Page 2 - link magazine

2 swindonlink.com • August 2010

NEW TO Hope that green fields to the west can be saved
WEST SWINDON After years of publicity in The Link, and several public meetings earlier this year, there is hope that pro-
posals to build 3,000 houses on the edge of Swindon, in Wiltshire, can be stopped.
Under the Labour government’s top-down planning system. “It proposed by Swindon as part of
Regional Spatial Strategy for long was a terrible, expensive, time- the town’s ‘western expansion’ in
term development (RSS) planners consuming way to impose house the early 1980s.
at Wiltshire Council pursued a building and worst of all threatened Wiltshire councillors represent-
policy to create urban extensions the destruction of green belt.” ing the Purton area are arguing
Fine Indian restaurant and takeaway to the town - 800 houses at Ridge- In Parliament Justin Tomlinson that previously agreed green belt
bar lounge way Farm, north of Peatmoor, and said new methods are needed to policies should be reinstated.
NOW OPEN AT another 2,000 at Pry Farm, further balance the need for housing and At a full meeting of Swindon
SHAW RIDGE LEISURE PARK north on either side of the B4553 prevent rampant development. In Council on 15 July, a resolution
close to Purton. the Commons he referred to the lack by Coun Nick Martin was agreed
To book call: 01793 872872 or 872870
Now the government has an- of green space in North Swindon, requiring the council to rewrite its
FREEPHONE nounced the RSS will be killed off. the problems people experience core planning strategy with em-
0800 0281523
Communities secretary Eric Pickles with unfinished roads and the lack phasis on lower levels of housing
Clivey ad - AUG10 qx:Layout 1 12/7/10 10:23 Page 1
described it as a failed Soviet style of parking. He is calling for a bond growth whilst allowing large scale
system where developers pay in development only if there is signifi-
advance for site maintenance and cant financial contribution towards
completion. infrastructure by developers and
Robert Buckland said he supports government.
government proposals to create
incentives for communities. “Coun- Wiltshire Council has to
cils should be offered significant debate Ridgeway Farm
financial incentives by developers petition - sign now
to accept new housing so that they
will have the funds to create the In June 2010, a new duty on local
necessary infrastructure, providing authorities came into force requir-
existing residents participate fully ing councils to pay more attention
in consultation on any proposals.” to petitions.
Taylor Wimpey Homes has al- In the past they have often been
ready produced outline plans for dismissed as a product of a few
Ridgeway Farm and a full planning maverick individuals, but no longer.
application is expected. With councils being given more
The present boundary with responsibility for local planning
Wiltshire was determined at a plan- decisions, they have also been
ning enquiry in 1986. However the told by government that the elec-
developers will no doubt argue that torate’s viewpoint has to be taken
a degree of planning precedent was more into account. And Wiltshire
set when the area was originally Council has to listen to what
Swindon folk say because they’ll
Toothill to benefit be affected by planning decisions.
Wiltshire has set its figure to
from huge boost trigger a full council debate at
There will be an announcement 2.5% of the population (about
11,500 signatures).
by the national lottery at the end To get the Ridgeway Farm de-
of July which will offer Toothill a bate into the council chamber as
major investment in community soon as possible, environmental
development. group Purton P&Qs has set up a
Unfortunately the official notice
will be made after The Link goes petition for you to sign at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/peti-
to press and we are unable to tion/ridgewayfarm/
provide the details. However they
will be publicised at www.swin- See also www.purtoninfo.org.uk
donlink.com and www.swindonlink.com

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