements two Neighbourhood
tred around an 8 to 10 Police Teams (NPTs) have been established in West Swindon.
screen multiplex cin- Fourteen people turned up to a public meeting on 16 April to discuss
ema, retail units, 265 police issues in the West (North) NPT covering Shaw, Peatmoor,
apartments, a hotel, Sparcells.
restaurants, cafes and Apart from the need for better communication, the main issues raised
bars. were improving service from the 0845 4087000 call centre, dealing with
Eight hundred car parking retained, with offices on the upper graffiti, mini-motos on footpaths, anti-social behaviour, and better
spaces will replace the 95 surface level and a 30,000 food store be- facilities for young people.
level spaces presently on site. low. • The NPT meeting covering Toothill, Westlea, Freshbrook & Grange
An elliptical tower, right, will be As the developers own the free- Park on 24 April was organised too late for publicity in the April Link.
built after the 1960’s concrete and hold of the land, subject to plan- Taking on Toothill’s youth gangs
glass college building is demol- ning consent, construction could Due to continued youth anti-social behaviour around Toothill Village Centre, a
ished, wrapping around the site, begin this Autumn and the first second six month dispersal order has been imposed around the centre. The
opening up and linking the town units could open for business in order covers nearby Beaulieu Close where troublemakers gather and drugs
centre with Old Town up the hill. late 2008. dealing goes on, and also the Toothill Farm site. Anybody considered to be
The frontage of the old technical For the town centre plans see: acting inappropriately can be arrested if they do not obey instruction from the
school on Victoria Road will be www.newswindon.co.uk police to leave the area.

1 May 07 5 20/4/07, 11:30 am