Page 5 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • March 2011 5
Watch out for home lead thieves Crest to conduct North Swindon

In November police appealed for information on criminals stealing Tadpole Farm consultation in March
lead from four West Swindon Primary Schools, now they are warning
householders to be vigilant for thieves stripping lead flashing from house Housing developers Crest Nicholson will be holding a series of meet-
porches and garage roofs. ings and displays on their proposals to build around 1,700 houses and
There have been reports from all over Swindon and in particular homes provide five hectares of employment land, community facilities and
at Beverley in Toothill. major open space areas for public use at Tadpole Farm.
If you see anything suspicious - particularly people up ladders appear- Swindon Borough Council has Association to discuss the consulta-
ing to dismantle perfectly good structures - let the police know at the included the site, north of Oakhurst tion exercise and where and when
West Swindon South Neighbourhood Police Team on 0845 408 7000. and Redhouse, in its Core Strategy presentations of the plan should
for forward planning. take place.
In February the developers met
The details were not available
Core Strategy scrutiny by civic voice with ward councillors and represen- as The Link went to press but the
In advance of public consultation by Swindon Council’s planners on tatives of Blunsdon Parish Council, dates and venues will be publicised
the forward planning Core Strategy for the town, Swindon Civic Voice Haydon Wick Parish Council, through residents’ groups, leaflet
- formerly Swindon Civic Trust - is organising two public meetings Redhouse Residents’ Association, drops and at www.swindonlink.com
for community groups to examine the plan. Oakhurst Residents’ Association • Oakhurst residents Tadpole Farm
Civic Voice chair Lisa Hawkes, ‘consultation group’ in Swindon and Rodbourne Cheney Residents’ get together - see page 7.
who used to be a Swindon council- Council’s useless and often ig-
lor and also chair of the planning nored ‘Statement of Community Parking outside Brook Field School
committee said, “my initial reaction Involvement.’” out of bounds
to the Core Strategy document is Swindon Civic Voice is holding a
‘must try harder.’ There is little meeting for community group Swindon Council’s highways department has painted yellow lines along
detail and inadequate explanation representatives interested in the part of Cartwright Drive, outside Brook Field Primary School in Shaw,
of policy proposals. future development of the town to prevent people from parking on a busy bus route.
“And several questions need on 9 April, followed by a feedback Nine Elms resident Jo Osorio, who has raised the issue for many
urgent answers such as what com- meeting on 7 May. years said, “at last buses will no longer have to ride over the curb onto
munity organisations and individu- For details, or if your group would the grass verge to pass parked cars. It remains to be seen where parents
als have contributed to the drafting? like to send a representative, call and carers will park in future; I’m guessing it may be in Sandacre Road
Swindon Civic Voice certainly was Lisa Hawkes on 520592 or mail: which is on the same bus route, or streets off it.”
not asked, despite being listed as a [email protected]
Sure Start petition on the doorstep
North Swindon to get £700,000 Funding for Sure Start Children’s Centres is being reduced by Swindon
Council by up to 33 per centre in response to government cutbacks and
Redhouse community hall on the cards Neil Heavens from Freshbrook is raising a petition calling for this decision
to be reversed. He will be knocking on doors in Freshbrook and Grange
Coun Vera Tomlinson has secured £700,000 to be spent on community
projects in the Northern Development Area after Swindon Council’s Park asking residents for their support.
cabinet agreed that this was a fairer allocation from the millions the
council has gained from housing developers under planning permis-
sion Section 106 agreements.
In 2009 she was told that
North Swindon could look
forward at best to £100,000
for community facilities, but
that was before she started a
lobbying campaign in the Civic
Office corridors of power. “I
can tell you I was angry when
I was told of the paltry amount
originally set aside for North
Swindon,” said coun Tomlin-
son. “It has been a long hard
battle but with the support of
Justin Tomlinson MP and my Vera and Justin Tomlinson at the completed
two fellow ward councillors first phase of Redhouse Village Centre
Peter Heaton-Jones and Peter • Redhouse association takes mea-
Stoddart, it was one we were de- sured approach to plans - page 8
termined to win on behalf of our
residents. I should mention that No more offices
Justin was pursuing this when he Land at Redhouse Village Centre
was a Swindon councillor before originally allocated for offices has
being elected MP . now been reallocated to housing
For the last two years Redhouse reports Coun Tomlinson.
residents have been lobbying coun- “Considering the office accom-
cillors for a much-needed commu- modation on Isambard roundabout
nity building at Redhouse Village has been standing empty for four
Centre. However councillors would years, despite all the marketing ef-
like to hear of other suggestions forts, I was prepared to fight hard
for community improvements for this change of land use.”
from people living in the area and She added that Swindon’s plan-
residents’ associations. Mail them ning department is in urgent talks
to Peter Heaton-Jones: peter@swin- with developers to finish the village
donconservatives.com centre, with a commitment to ensure
• Where’s the rest of the 106 cash? land is reserved for community use
asks The Link. See page 9 and a medical centre.

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