Page 34 - link magazine

34 swindonlink.com • December 2009
Last chance
to comment on
Wiltshire plan for
Swindon’s border

Wiltshire Council is still propos-
ing to build another 3,000 homes to
the north of West Swindon, close to
Purton, as part of the preparation of
its Core Strategy plans which will
determine development up to 2026.
Despite proposals for huge
housing developments in different
parts of the country being delayed
by legal proceedings, planning
authorities continue to go through
a ‘consultation’ procedure to get
these strategy plans in place.
Swindon Council has agreed its
core strategy which promotes major
developments at Tadpole Farm,
north of Oakhurst and Redhouse
and to the east of the town.
The Link has highlighted several
times this year Wiltshire Council’s
idea to allocate land next to Peat-
moor and Sparcells at Ridgeway
Farm, and further north at Pry Farm
- beyond Swindon’s boundaries -
which could have huge effects on
the infrastructure of West Swindon
and the town more generally.
The Pry Farm plan could have
major impact on North Swindon as
road access might have to be created
from Oakhurst.
Environmental campaigners
in Purton strongly argue that it’s
important to preserve the character
and sustainability of the village
so it does not become a suburb of
Swindon.
Before the Wiltshire 2026 Core
Strategy is drawn up, the council
is displaying its plans for the final
time on:
Monday 30 November, 1pm to
7pm: Wootton Bassett (Civic
Centre);
Thursday 3 December, 1pm to 7pm:
Cricklade (town council office);
Saturday 5 December, 11am to
2pm: Purton Village Hall
Final comments on Wiltshire’s
Core Strategy scheme should be
submitted by 31 December.
Richard Padgett of environmen-
tal group Purton Ps&Qs said, “it’s
very important that as many people
from Swindon take a look at the
plans and express their views. What
is proposed for Ridgeway Farm and
Pry Farm will have a major effect on
the town as well as the countryside
close to Purton. Anything unsaid
now will come back to haunt us.”
• See The Link’s coverage of
Wiltshire Council proposals for the
Ridgeway and Pry farm sites at
www.swindonlink.com
• Initial work on building 200
houses at Moredon Bridge between
Sparcells and North Swindon, off
Moredon Road, has started.

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