Page 10 - link magazine

Redhouse Village Centre ‘at the heart of a community.‘ The reality: 33 more houses
Three public squares, two pubs, two restaurants and cafes, a medical centre, nursery, office units and a church surrounded by a green area, Redhouse
Village Centre was going to be a ‘vibrant and distinctive heart’ of Priory Vale, and it was going to be ready in 2007.
Sadly what was described in the Swindon councillors in March 2007, Read the full story at www.bit.ly/ about in their expensive glossy bro-
original glossy brochure promoting Chris Cain, project manager for land Redhousevc chures ten years ago. I’m glad that
Priory Vale in 2003 does not match owner Crest Nicholson had to re- In early April Crest secured per- the community centre is going ahead,
the reality. What has transpired spond to residents’ complaints about mission from council planners to there is a great need and keen interest
is Hairworks Salon, a Tesco con- the lack of progress on delivering use three unused plots for 33 houses, in using it, and I will continue to bring
venience store, chip shop, dentist the village-style shops and outdoor arguing there has been no commercial together Crest and Arkells Brewery
surgery and an estate agent. A unit cafes - as visualised in the marketing interest in providing the wide range of to agree a realistic price for the land.
let to a second estate agent remains material. He told people that Crest facilities originally envisaged. How- “House builders make all manner
empty, and another shop where a was following the design guide agreed ever a community centre, not in the of claims for future development and
pharmacy failed is now a community with Swindon Council planners in original plan, is to be built and a site people buy homes at a premium as a
cafe charity shop run by Uplands 2002. “Judgement should be made has been retained for a pub. result, but they can’t be prosecuted
School educational trust. when the village centre is complete North Swindon MP Justin Tom- under the Trade Description’s Act if
At a public meeting called by North in three years,” he said at the time. linson, who called the 2007 meeting they don’t deliver the promises. It’s
when he was a councillor for North an issue I’ve raised several times in
Swindon, said: “It’s extremely disap- Parliament.”
pointing that Crest has failed to See the original village centre plan
deliver the facilities that they bragged at: www.bit.ly/Redhousevc1
Justin Tomlinson with his mother Coun Vera Tomlinson at the first phase of
Redhouse Village Centre in 2011
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Find out more and see
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Katherine Walters
10 swindonlink.com • May 2013

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