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Residents’ traffic survey shows Ridgeway Farm is a recipe for traffic chaos
Ever since the planning application for Ridgeway Farm was submitted, people have been saying that adding 700 houses onto West Swindon, in
Wiltshire, north of Peatmoor, would result in traffic gridlock.
This point was largely ignored at Kevin added: “Since 80 per cent of
the planning appeal in Spring 2012 traffic that uses Purton Road between
which was later decided in favour of Sparcells and Swinley Drive - which
housing developer Taylor Wimpey. will be closed once the development
But Shaw Residents’ Association is complete - comes from the direction
(SRA) has pursued the issue by of Thamesdown Drive, the Sparcells
organising a survey by volunteers to north roundabout is very likely to
show that the development will have become gridlocked as this traffic tries
a major impact on roads to the west to negotiate the new road through
of Swindon. Site for future jams as a result of Ridgeway Farm: Sheriden Fisher and Chris Ridgeway Farm.”
Their report Ridgeway Farm – A Snowden counting cars at Sparcells north roundabout The SRA have been calling for the
Recipe for Gridlock details traffic vol- practice of designating it as a ‘local ing double yellow lines on both sides Ridgeway Farm Spine Road to take
ume at Sparcells Roundabout, Purton distribution road’ of at least 6.75m of the entire length of the road, as well a different route to the north east of
Road, Swinley Drive, Stone Lane wide with no house frontages, they as including raised curbs and bollards the site for many months. Predicting
and Common Platt and concludes have 54 dwellings fronting it which to hinder verge parking. Taylor Wimpey will refuse to make
the design of the roads through the will create dangers for pedestrians and The report points out the con- changes, the association is calling on
development is totally inadequate. drivers alike from speeding motorists. tradiction this presents in terms Swindon Council to implement radi-
It argues that existing traffic flow “To combat this, Swindon and of removing obstacles to speeding cal traffic controls on Swinley Drive
will be disrupted and there will be Wiltshire road experts insisted this motorists. Yet the narrowness of to prevent traffic taking alternative
backlogs of vehicles at Sparcells north busy road should be just 6.5m wide the road along with the inevitable routes through West Swindon. Wilt-
roundabout. - narrower than Swinley Drive, Peat- delays caused by parked vehicles, shire Council needs to do the same
SRA chair Kevin Fisher said: “Tay- moor (6.75m) or Mead Way (7.3m). cars entering and exiting driveways, to protect Common Platt, Washpool,
lor Wimpey chose to route the spine It means any vehicles parked on the numerous pedestrian crossings and Stone Lane and Lydiard Millicent.
road from Mead Way into Wiltshire spine road will block the flow of two- a ‘shared space’ at the centre of the The need to build the Thamesdown
right through the middle of their de- way traffic.” development means traffic travelling Drive extension to Barnfield Road is
velopment. Contrary to good design Taylor Wimpey are now consider- into and away from Swindon is going regarded as a matter of urgency.” (See
to be slowed right down. story on page 10).
Shaw Residents’ Association Annual General Meeting, 1 July, 8.30pm The spine road will also be a bus Read the full SRA report at www.
Shaw Village Hall (next to the medical centre), Pilgrim Close, Shaw route. shawresidents.org.uk
Report on the year’s activity, election of committee members
Early morning traffic survey at the Common Platt junction on the B4553

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