Page 8 - link magazine

8 swindonlink.com • July 2008
West Forum to get the hump Play park plans come together
The West Swindon Forum will be reviewing the infamous road humps Sixty people turned up to Westlea
along Freshbrook Way at its meeting on Monday 14 July in the com- Park in the pouring rain on 30
munity suite at Link Centre. May to look at suggestions for
They were installed after a bad School in 2002, and have been a the redevelopment of the area and
accident involving a child crossing constant source of complaint. say what kind of equipment they
the road to Oliver Tomkins Junior Drivers complain about their would like to see installed.
height and the severity of the jolt Youngsters said they want to
when going over them, even at see the spiders web rope climb-
slow speeds, whilst residents living ing frame, their favourite piece of
off Rowton Heath Way have told equipment, kept on site.
councillors at the forum that the Goal posts and basketball hoops
road right outside Oliver Tomkins will be installed and parents said
has been turned into a rat run by they want the toddlers' play area
motorists avoiding the humps. moved closer to the play zone for
A zebra crossing outside the older children.
BOUNCY CASTLE HIRE school was installed in 2007 after
Delivered & Set-up discussion at the forum. Emma Howe and Lulu Morrissey view-
ing the plans with the Mayor Coun Steve
Fully Insured The decision by the council's cabi- Wakefield
1
Fully Certified & EL? Tagged net on 11 June about the future of
Parties Holidays Link and Oasis Leisure Centres will Haydon play park completed
also be discussed. At the last forum
_ BBQ5 Fetes meeting in May, ice skaters turned after years of controversy
Birthdays Any event
up in force to express their concern A much fought over piece of land in Haydon Wick has, at last, been
08445 869701 that the needs of ice hockey and ice turned into a play park.
07014 241703 dancers were not being listened to.
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FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION Swindon Mayor Steve Wakefield andRichnrri i ^ Viling the play area with
VALUATION, PLEASE CALL Haydonleigh Year 6 pupils.
PROPERTY SOLUTIONS Residents have been up in arms Coun Garry Perkins, cabinet
ON 07745 91 91 98 twice in the last decade about the member for children services, said
www. propertysolutions. moonfruit.com ground between Westfield Way funding for the project had been
and Haydonleigh Primary School. received in 2004. "After much dis-
In 1996 they protested when then cussion and a lot of hard work by
owners Wiltshire County Council the local school, community and
tried to sell it for commercial de- council officers I'm glad to see the
velopment before education was play area finally up and running."
handed over to Swindon Borough Richard Hailston said he was
Council in 1997. pleased that the facility is open at
Then in 2004, when Swindon last. "It's been a successful collabo-
Council and Hayden Wick Parish ration between the parish council
Council proposed a play area and and the primary school, providing
skatepark, people living nearby an important community asset to
protested loudly and a few wrote be enjoyed by young people in
hate mail to local councillors. the area."
Twelve years after the land was The management of the new
taken over by Swindon, in early facility is being undertaken jointly
June, the Mayor of Swindon Steve by the school and parish council,
Wakefield and Richard Hailstone, and will be covered by CCTV to
chairman of Hayden Wick Par- deter vandalism. The community
ish Council, unveiled a £196,000 can use the play area from 5pm to
skatepark and games area which 9pm during the week and between
will be available to the school dur- 9am and 9pm at weekends and in
ing the day and to the community school holidays
in the evenings, weekends and The project has been funded by
school holidays. a Big Lottery New Opportunities
It features a wooden ramp for Fund grant secured by Swindon
skateboarders and bike riders, and a Borough Council in 2007, and
multi-use games area which can be £25,000 donated by both Haydon
used for five-a-side football, basket- Wick Parish Council and ASDA
ball, tennis and other activities. Walmart.