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Community News

Ten years since Swindon community farm threatened with closure

The November 2006 Link magazine With security, Matt and Andrea
reported that the Swindon Borough and an army of helpers and
Council member responsible for co-workers have invested time,
finance had proposed terminating effort, and money into improving
the lease agreement with Lower outbuildings, general facilities and
Shaw Farm in Old Shaw Lane, West increasing the range of courses,
Swindon in order to ‘develop’ the all available to people both from
3-acre site for executive housing. Swindon and further afield.
The farm’s directors, workers, and The farm is also used for meetings
users were unhappy and there was and conferences, a weekly walking
immediate public outcry, and a flood group and a community cafe as well
of angry emails and phone calls to as the base for a children’s project
councillors across the town. and the long-running Swindon
Lower Shaw Farm had been a Festival of Literature.
centre of educational, cultural and Notwithstanding its urban
community development, with a Anita Sharp with her children Izzy, Jamie and Sonny from Toothill location, Lower Shaw Farm retains a
particular focus on being cons, to consult and negotiate in Rod Bluh for his open mind, his rural charm with a red tractor in the
environmentally-friendly since civilised fashion, and not confuse foresight and wisdom for seeing yard, ducks and hens free-ranging,
1975, but always on uncertain short the notional development price of long term possibilities for the farm. sheep grazing in the paddock, and
team leases. the farm with its real value and its And he did so by taking action. pigs rooting about in the orchard.
Matt Holland and Andrea Hirsch role as a community asset. It was “After years of consultation and Matt commented: “Despite the
have run the farm since 1980. Matt a question of long-term use and reports, he made the time to visit farm’s outwardly ramshackle
said: “In any kind of relationship, value, or short-term profit from the farm with the then council chief appearance, it is run with an inner
whether personal or business, you development.” executive Gavin Jones. After a good military order. We are direct service
need stability and security to allow Slow negotiations went on for five look round and lengthy discussion, providers. We aim to serve people
imagination to flow and ambitions years and it emerged that the actual I recall Rod saying: ‘You know, I’m well, particularly serving Swindon
to grow, for plans, investment, and development value was far less than beginning to see things in a new well. And the fact that our courses
commitment to be made. the council had at first thought light’; to which Gavin added: ‘There are so popular suggest that we may
“Ten years ago, the farm’s future after English Heritage indicated that is something magical about this be getting things right.”
looked in doubt. We understood no new houses could be built close place.’ That was a turning point.“ Read the full story with pictures
the problems facing a cash- to the Grade II Listed farmhouse. It was in November 2011 that from 2006 at: www.swindonlink.
strapped council. Both we and they “From that point on, good sense agreement was reached, and com
recognised the need to look closely prevailed,” said Matt. “We would the farm’s trustees and Swindon Find out more at:
at things, to consider the pros and like to thank the then council leader Council signed a 25 year lease. www.lowershawfarm.co.uk

8 swindonlink.com n November 2016

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