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Community News

Changes to community facilities considered for Toothill

The Toothill Big Local (TBL) are supportive of the proposal and
committee, which has responsibility that it is sustainable.”
for spending a £1 million lottery Mick Fletcher, of Warnford
grant allocated to the area, is Close, said: “I like the idea of more
putting forward a number of options community facilities. Having it near
for enhancing facilities. to my home is interesting.”
These include replacing the Some people living in houses
existing Toothill Community Centre backing onto the site are not
at the village centre with flats, and impressed. Michael Browster, of
developing a community centre Beverley, said: “I’m fuming about it.
with licenced bar, an outside floodlit The basketball court will be about
5-a-side football pitch, basketball 25 feet from my back fence; the The Toothill Farm site on Bodiam Drive, the barn used by Toothill scouts
court and play park next to Toothill thought of the constant thumping and the farmhouse on the right
Farmhouse off Bodiam Drive, about of balls makes me angry.”
800 metres away. In nearby Chepstow Close, Rob In a statement, TBL says: ‘At the the Lottery money could fund.
Plans drawn up for TBL by Ensen Lancaster said: “We moved here in heart of this community is the ‘This involves working with
Design illustrate possible options. December; the legal search did not Toothill Community Centre. We construction and planning experts,
The details were revealed in a letter show any plans for the farm site, so have been asked to look at ways and with Swindon Borough Council
from Toothill ward councillors Jim receiving the councillors’ letter was of improving the facilities and as well as our local councillors.
Robbins, Kevin Small and Steph Exell a shock. The floodlights from the ensuring that these are sustainable ‘Ultimately, the role of Toothill
delivered to residents living close to football pitch would shine into the within the available budget. Big Local is to provide options for
the farm asking for views. back bedroom; using the garden will ‘There are several ways of the community to evaluate. The
Cllr Robbins said: “We stated that be impossible.“ achieving this, from upgrading decision as to what is chosen is
the council should ensure TBL carries Lisa Corcoran, the licencee of the existing community centre to within the hands of the community
out an initial consultation to gauge Toothill Community Centre bar, is replacing this on site at the village – every vote counts.’
reaction from people living closest incensed. “I’m disgusted about all centre, or building a new centre • Toothill Big Local plan to discuss
to the farm, but this hasn’t taken this. I had a call from my mother elsewhere in Toothill. their ideas at a public meeting on
place. We strongly believe that those who received the letter then saw it ‘Included in this would be 17 September. The time and venue
most closely affected should be on Facebook. To see I could be out of proposals to utilise existing will be published next month.
involved at an early stage. a job from Facebook was terrible. locations should the community • The master plan for the area
“We believe in improving “I don’t understand why they’re decide to relocate facilities. We are drawn up by the Toothill Big Local
community facilities in Toothill, so talking with the council and local now in the process of costing these committee can be downloaded
we’re interested to know if residents councillors before residents.” to help everyone understand what from: www.bit.ly/ToothillBLplan

£7.55 - £7.65 per hour

www.lifeways.co.uk/careers/

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