Page 10 - link magazine

Public meeting to set out campaign to save Battle lines drawn
Lydiard Park from intrusive housing A campaign has been launched for
St Andrew’s Ridge ward to break
People concerned about proposals away from Blunsdon St Andrew
by Taylor Wimpey to build houses Parish Council.
close to Lydiard Park have their This would form a new elected
chance to express their viewpoint parish council which would be able
about the project at a public meet- to raise its own money for amenities
ing on Wednesday 2 September, by its own council tax precept. It
6pm, at Lydiard Millicent Primary has not yet been decided if it would
School SN5 3LR. be St Andrew’s Ridge Parish Council
Organiser Tim Swinyard, Swindon or St Andrew's Parish Council.
councillor for Lydiard and Fresh- The move, which has taken the
brook said: “Local councillors from long established Blunsdon St
Swindon and Wiltshire have tried to Andrew Parish Council by surprise,
work with Taylor Wimpey to ensure is spearheaded by Conservative
the view from the park is not ruined Vera Tomlinson, who is one of the
by a new housing estate, but to no Swindon borough ward councillors
avail. They are determined to push for St Andrew’s.
forward with a planning application She said: “People have been com-
to Wiltshire Council in the Autumn. Protest in December 2014, from left, Wiltshire councillor Mollie Groom, ing to me for the past 18 months
“I hope people who live on both James Gray MP, Robert Buckland MP and Swindon councillors saying they felt undervalued by
sides of the boundary between Tim Swinyard and Nick Martin Blunsdon Parish Council and that
Swindon and north Wiltshire will they didn’t feel represented.
come together to discuss how to includes using only 11 per cent of rural setting. “They asked if I would help
prevent this application being suc- their land holding and giving the rest “The government’s planning policy and I’m now spearheading the
cessful, and Swindon further intrud- to Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council. gives protection to communities. campaign. At the moment we are
ing beyond its present boundary.” South Swindon MP Robert Both Swindon Council and Wiltshire collecting signatures and people
Taylor Wimpey held a public con- Buckland said: “It really is deeply Council have agreed local plans have been uniformly supportive on
sultation meeting in November to disappointing that the developer which do not include development the doorstep about the move saying
show off their plans for land in their is intent on ignoring the views of next to Lydiard Park. Any application they would much prefer to have
ownership for well over 20 years, residents and the Friends of Lydiard that runs contrary to a sound local their own representation to deal
with a second in early June showing Park. The house and park are a jewel plan should be rejected.” with the issues that affect them.
refinements to their proposals for in Swindon’s heritage, and any Robert Buckland MP and James “This would mean that we would
48 two to five bedroom houses. This planning decision must recognise its Gray MP hope to attend the meeting. be able to raise our own precept

10 swindonlink.com n September 2015