Page 17 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • June 2008 17

no newts found, Shaw Ridge is underway
At last, a year behind schedule, building work has started on the new Shaw Ridge Primary School.
After the hurried decision to shut to take precautionary measures been reserved for a Roman Catholic want it to all fall into place without
Salt Way Primary in July 2006 and because rare and protected Great primary over 30 years ago - trapping a hitch.
transfer the children to Shaw Ridge, Crested newts had been found in measures had to be put in place over “We’re very excited that work
where a collection of brand new two ponds within 250 metres of the winter. has now started.”
mobiles were installed, Swindon the site for the new school. As it Although frogs and common In late April two old mobiles
Council discovered that it had had never been built upon - it had newts were found, not one of the were taken away and contractors
Shaw Ridge Primary with the site of the new school marked. Upper Shaw Farm social great crested variety was discov- started to remove over 200 tree
hall, top left, is due to close once community facilities open in the new school ered. The no newt news is a great stumps ready for groundworks to
relief to headteacher Sally Cowell, start. There is evidence of a Roman
right. “It has been intensely frus- trackway in the area and archae-
trating for everybody but we’re ologists and environmentalists are
new build putting all the hold ups behind us. keeping a watching brief on the site.
site The council architects, the builders If all goes to plan the new Shaw
and all the others involved are so Ridge will be ready for occupation
focussed on this project that we in September 2009.

School entrance to be made safer

Traffic consultants Halcrow have proposed that the speed limit on Tad-
pole Lane in North Swindon should be reduced from 60 to 50 mph.
Swindon councillors have asked officers to investigate extra measures
to reduce traffic speed on the road, at the entrance to Brimble Hill and
Uplands Special Schools and the Mayfly Road junction.
Staff at the two special schools expressed their concerns to the council
in September following numerous near misses involving school buses
and a petition had been raised calling for Swindon Council to act before
a serious accident.
No date has been set for the change in speed limit. See the full story
with pictures at www.swindonlink.com