Page 7 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • February 2010 7
Copenhagen - climate change - scarce resources - 5,500 houses

to the west and north of Swindon: they’re connected

The Copenhagen climate change conference in December might seem a long time ago for many who have been more concerned
with staying warm in January, but for Richard Pagett from Purton, who attended the event, the connections are all too real.
Some may shrug and say what We need to think about how and now. Swindon’s current problems It is a crazy, unsustainable place.
happened at Copenhagen was from where we obtain our food, began with the planning reality of And adding thousands more houses
irrelevant to us here in Swindon - how we manage waste, where our the 1960s and 70s; no blame as they in the wrong place will exacerbate
they would be wrong, very wrong. water comes from, our approach to did not know. But we do, today. the problem - the increased carbon
The inability of nations to work ‘work,’ how we deal with the need It is sheer folly to plan for 3,000 emissions due to unnecessary
together for the common good for to travel, how we manage health to 5,500 houses to the north/west travel; the eating up of valuable and
whatever reason has profound care, education and welfare and of Swindon until there is a serious irreplaceable agricultural land, the
consequences for Swindon. Being much more. attempt to understand what is urbanisation of adjacent villages as
realistic, the future climate of the We have to start with housing. currently wrong: a simple tour of commuters use short-cuts, the lack
planet is not going to be determined When it is allocated to a particular the business parks and industrial of community and so on.
by what we do or do not emit in the location it triggers the need for estates indicates limited local work The South West Regional Spatial
UK; it will be determined by others work places, shopping, schools, opportunities; the congestion at Strategy (SW RSS) was a deeply
(mostly China and India). surgeries, public transport, roads peak periods as thousands have flawed and undemocratic docu-
Most in the UK do not feel that etc. We sow the seeds of problems to travel to their workplace away ment: with thousands of unresolved
their lifestyles are related histori- for the future. from the town; the bussing of school objections it could not be anything
cally to the consequences now being Never before have we had the children in their hundreds away else. The current housing numbers
felt by Bangladesh, the Maldives knowledge to realise this - we do from where they live. for the Swindon area come from
and Tuvalu. In the future big pol- the SW RSS and the planning
luters will not lose sleep as we, in Delays set for town’s ‘western by-pass’ authorities simply acquiesce and
Britain, begin to experience black- run around looking for space to
outs, fuel and food shortages, over- put them. Let’s think a bit, please.
crowding and natural disasters. There are thousands of houses
Let us be very clear, we do already allocated but yet to be
have a problem not just of climate built in Swindon. There is no need
change - serious enough - but also for more, other than to fulfil some
of resources. All over the world thoughtless planning schedule that
there is competition for gas, food, should now recognise the future
minerals etc. We cannot assume that and be tossed into the bin labelled
a country with a stock of a particular ‘what were you thinking?’
resource will continue to supply us Two hundred houses to be built by Wain Homes have already been agreed Thousands of additional houses
in the UK, as in the past. in principal by Wiltshire Council for Moredon Bridge - between Thames- to the north or west of Swindon
Simply having the money to pay down Drive and the railway bridge on Purton Road. Access on the single makes no sense, lacks credibil-
is only part of the package of ben- carriageway, above, will be a left-in from the north and a priority junction ity and flies in the face of climate
efits that countries look for when right turn lane with central island from the west. X marks the spot below. change reality and of fragile, future
they export. Political acceptance resources.
of unsavoury practices, assistance
with a difficult neighbour, acqui-
escence on some arms trade and Coate battle continues
so on may also be ‘part of the deal.’ Redrow and Persimmon Homes
The snow in January highlighted x want to build 960 homes and a busi-
our susceptibility and our response. ness park between Coate Water and
Did you notice how many people the Great Western Hospital.
couldn’t get to work, yet the su- Last year their plan for 1,800
permarkets were humming with homes and land for a university
people clearing the shelves? River campus was rejected by central
Never before has there been a bet- Ray government, after a huge campaign.
ter time to re-think the way things This time developers do not pro-
get done. It’s about more than just pose to build next to the park and
emission reduction and renewables. have started a consultation exercise.

More houses targeted at Grange Park?
Up to 250 houses could be built by Persimmon Homes on a field next to Head RusH
Hook Street, between Lydiard Park and King Henry Drive, Grange Park.
In the early 1980s the site Lydiard HaIR & BeauTY
was proposed for a primary Park
school until residents objected Grange Latest styles, realistic prices, great service
to the idea. Park Cutting • Colouring - tints - foils • Perms
Les Durrant, MD of planning X • Extensions • Bridal hair • Children’s haircuts Julie, Sheralee, Gemma
consulting group DPDS, said the
site has always been part of the Tel: 602552
western expansion. “Our clients Freshbrook 73 Basepoint, Rivermead, Westlea, West Swindon
are considering if the site is suit- Windmill
able for development. If it were Hill Behind Spectrum ‘Renault’ building
to come forward, the proximity of Free parking • Late night Wednesday & Thursday
Lydiard Park and existing hous- Cash or cheque payments only
ing would be closely considered.”
See more images and reaction Interested in renting a chair? Call Gemma
at www.swindonlink.com

1 - 21 February 10.indd 7 22/01/2010 11:09