Page 8 - link magazine

The Ridgeway Farm decision: where local democracy died a little
Richard Pagett from Purton, an environmental consultant who travels the world advising governments on developing policies to reduce the impact of global
warming, turns his focus on the profound impact of a change in government planning policy and the empty promise of localism - the British government’s
attempt to transfer more decision making to communities.
There is something very British about putting up with adversity, and making the best of a bad situation. Although often quite laudable, one of the
downsides is that those with something to gain simply take advantage.
And so it is with Ridgeway Farm venue and host it in the and it adds to village monument to planning blight.
on the edge of Swindon, but in parish yet could not even congestion. Yet we have There could be more planning
Wiltshire. The Planning Inspector last be bothered to respond. to make the best of bad decisions concerning green fields
November, using spurious grounds That is the nature of the job. in north Wiltshire. More nails into
for agreeing the development in the beast with which we are The third nail is the localism.
face of objections from Swindon now confronted. design of the Ridgeway See the Ridgeway Farm plan at:
Borough Council, Wiltshire Council, The second nail was the Farm spine road. It is www.bit.ly/rftwplan
Swindon and Wiltshire MPs, parish complete misfit posed by clearly a design-nonsense
councillors, groups, and individuals, the development with currently and needs to be Moredon Bridge application
was simply hitting the first nail in regard to education. re-routed around the to impact West Swindon
the coffin of localism: a little bit of Parents or guardians north and east of the Developer Wain Homes is trying
democracy died that day. have a choice about where to send development. It is far too narrow to get permission from Wiltshire
We are beginning to see the rest of their children to be educated. and with the number of driveways Council to build another 50 houses
the nails being hammered into place. At Ridgeway Farm they will live in and side roads will force on-road at Moredon Bridge between West
The Ridgeway Farm development the parish and being in the Bradon parking, congestion and hazards. and North Swindon on a field called
has no redeeming feature. We stood Forest catchment will be able to send We have seen this before in nearby Bradley Meadow.
They won permission to build
up and blew the whistle, loudly, before their children to the school in Purton, large developments. It is an accident 200 houses on appeal in 2008. At
and at the planning enquiry. We were if they so wish. Wiltshire Council will waiting to happen, it is so obvious. the time the planning inspector
heard, but not listened to. be obliged to lay on free transport - So what will happen? Drivers will do excluded the meadow next to River
This planning abuse is something we the distance being unreasonable and what drivers do, look for alternatives. Ray as it is a Site of Nature Conserva-
will have to live with for generations to unsafe to walk. The effects of this planning debacle tion Importance (SNCI).
come. The development is in Purton Yet a perfectly adequate, equivalent will be felt far and wide. If agreed this will add to the
parish and will have a profound effect school (Nova Hreod) lies within We have seen this all before. We difficulties of exiting the site onto
on our area, yet the first exhibition walking distance just over the border need to stay angry and not just Purton Road and add to Mead Way
by the developers was held in West in Swindon. Unnecessary bussing of accept the consequences. We need traffic congestion.
Swindon: a true victor’s justice. The children makes no sense: it creates to be heard and we need to ridicule See the full story and site pictures:
developers were requested to change pollution, it adds to climate change this development for what it is; a www.bit.ly/MBwain

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