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Mouldon Hill: the making of a park

A project to complete another ma- ry. For nearly 30 years the Swindon planting on the hill itself is largely and deciding what kind of visitor is going to make in our thirtieth
jor park in Swindon will take a big & Cricklade Railway Society have complete. The higher ground is an facilities can be provided. year; it’s the fruits of many years FEB to EASTER
step forward in the Spring when been working on a grand plan to outcrop of coral rag covered with a Cars parked next to the entrance labour by a lot of people.” Diesel and brake van rides to
Swindon Council completes a car restore the railway along the line thin layer of topsoil, unlike the clay by the locked gates on Thames- Whilst the railway will enter the see engineering works every
park to provide greater access to between the two towns, with a sta- that we all know. We were never down Drive are a familiar site, but park from the north, the canal re- Saturday & Sunday and on
the public. tion at Mouldon Hill. sure how well the trees would following completion of a tarmac development has been taking place
Up to now Mouldon Hill has The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust grow, but they’ve really taken off. footpath and cycle route into the on the southern edge. Wednesday 20 February
been something of a secret, known has been restoring sections of the If you walk along the top of the hill park from Taw Hill in December, Volunteers dug out the canal in Blunsdon
to dog walkers, ramblers, and re- canal between Bath and Newbury, there are some dense planting ar- permission has been given to build the late 1990s and a canal bridge Station
Tadpole Lane
grettably roving vandals. and also the North Wilts spur that eas and wide footpaths with views a car park to give people greater was built beyond the end of
The area was identifi ed in the ran from Swindon to the Thames & to Oakhurst, Cricklade, Taw Hill, access to Mouldon Hill. Tel: 771615
North Swindon master plan in Severn canal, north of Cricklade. Sparcells and the town centre. Volunteers have laid railway Trains: 11am-4pm
Cafe, shop and
the late 1980s to provide the major They have set 2020 as their target “We’re now looking at the de- track to within half a mile of the free parking
open space for the area and work date to achieve this aim. tails such as building junior foot- park, running from Blunsdon Licenced for weddings & naming ceremonies
has been going on slowly ever The vision to create a major lei- ball pitches close to the entrance Russell Weymouth at Mouldon Hill Park lake in December Station parallel to Oakhurst. www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org
since. sure site continues, despite the fact A route has been defi ned by
that a £15 million Route of ballast laid about ten years ago,
bid to the Nation- railway but because the line deviates BLAYLOCKS
al Lottery Living Taw Hill from the original railway that
Landmarks Fund ran from Cricklade to Swindon SWINDON’S FAMILY
to create the Crick- Old Town, the society is faced SHOE SHOP
lade Country Way Aquaduct with negotiating complex and Est. 1920
was turned down over the Proposed visitor possibly expensive permission
in November. The River Ray centre & railway to bring track into the park. STOCKISTS OF ALL
organisations in- station They propose a station with LEADING BRANDS
volved with the three platforms so that more Planting for the future. Community tree plant
project - Swin- than one train can run at the at Mouldon Hill in February 1998 NEW SPRING RANGES
don Borough and same time. organised by the Great Western NOW ARRIVING
North Wilts Dis- Jim Poor, chairman of the Community Forest and the Woodland Trust
Railway track bed leading into the park laid in the early 1990s trict Council, the Swindon & Cricklade Trust, which Thamesdown Drive by the North BLAYLOCKS
railway society, Car park - opening is responsible for building the in- Swindon Development Company. Bath Road Corner
As the fi rst houses were being the canal trust, the Great Western Spring 2008 Woodhall frastructure of the railway, said, Last year new wing walls next to
occupied in Abbey Meads and a Community Forest, and other part- Park “we envisaged in our lottery bid the road bridge were constructed Old Town
start on building at Taw Hill was ners - are pursuing their plans with that trains could be running to and to improve access for canal boats to Tel: 534271
made in 1994, the North Swin- as much coordination as possible. from Mouldon Hill in 2009 and pass underneath.
don Development Company was Site survey work was carried Thamesdown Drive we are confi dent that we can still Over the next year volunteers
already digging out the lake as out with a £250,000 lottery grant, achieve this aim. will be excavating more of the ca- Swindon’s widest choice
a fl ood storage area for Haydon awarded to develop the fi nal bid “A new build of a preserved rail- nal and rebuilding the aquaduct of discounted
brook which runs between the new which means much of the planning way is quite rare and we’re having over the River Ray and an opening Art & Craft
build area and the existing housing has been done. It’s just that the re- to work out all the legal issues at ceremony is being planned for late
in Greendmeadow, Haydon Wick alisation of the dream might not be present. The other major difference Spring to coincide with the open- products
and Woodhall Park. as quick as hoped because funds is that instead of using contractors ing of the Mouldon Hill car park.
The land was also identifi ed for to build the different elements to do the work, more will have to How to get involved Framework Art & Craft
leisure uses by Swindon Council now have to come from different be done by volunteers. NOW LOCATED AT
because of its close relationship sources. “We will have to operate from With the opening up of Mouldon Unit 35 BSS House
with the former Midland & South Swindon Council landscape ar- a temporary station at fi rst but in Hill, the organisations involved Cheney Manor, Swindon
West Railway and the Wilts & chitect Russell Weymouth said the Purton about 18 months we hope to trans- want residents and volunteers to See & feel the products
Berks canal which both skirted the council’s commitment to complet- North Wilts Canal Road port people from Mouldon Hill to be involved in its future develop- before you buy, and get
edge of the area in the 19th Centu- ing Mouldon Hill is as strong as Bridge Southdown Lane, south of Crick- ment, whether it be helping lay rail- personal advice from our
ever. “We’re look- lade, which is nearly four times the way track, cutting grass along the knowledgeable & friendly staff
Mouldon Hill and the Cricklade Country Way to the north ing at what can be The plan for Mouldon Hill Country Park distance people can travel at pres- canal towpath, or reporting vandal- Well worth a visit!
achieved with the submitted to the National Lottery Living ent; it will be a fantastic attraction. ism and picking up litter. Tel/Fax 01793 513069
funding now avail- Landmarks (with added annotations) “Society members are very excit- Public meetings are being www.purplenimbus.co.uk
able and are coor- ed about the progress the railway planned for later in the year. Ken
dinating with the Oliver of the Cricklade Country
railway society and A canal in the town centre? Way said, “we are very keen to talk
canal trust to ensure to local residents’ groups in and Line Dance
we move forward to- Swindon Council’s cabinet will discuss a report from engineering across North and West Swindon. with
consultants Halcrow as to whether a canal could be dug through the
gether. town centre 90 years after it was closed. We’d like input to make sure the Midnight Cowboys
“The council has design for different aspects of the
The proposal is to create a brand new route along Faringdon Road,
£0.75 million allo- which will require two locks to be dug on Westcott Place to transfer boats park will fulfi l the needs of the local Tuesday: Even Swindon, 7.00
cated from the Sec- from the level of the original canal at the bottom of Kingshill. community.” Community Centre Jennings
tion 106 money paid The Halcrow report will have to set out a new traffi c management plan To offer help or to fi nd out more, Street (off Rodbourne Road)
by the North Swin- to cope with the vast number of vehicles which currently use the main call him on 0845 2268567. Wednesday: Highworth, 7.00
don house builders artery from the west into the town centre. www.crickladecountryway.org.uk Thursday: Coleview 7.00
when the develop- If the proposals are adopted, the next phase would be to set up an www.wbct.org.uk Community Centre, Nythe Road
ment plans were fi rst implementation group. The cost would be about £50 million, with two www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org Step by step instruction for
agreed. thirds of the expenditure on the canal build and the remainder on re- absolute beginners. Weekend
“The overall de- routing services. Ken Oliver of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust said Take a walk round Mouldon Hill with socials in Highworth and Swindon
sign for Mouldon technically the canal could be dug and traffi c re-routed could be achieved Swindon Rangers. See details on
Hill has been in with in fi ve years but the project is very much subject to funding issues, page 25 For more details
place since 1996 and public support and political will. Railway heads north - see page 22 Ring Lewis Watson on 764732
the lake and the tree Ten years of teaching!

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