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Community News

Parish up - or no street cleaning or grass cutting Funding bid for next

Swindon Council is to press ahead to be further discussed at the stage of Thamesdown
with plans to create parish councils engagement events. Drive extension
for the entire borough. The council is due to agree draft
The move comes with a stark recommendations in August prior Plans to link Thamesdown Drive with
warning that essential services like to a full consultation resulting in Great Western Way via a new road
grass cutting and street cleaning final recommendations presented could move a step closer if work to
can only continue if a parish takes in November. The parish councils secure funding for the next phase of
them over, as the borough can no would then be implemented from the project is successful.
longer afford to pay the £4million a January 2017 with shadow parish This comes after the hard fought
year it costs. councils being formed until an campaign by TDEX, the community
A motion by the Labour Group election in April. group calling for it to be built.
for a referendum to be carried out Cllr Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington Officers from Swindon Borough
in the town’s unparished areas & Western Ward) said: “I’m really Council are now working with
was denied at an extraordinary full worried huge change is going to the Swindon and Wiltshire Local
council meeting on 15 June. be imposed on residents without Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) on
The plans include the council enough consultation. Many a bid to cover the costs of the next
asking existing and newly created residents are unaware, and it needs phase of the proposed scheme.
parish councils to take over services to be explained much more clearly.” children and, for the last few years, The bid will request £1.27 million
like playground maintenance, street Shaw Residents Association chair we have transformed the way we from the Department of Transport’s
cleaning, litter and dog waste bin Kevin Fisher said: “Should it be do things in order to make millions Large Local Schemes Fund in order
emptying and grass cutting. decided to parish West Swindon, of pounds in efficiency savings. to pay for a detailed design, all
On average this will see a rise of we hope the issues we’ve raised “Unfortunately we are now at the environmental surveys, and
£75 to every household’s annual as part of the review have not the point where there are certain the preparation of both a planning
council tax bill in an existing only been considered but that services we can no longer afford.” application and business case.
parished area on top of their tangible solutions are part of the The following public meetings If successful, a further bid would
existing parish precept. It is still implementation. Otherwise we fear have been scheduled.: be submitted for full funding in
not known what kind of tax levy the public will be alienated from l Park South Community Centre, 2019. It is estimated that the cost
non-parished areas could see on top the new form of governance before Monday 27 June, 7pm to 9pm would be around £44 million.
of this. it has even been implemented.” l Broadgreen Community Centre, The new road would alleviate
As part of the Community Cllr David Renard, leader of congestion during morning and
Governance Review, illustrative Swindon Council, said: “The Wednesday 29 June, 7pm to 9pm evening peak periods along Akers
l West Swindon Library, Monday 5
maps have been prepared showing borough has to prioritise statutory July, 7pm to 9pm Way and Mead Way, and discourage
two options of what the new services such as caring for l Lethbridge School, Wednesday 6 rat runs through residential areas.
parish councils could look like, vulnerable people and safeguarding Development at nearby Tadpole
July, 7pm to 9pm Farm and Ridgeway Farm is also
To book a place contact cgr@ starting to increase traffic pressures.
swindon.gov.uk or 01793 464816. The Swindon Transport Strategy
Viewpoint: campaigner Colin forecasts that demand on the roads
Doubleday has his say on page 46 will increase by 48 per cent by 2026
as a direct result of the 22,000 new
New equality campaign homes that will be constructed in
Swindon over the next 10 years.
Voluntary Action Swindon is The bid, which forms part of the
launching The Swindon200 Project Swindon Local Transport Plan has to
to raise awareness of equality issues be submitted by 21 July. The council
in the town. and SWLEP will find out if the bid
There are nine Protected has been successful in the autumn.
Characteristics within the Equality Cllr Dale Heenan, cabinet member
Act 2010: age, disability, gender for sustainability, highways and
reassignment, marriage and transport, said: “The Thamesdown
civil partnership, pregnancy and Drive to Great Western Way link
maternity, race, religion, sex and road is one of Swindon’s great
sexual orientation. unsolved challenges of the last 30
By raising and addressing equality years. A lot of work has taken place
issues, the aim is to continue making over the last two years to complete
Swindon a place of fairness and the first stage, the Outline Business
opportunity, where people can aspire Case, and for the first time we have
and achieve to their best ability. a clear route to securing the £44
VAS has been commissioned by million from the Government.
Swindon Council to deliver this “This is a critical moment because
project, which will seek to increase if the Government says no then it’s
the number of residents engaged in unlikely anything else will happen
equality issues over the next nine for another ten years.
months. “But, if it is successful, then it will
Throughout the campaign, there cover the full cost of the second
will be public events. Relevant stage and mean Swindon Council
support groups and guest speakers can complete all the environmental,
will be present , and information ecological and topographical
from national bodies will be surveys, detailed design work for
available. To find out more mail: the road and submit the planning
[email protected] application in 2019.”
4 swindonlink.com n July 2016

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